The Field to Market Sustainable Agriculture Summit is the premier annual gathering for everyone involved in U.S. farming to collaborate on sustainability. Field to Market is a multi-stakeholder alliance that brings together a diverse group of grower organizations, agribusinesses, conservation groups, universities, food companies, and others to define, measure and advance the sustainability of food, feed, fiber and fuel production in the United States.
Define Field to Market Sustainable Agriculture Summit
The Field to Market Sustainable Agriculture (regenerative agroecology) Summit is an annual conference (first held in 2015) that brings together the full food and agriculture value chain to tackle sustainability. It is co-hosted by Field to Market and allied organizations (for example, recent Summits have been co-hosted with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, and others).
At the Summit, you’ll find a mix of formats: inspiring keynote addresses (from industry leaders, researchers and officials), interactive panels and workshops on practical topics, and networking sessions and an exhibit hall. Attendees range from farmers and extension agents to executives of food and retail companies, and even government officials.
The Summit agenda is organized around thematic tracks (often including measurement and metrics, climate-smart practices, policy, etc.) and emphasizes solutions over abstract theory. The goal is to move beyond “buzzwords” to on-the-ground action: as one farmer speaker put it, “sustainable agriculture isn’t a far-off goal… We’re cultivating a legacy of positive, scalable impact that will nurture future generations.”
In 2024, the Summit highlighted the growing urgency of transforming U.S. agriculture, which accounts for about 10% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and faces increasing pressure from climate change, supply chain demands, and consumer expectations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that over 21 million acres of farmland are now enrolled in climate-smart and conservation programs, reflecting momentum that aligns with the Summit’s mission.
The event itself has seen participation grow by more than 30% over the past five years, demonstrating its importance as the leading hub for sustainability collaboration.
Field to Market’s approach underpins the Summit. The Alliance’s programs (like the Fieldprint Platform for measuring farm impacts) mean that much of the Summit content is data-driven. For example, attendees learn about the latest National Indicators Report trends and new tools for tracking soil health, water use, and greenhouse gases.
By uniting diverse players around a common measurement framework, the Summit creates a venue where growers and buyers speak the same language on sustainability. Today the Summit is widely recognized as the pre-eminent sustainable agriculture conference. Each year the event builds on the last, maintaining a focus on outcomes: every session is intended to share practical knowledge and foster partnerships that accelerate positive change on farms.
Highlights from 2023 Summit
The most recent Summit was held December 6–7, 2023 in Charlotte, NC, under the theme “Scaling Collective Impact: Collaborating to Accelerate Agricultural Sustainability”. It drew a record crowd of 925 participants – illustrating that interest in sustainability is surging across the sector. Major announcements and sessions at the 2023 event underscored the industry’s collaborative momentum. For example, U.S.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack prerecorded keynote remarks highlighting that the Inflation Reduction Act has put ~$20 billion into climate-smart ag programs
(like EQIP and Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities). In practice, Summit speakers showcased how brands and farmers are partnering to tap that funding and to adopt regenerative practices at scale.
By 2023, more than 50% of U.S. food companies had announced climate-smart or regenerative agriculture targets, making the Summit’s role in collaboration more vital than ever. In addition, soil health adoption rates reached new highs: over 23 million acres of cover crops were planted nationwide in 2023, showing farmer-driven progress that aligns with Summit goals. These statistics set the stage for the 2023 Summit, which focused on scaling collective action and ensuring measurable impact.
Several key themes of Sustainable Ag Summit recurred
The most recent Summit was held December 6–7, 2023 in Charlotte, NC, under the theme “Scaling Collective Impact: Collaborating to Accelerate Agricultural Sustainability”. It drew a record crowd of 925 participants illustrating that interest in sustainability is surging across the sector. Major announcements and sessions at the 2023 event underscored the industry’s collaborative momentum.
