Action alert: Urge lawmakers to support clean-water crops, Forever Green

We have our first committee hearing of the 2025 legislative session on the calendar.

We'll be working with our colleagues in the Forever Green Partnership to bring two bipartisan bills related to clean-water crops to the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development committee on Wednesday, Feb. 12. These bills (see details below) are critical to ensuring researchers, farmers and local businesses in Minnesota have the resources they need to get even more Kernza, winter camelina, hybrid hazelnut and similar crops on the landscape as soon as possible. 

Once these crops are covering the big brown spot, we'll see improved water quality, healthier soil and more choices for farmers.

A committee hearing is an important early step in the legislative process. It's an opportunity to explain to lawmakers what you're asking for and how it will benefit Minnesota. It's also a great time for community members to weigh by sending a message to legislators. 

Help the river by sending a message ahead of the hearing. Tell lawmakers to support research and market development around clean-water crops:

What we're advocating for

It's really important that scientists, researchers, businesses and institutions have the resources they need to make this change happen. Just like we've done in recent years, we'll be advocating for two separate proposals that each boost clean-water crops in complementary ways.

More support for Forever Green
Lead author: Sen. Judy Seeberger

The first is robust, long-term funding for the Forever Green Initiative. The cropping systems they are developing have reached an inflection point — they're moving beyond field trials and into landscape production and market development. Maintaining and enhancing funding for these efforts is critical to keeping up the momentum. Successfully breeding and commercializing new crops such as these requires dedicated researchers with stable funding over multiple years.

We're asking lawmakers to consider increasing regular funding for Forever Green, which currently receives $1.604 million each biennium (that’s a two-year cycle). In tandem with support from the Clean Water Fund, this will provide Forever Green the resources it needs to keep making the most of evolving opportunities.

State funding to date has already proven impactful. It has enabled Forever Green to make significant advancements, and raised the profile of these crops — which in turn, has spurred notable corporate and federal investments, as reported on by MPR News.

Grants for market development
Lead author: Sen. Rob Kupec

The second is a bill to support small- and mid-sized local businesses that are working with clean-water crops. Through market development grants, we've seen numerous early success stories: a farmer build a bespoke winter camelina cleaning unit, a family-owned Minnesota nursery propagate 10,000 hazelnut shrubs, a fast-growing Kernza food business open a new facility to meet demand, and more. 

The Legislature has supported the Developing Markets for CLC Crops grants program in the past, but the need far outstrips the resources allocated in past sessions. Another round of funding, this time $500,000, would accelerate the development of value chains by strategically investing in companies poised for commercial breakthrough, delivering significant public benefits to Minnesotans and further solidifying Minnesota as a national and international leader in 21st century agricultural innovation.

This type of public investment now will spur further innovation and private investment, creating new economic and community development opportunities for our state while also protecting soil, water, biodiversity and climate.