‘Four more years of chaos…’ Food & ag organizations respond to Trump victory

A resounding win for Donald Trump in the US election is prompting enthusiasm in some quarters of the food industry and intense anxiety in others.

Given the lack of detail in the official Republican party platform on food and ag, meanwhile, uncertainty abounds, with stakeholders frantically picking through interviews with Joe Rogan to try and glean what could be in store. (Spoiler alert: JD Vance is not a fan of “nasty fake meat.” 

While Robert F Kennedy Jr (RFK) loves to talk about soil health, a key plank of regenerative agriculture, for example, Trump is a climate denier being urged to halt funding for sustainability schemes connected to food production. Similarly, RFK is advocating for tougher controls on food, drug, and ag companies to protect public health in an administration set on gutting the agencies that police them.

As for Trump’s tariff plans, they clearly violate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and will likely prompt a wave of litigation and retaliation, predicted one expert we spoke to this week. But this doesn’t mean they won’t go ahead, said another. “My guess is regardless of what they’re supposed/not supposed to do, the three partners are going to do what they want.”

To get an early look at how the agrifood industry is reacting to Trump’s decisive win, we’ve pulled together some statements from food and ag organizations to get a sense of what they are prioritizing in the coming months in terms of economic growth and stability, the regulatory environment, taxes and fiscal policy, trade policies and international relations, labor market and workforce development.

>>Tell us what you think about the election’s impact on the agrifood industry via this super-short ​survey​ to help inform our reporting in the coming days and weeks.

American Farm Bureau: “Among the most pressing issues in rural America is the need for a new, modernized farm bill. The two-year delay is unacceptable. The new administration must also address the impending tax hikes, which would crush many of America’s farmers and ranchers when stacked on top of inflation, high supply costs and market instability. Another big issue on farmers’ minds is the labor shortage and skyrocketing costs.”

Food & Water Watch: “Trump’s election is terribly disappointing and promises four more years of chaos, corruption and corporate cronyism. Make no mistake: We are in for the fight of our lives to maintain long-standing protections for safe food, clean water, the environment and our climate – to say nothing of our fundamental democratic functions and institutions.”

National Association of Manufacturers: “We believe that we can build on the successes of our previous work together to roll back burdensome regulations, unleash American energy security, power the economy of the future with an all-of-the-above energy strategy and restore the dignity of manufacturing work.”

Natural Products Association: “We anticipate a receptive ear on ways to ensure agency accountability on critical issues like drug preclusion, expanding claims, state pre-emption, reshoring and effective inspections to list a few. The administration’s early remarks signal an interest in looking into agency overreach which is long overdue, we look forward to working with President Trump and Congress in that regard so all Americans have the benefit of the agency fulfilling its mandate of protecting and promoting health.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “NCBA is excited to work with the President-Elect to undo the harm which cattle producers have endured under four years of “Bidenomics” and restore the free-market principles which have made US cattle and beef the finest and safest in the world. Despite cattle prices soaring to record highs over the previous years, producers have been squeezed by exceptionally high input costs, record inflation, and the Biden Administration’s so-called competition agenda. This is the perfect opportunity to execute a hard reset on all of these failed policies.”

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: “The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy anticipates that the incoming Trump administration will pose immediate and serious threats to our food and trade systems, relations with international partners and efforts to slow harms caused by climate change.

“Trump’s pledge to begin mass deportations of immigrants will threaten basic human rights for many who work within the food system. His commitment to impose broad new tariffs will likely spur retaliation among key trading partners, creating chaos for a farm economy reliant on export markets. Trump’s close ties to the oil industry and his overt climate denial will hamper the urgent need to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience both in the U.S. and around the world as the climate crisis worsens.”

Environmental Working Group: “Donald Trump’s election victory is a win for polluters, offering industries that thrive on environmental harm a green light to put profit over public health. In the years ahead, EWG will redouble our commitment to helping you avoid exposure to toxic contaminants and pollutants in everyday life.”

Food Research & Action Center: “Hunger threatens our country’s health, education, national security, workforce, and economy. FRAC is looking ahead to 2025 and will work with the Trump-Vance administration, the next Congress, and our national, state, and local anti-hunger partners, the private sector, and people with lived expertise of hunger to strengthen, expand, and improve the federal nutrition programs which provide a nutritional lifeline to millions of people across the nation. Together, we can, and must, build a nation free from hunger.”

Retail Industry Leaders Association: “Inflation was clearly a motivating factor in the election results, with many middle-class voters expressing deep concern about the impact inflation has had on family budgets. Policymakers should hear their concerns loud and clear as debates on taxes and tariffs take center stage. Retailers are hopeful the incoming Trump Administration and Congress take a strategic approach to international trade, with policies that shield families from higher prices on consumer goods.”