For example, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack prerecorded keynote remarks highlighting that the Inflation Reduction Act has put ~$20 billion into climate-smart ag programs (like EQIP and Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities). In practice, Summit speakers showcased how brands and farmers are partnering to tap that funding and to adopt regenerative practices at scale. Several key themes recurred in 2023
a. Metrics & Data: Participants got updates on Field to Market’s benchmarking of U.S. commodity crops (the quadrennial National Indicators Report) and advances in the Fieldprint® Platform. New tools and measurement protocols were unveiled to help growers and supply-chain companies quantify soil health, fertilizer efficiency, and water use. For instance, there were sessions on standardizing life-cycle assessments (LCAs) for feed and food ingredients – an effort now underway in the industry.
b. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Multiple sessions focused on carbon and climate. Speakers emphasized on-farm practices like cover crops, reduced tillage, and improved fertilizer management to sequester carbon and cut emissions.
There was a panel on farmers and scientists collaborating on carbon-reduction (e.g. feed additives to cut livestock methane). The role of policy support was highlighted too – such as leveraging new IRA funds, farm bill conservation programs, and voluntary carbon markets as incentives for farmers.
c. Soil Health & Biodiversity: Summit discussion stressed soil as a foundation for sustainability. Experts shared emerging science on soil carbon, earthworm-friendly farming, and how biodiversity (pollinators, habitat plantings) fits into cropping systems.
For example, a session on ecosystem resilience featured case studies from projects in Midwest watersheds and prairie biomes. Attendees learned about partnerships between farmers and conservation organizations that are boosting wildlife while improving farm profitability.
d. Supply-Chain Collaboration: A cornerstone of Field to Market’s approach is that big companies (brands and retailers) work directly with growers. In Charlotte, several brands (from dairy, feed, food, etc.) presented on how they source crops with sustainability specs and use Field to Market’s data tools to verify progress.
Panels brought together agribusinesses, NGOs and farmers to design “outcome-based contracts” – for example, a retailer paying premiums to farmers who adopt cover crops or variable-rate nutrient application.
e. Policy & Market Development: Federal and state programs are increasingly aligning with on-farm sustainability goals. Summit sessions explored how USDA programs (like the Climate-Smart Commodities grants) complement private commitments.
Policymakers explained that future farm policy will reward measurable outcomes (water quality improvements, greenhouse gas reductions). There was also talk of innovative finance: how “blended finance” or “catalytic capital” (for example, IRA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund) can mobilize low-cost loans for farmers’ climate projects.
f. Equity & Inclusion: Keeping with Field to Market’s commitment to a just transition, the 2023 Summit included dialogue on ensuring all farm communities benefit. Workshops addressed access to new programs for small and minority farmers, and the importance of co-creation of solutions. Attendees heard from Young Farmer leaders and non-profit advisors on how to make sustainability training and incentives inclusive.
In short, the 2023 Summit reaffirmed that collective action is key: no single stakeholder can fix farm sustainability alone. As an attendee blog noted, companies are shifting toward truly supply-chain approaches because “without thorough consulting with growers…trying to reduce Scope 3 [emissions] can be close to impossible”.
The sessions made clear that success depends on sharing data and supporting growers across entire landscapes. Indeed, Virginia dairy farmer Joanna Shipp captured the sentiment at Summit’s close: “we have been on [this sustainability] journey together… We’re cultivating a legacy of positive, scalable impact”
Who Attends Summit and Why It Matters
The 2024 Summit saw participation from stakeholders representing more than 80% of the U.S. food supply chain by market value, proving its significance as a convening force.
- Farmers
- ranchers
- agribusiness leaders
- NGOs
from across the country joined nearly 1,000 participants, with women and young farmers making up a growing share of attendees. This reflects the event’s commitment to inclusivity and the growing recognition that collaboration across diverse groups is essential to achieving national sustainability targets.
A unique feature of the Field to Market Summit is its diverse audience. It is truly “by agriculture, for agriculture” – meaning the people making a career in farming are in the room with those selling farm inputs, buying farm outputs, or setting policy. Key participants include:
i. Farmers and Ranchers: Growers from row-crop farms to diversified family farms are primary voices. They share on-the-ground experiences (e.g. success with cover crops or solar generation) and learn about market trends.
Farmers attend to signal to buyers that sustainability matters, and to connect with peers. As one farmer noted at the Summit, “farming is hard. It’s a huge benefit to be part of a community of like-minded farmers”.
ii. Agribusiness & Input Suppliers: Companies that sell seed, fertilizer, machinery, and tech see the Summit as a showcase. They bring innovations like precision-irrigation tools or new bio-based inputs, and they also learn about farmer needs.
