Food Solutions Action is an advocacy group that pushes for public policies and government subsidies that support the creation and distribution of lab-grown meat products. ¹

Food Solutions Action has donated to the campaigns of Republican and Democratic candidates running for office, has donated to political action committees (PACs) on both the political right and the political left, and has also paid for lobbying services with ties to both the House and Senate agriculture committees. ^{1 2 3 4}

Members of the board of directors of Food Solution Action include John A. Sobrato, who co-founded the Sobrato Family Foundation, and Bruce Friedrich, a longtime animal liberation activist and the founder of the Good Food Institute. ^{5 6}

Background

Food Solutions Action advocates in favor of public policies and government subsidies that support the creation and distribution of lab-grown meat. ¹

Food Solutions Action claims it works with federal and state policymakers on behalf of farmers, businesses, and research institutions. ⁷ The organization lobbies for subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from states to create meat-, egg-, and dairy-substitute products from plant proteins and the cultivation of animal cells. ^{1 7}

The organization argues that plant-based or cultivated meat would reduce methane emissions from traditional cattle farming and help combat global climate change. It claims that animal agriculture is responsible for 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, but alternative proteins would use far less water and far less land. ⁸

In June 2024, Food Solutions Action hosted a “Protein Innovation Day” at the Massachusetts state Capitol in Boston. The Massachusetts state legislature passed and Gov. Maura Healey (D) signed a $3.5 billion economic development bond bill that included a $5 million bond authorization for alternative protein investments. ⁸

Financials

In the 2022 election cycle, Food Solutions Action’s political committee, the Food Solutions Action PAC, contributed $13,320 to Democratic candidates and $13,860 to Republican candidates. It gave $5,800 to Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), $2,260 to then-Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), $1,260 to Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and $2,000 to Rep. James McGovern (D-MA). The organization also contributed $2,900 to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), $1,000 to Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), and $2,900 to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). ²

In 2024, the Food Solutions Action PAC contributed $60,040 to Democrats and $29,760 to Republicans. This included spending $14,740 supporting Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), $5,000 toward the re-election of then-Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), and $6,500 toward the election of Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). ³

In the 2024 election cycle, Food Solutions Action contributed $75,900 to political action committees supporting Republican candidates and $30,125 to political action committees supporting Democratic candidates. This included $20,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and $5,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. ⁴

Funding

Food Systems Innovations contributed $510,000 to Food Solutions Action. ⁹

Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just, contributed $5,000 to the Food Solutions Action PAC. ¹⁰

Real estate developer John A. Sobrato, who co-founded the Sobrato Family Foundation, contributed $5,000 to the Food Solutions Action PAC. ¹⁰

Bruce Friedrich, a longtime animal liberation activist and the founder of the Good Food Institute, a food-policy think tank, contributed $5,000 to the Food Solutions Action PAC. ¹⁰

Josh Balk, a co-founder of the left-of-center The Accountability Board, or TAB, contributed $5,000 to the Food Solutions Action PAC. ¹⁰

Michael Reger, founder of NutritionFacts.org contributed $5,000 to the Food Solutions Action PAC. ^{10 11}

Leadership

Ariel Nessel is president of Food Solutions Action and chair of the board of directors. ⁶

Food Solutions Action lists three vice presidents: Mike Ryan, David Voorman, and Alan Darer. ⁶

Lili Pond Miller is the government affairs director of the organization. ⁶

Noa Dalzell is the state policy director of the group. ⁶

Jimmy Fremgen is the director of policy for the organization. ⁶

Rachel Luckett is the events and development manager for the group. ⁶

The board of directors is made up of Nessel; real estate developer John A. Sobrato, who co-founded the Sobrato Family Foundation; and Bruce Friedrich, a longtime animal liberation activist and the founder of the Good Food Institute. ⁶

The board of advisors is made up of Lisa Dyson, founder, and CEO of Air Protein; Uma Valeti, founder and CEO of UPSIDE Foods; Matt Spence, managing director of Barclays, and co-founder of the Truman National Security Project; and Magi Richani, founder and CEO of Alpine Bio. ⁶

1. Brown, Marcia. “The industry tapping K Street to one day dethrone beef. Is it vegan?” Politico. August 17, 2023. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/17/meat-industry-lobbying-ahead-of-farm-bill-00111634
2. “Food Solutions Action.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/food-solutions-action/C00789164/candidate-recipients/2022.
3. “Food Solutions Action.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/food-solutions-action/C00789164/candidate-recipients/2024.
4. “Food Solutions Action.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/food-solutions-action/C00789164/pac-to-pac/2024.
5. Zaleski Andrew. “Meet the DC Activist behind the Alt-Meat Revolution.” Washingtonian, May 7, 2024. https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/03/14/meet-the-dc-activist-behind-the-alt-meat-revolution/.
6. “Who We Are.” Food Solutions Action. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.foodsolutionsaction.org/who-we-are
7.  “About.” Food Solutions Action. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.foodsolutionsaction.org/about
8. Ray, Olivia. “‘Protein Innovation Day’ held at State House, focusing on meat alternatives.” 22 News WWLP. June 17, 2024. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/protein-innovation-day-held-at-state-house-focusing-on-meat-alternatives/.
9. “Food Solutions Action.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/food-solutions-action,871538441/.
10. “Food Solutions Action.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/food-solutions-action/C00789164/donors/2024
11. NutritionFact.org. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://nutritionfacts.org/