International Fresh Produce Association: “Congress must take swift action to pass a new, inclusive farm bill that addresses the evolving needs of US agriculture. For the fresh produce industry, this legislation is a cornerstone, supplying critical resources to growers and producers and ensuring the stability of our nation’s food supply… Currently, more than 80% of the farm bill’s funding supports nutrition programs, yet only one in ten Americans meet recommended dietary guidelines for fruits and vegetables. This is a crucial moment to reshape our nation’s food supply by expanding access to fresh produce to improve health outcomes for all.

“The viability of many American growers is at risk, so Congress must finally act to meaningfully address the critical lack of on-farm labor that threatens our ability to meet consumer demand for fresh, nutritious food. The H-2A program is the primary labor source for US produce growers, yet Congress is paralyzed by decades of inaction and has ignored the need for reforms to improve the program’s accessibility to producers and its reliability in securely vetting and protecting temporary foreign workers.”

Feeding America: “Hunger transcends political parties. Feeding America’s position continues to be simple and consistent: We stand firmly alongside people facing hunger. We are committed to working with all elected and appointed officials to advance policies and programs that support the tens of millions of people experiencing food insecurity in every community in the US.”

US Chamber of Commerce: “We look forward to working with the Trump-Vance administration and Republicans and Democrats in Congress to preserve pro-growth tax policies, bring regulatory relief to business, harness the power of AI to drive American innovation, and expand an all-of-the-above energy production policy.”

Coalition for a Prosperous America: “With a commitment to reshoring jobs, implementing strategic tariffs, and securing critical supply chains, the incoming administration has a historic opportunity to rebuild American industry, promote economic independence, and safeguard the prosperity of our workers and communities. The next four years offer a critical window for reinforcing America’s manufacturing base, securing supply chains, and reclaiming U.S. economic independence.”

Union of Concerned Scientists: “We know the next four years will be a dangerous time for our country…  The previous Trump administration was marked by rollbacks of vital policies, a hostile climate that drove public servants out of office, a disregard for communities historically overburdened by pollution, and more than 200 attacks on science we rely on for making good decisions. We know from Project 2025 that these attacks on science and scientists will intensify.”

Center for Food Safety: “Donald Trump’s previous tenure in office was marked by an extreme willingness to roll back environmental protections, weaken standards on pesticides, and enrich corporations at the expense of public health and the planet. Now, more than ever, our work to protect our environment and public health is paramount. And we are more than ready to take on the fight. During the last Trump Administration, we went to court and defended family farmers’ right to protect their crops from the toxic pesticide dicamba, protected animal welfare and integrity in organic food labeling, and won cases protecting farmworkers and the iconic Monarch butterfly from toxic pesticides, including glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the world. Our work to create a more sustainable food system and to safeguard our food, environment, and health remains the same. In the days, weeks, and years to come, we will continue to act as the first line of defense against harmful policies and rollbacks of environmental regulations.”

National Corn Growers Association: “We especially appreciate President Trump’s recognition that homegrown fuels, like ethanol, are important for our nation’s energy security and rural economies. We are also eager to work with his administration and Congress to enact improved farm policies and programs, expand market opportunities and build on the tax policies enacted during President Trump’s first term that are beneficial to corn farmers as they face a challenging financial outlook with low prices and high costs.”

National Grain & Feed association: “From passage of a new Farm Bill to transportation investments and opening new markets for America’s farmers and ranchers, there is a lot of work to do.”

HEAL Food Alliance: “Over the past four years, the HEAL Food Alliance and our members have made significant progress towards shaping food and farm policies that prioritize our communities and protect our planet. HEAL remains steadfast and committed, despite the results of this election. We know what’s at stake with the incoming administration and will keep organizing with our members to make it possible for all producers to thrive, to enshrine the dignity, safety, and rights of food and farm workers, for systems that value our people and planet over profit, and for policies that catalyze urgent climate action.”

Renewable Fuels Association: “We look forward to working with his administration in the years ahead to strengthen and expand the market for renewable fuels like ethanol. Trump understands that ethanol lowers fuel costs for hard-working families, reduces dependence on foreign energy sources, helps farmers and boosts the rural economy, and protects the environment.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: “There is much President Trump can do during his first 100 days to help farmers and biofuels producers, including nationwide, year-round E15 and providing clarity on energy incentives for biodiesel producers.”

FMI – The Food Industry Association: “We need policies that foster growth, reward innovation, and empower our industry to continue meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”

ChangeLab Solutions: “While the federal government sets many parameters for essential policies, lower levels of government are largely responsible for implementing them. State and local governments play a key role in protecting and promoting public health and are responsible for addressing their communities’ unique needs and challenges. As we continue to learn more about state and local election results, we will have numerous opportunities to support community health and justice.”

Biotechnology Innovation Organization: “The public health and our national security are best served by strong leadership that respects and advances science and medicine and ensures that the United States and our allies continue to lead the world in biotechnology.”