Many input suppliers sponsor sessions to explain how their products can deliver sustainability outcomes. The Summit also educates their sales teams – Field to Market provides certification and slide decks (for example, modules on “environmental sustainability metrics” to help advisors guide farmers.
iii. Food, Beverage & Retail Brands: Major brands (Cargill, General Mills, Corteva, Dairy Farmers of America, etc.) and retailers attend to advance their sustainability commitments. They report on their own goals (like cutting carbon in their supply chains) and recruit farmers.
They often present case studies of contracts or pilot projects – for instance, a snack food company partnering with a cover-crop project in Iowa. Their presence signals that market demand for sustainable practices is tangible: learning at the Summit how to meet brand standards can open new markets for farmers.
iv. NGOs & Conservation Groups: Organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, or the Environmental Defense Fund bring science and field programs. They explain complex topics (like biodiversity metrics or nutrient runoff models) in Summit panels. They also scout for farmers to engage in cooperative projects. Because Field to Market’s work is science-based, having experts on hand ensures conversations stay grounded in data.
v. Policymakers & Academics: USDA representatives, state ag officials, and university researchers attend to present results and seek input. For example, Secretary Vilsack’s remarks were delivered directly to Summit attendees. Academics often use the Summit to disseminate findings from grant-funded research (some pulled data from the Field print (Research Database for instance). State lawmakers and USDA program managers attend to hear farmer feedback and explain evolving programs.
The mix of attendees fosters a multidisciplinary dialogue. The AFIA blog on the 2024 Summit noted “professionals from various sectors… came together to share insights and foster partnerships, demonstrating the multidisciplinary approach needed to drive sustainability in agriculture”. Indeed, a major lasting benefit of the Summit is those face-to-face connections.
Many veterans say the networking is the most valuable part – farmers meet buyers and conservationists meet investors over coffee breaks. This cross-pollination ensures that by the time Summit ends, everyone has at least a better understanding of the “big picture” beyond their own role. It also means commitments made at the Summit (like expanding data collection on farms, or piloting new finance models) are already supported by a collaborative group.
Connections to Other Industry Events
In 2024, the number of agricultural conferences in the U.S. focusing on sustainability grew by more than 40% compared to 2019, but the Field to Market Summit remains unique. While other events attract between 200–400 participants regionally, the Summit consistently gathers nearly 1,000 stakeholders nationally, making it the single largest sustainability-focused event for agriculture in North America.
It’s helpful to see how the Field to Market Summit fits in the broader landscape of sustainable agriculture events. There are many conferences and expos with “sustainability” in the title, but they differ in focus. For example, the Sustainable Agriculture Expo is primarily a seminar and trade show for growers and agribusiness in California. By contrast, the Field to Market Summit is national in scope and is explicitly structured around supply-chain collaboration and metrics.
Education and Resources from the Summit
One of the enduring values of the Summit is education. Even after the conference ends, much of its content serves as a learning resource:
a. Archived Presentations and Reports: Each year’s Summit agenda (2015 through 2024) is posted online. Many presenters share their slide decks or whitepapers in a public repository. For instance, after the 2023 Summit, Field to Market circulated slides on topics like nitrogen stewardship and carbon metrics to participants.
This means farmers and advisers who couldn’t attend can still access the latest techniques and research discussed at the Summit. The Sustainable Ag Summit site even offers a “video recap” of each year (e.g. photos and session summaries for 2024).
b. Launch of Key Reports: The Summit often debuts major sustainability reports. For example, Field to Market’s National Indicators Report (a quadrennial analysis of 1980–2015 trends in efficiency and conservation) is usually highlighted at Summit time. (The 2021 edition was rolled out to an industry audience at the 2021 Summit.)
Likewise, other science reports like the State of Sustainable Agriculture (a 2022 survey of 500 growers) or the Pest Management Report are featured in sessions. These reports provide the sustainable agriculture information backbone for discussions. By learning about them at the Summit, participants can then apply the findings – for example, a processor might set new stewardship goals based on the latest National Indicators trends.
c. Case Study Showcases: Summit sessions routinely highlight real-world projects and success stories. For example, a dairy cooperative might present a case study on how cover cropping improved profitability on participating farms. These cases become educational tools: after the Summit, people can cite them as proof points.
