US Needs to Be Aware of "Greenlash"

Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus of agricultural finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech has traveled over 8 million miles during his career, learning and researching the ag industry. He says when it comes to the green movement in the US that might be gaining traction, but some other countries are actually shifting away from it.

“I think one of the things that you're starting to see, particularly in the Netherlands, it's called Green lash. In other words, people are lashing back at the green energy movement, particularly there's inconsistent policies going on around the world, India and China are adding coal-fired plants, while other nations are, you know, the green initiatives and one economies get tight, people go back to the pocketbook. And so the term green lash, I think we're going to hear more and more of that.”

Dr. Kohl warns that green initiatives need to be analyzed for long-term sustainability.

“A number of farms have been approached, you know, to put up some or do some green energy initiatives. My whole contention is is still going to be profitable after the government subsidies are gone. So I think you have to look at each farm ranch has to look at their specific situation, but also look in the long term to see if it's going to be sustainable and viable.”

If this movement persists, he said the US can become a second-choice supplier affecting trade exports and more.