In 2022 Field to Market even published a Blueprints for the Value Chain report, containing 12 case studies of collaborative innovations in ag. Many of those blueprints were first discussed at Summit panels. In essence, Summit case studies serve as templates that others across the country can follow.
d. Training for Advisers: Field to Market has developed modules for agronomy advisers and extension agents, many of which align with Summit topics. For example, on its website there are interactive learning modules on “Environmental Sustainability Metrics,” “Conservation Practices,” and the farmer business case for sustainability.
These resources help amplify the knowledge shared at the Summit. If an adviser can sit through a “Sustainability 101” session at the Summit, they can later access online modules to teach it to farmers. In this way, the Summit acts as the hub of a broader sustainable farming education network.
Overall, the Summit’s content stays relevant long after the event. It bolsters a year-round education ecosystem. Between Summit editions, Field to Market hosts webinars and keeps its research database updated. People can also subscribe to Field to Market’s newsletter for continuous updates. In short, anyone seeking reliable sustainable agriculture education would find a wealth of material in the Summit archives and Field to Market’s publications
Key Takeaways and Lasting Impact
Looking across Summit after Summit, a few core messages emerge. First, collaboration is non-negotiable. The Summit repeatedly demonstrates that solving food-system challenges – whether carbon emissions, water scarcity, or biodiversity loss – requires working across the value chain.
Companies and farmers cannot achieve sustainability alone; they need the trust, data and shared incentives that a forum like this provides. As one Summit panelist noted, reducing Scope 3 emissions will require “a sector-wide transformation” with “landscape-scale solutions” and inclusive, grower-centered strategies
Second, data is central. Farmers are motivated when they can measure progress, and brands need verified metrics to report. That is why Field to Market’s emphasis on the Fieldprint Platform and the National Indicators is so important.
The Summit continuously reinforces that objective measurement (e.g. of greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon, irrigation efficiency) is the path to credibility and improvement. Over the years, the conversation has shifted from whether to measure, to how fast we can deploy these tools. To quote
2024 Summit attendee: after learning from panels and networking, she felt the “energy level was remarkable” and saw broad commitment “to understanding and implementing sustainability at every level”
Finally, the Summit shows that learning and action go hand-in-hand. It doesn’t stop at ideas; participants leave with concrete next steps. For example, after hearing about new farm bill incentives at the Summit, a supply-chain working group might form to apply for that funding. Or a retailer might launch a Fieldprint Project on-farm the week after Summit sessions on cover crops.
This translation of dialogue into projects is the Summit’s ultimate value. In fact, many veteran attendees say the networking (speakers, breakout discussions, informal chats) is what “really provides the value”. Because those conversations often lead to new pilot projects, coordinated campaigns, or joint grant applications, the Summit can credibly claim it drives measurable outcomes in agriculture sustainability, not just lofty talk.
Future of the Summit and Sustainable Ag
In 2025, the Summit is expected to draw nearly 1,000 attendees in Anaheim, California, building on a decade of growth. Experts predict new themes will emerge around water scarcity, as the U.S.
Geological Survey reports that irrigation withdrawals now account for 42% of freshwater use nationwide, and around Scope 3 emissions tracking,
which makes up over 80% of emissions for most food and beverage companies. These pressing challenges ensure that the Summit will remain the go-to platform for collaborative solutions.
Registration: The Field to Market Summit continues to grow. Registration for the 2025 Summit is already open – it will be held Nov. 19–20, 2025 in Anaheim, California. Early plans for 2025 include added workshops and roundtable sessions to deepen learning across sectors. Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend, signaling that the momentum is as strong as ever.
Conclusion
The Field to Market Sustainable Agriculture Summit is more than just an industry conference; it is a crucial catalyst for change. By convening every link in the food-chain – from soil to supermarket – it ensures that sustainability progress is measured and cooperative. Importantly, attendees leave not just informed but connected. Those cross-sector networks often seed multi-stakeholder projects in the year ahead.
The Field to Market Sustainable Agriculture Summit is at the heart of that journey. It gives everyone from the newest crop scientist to the most seasoned farmer a chance to learn, partner and act. As we look to the next decade, the Summit’s role as the “forum by agriculture, for agriculture” means it will continue shaping a future where U.S. agriculture both thrives and sustains.
