Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/17/19

The 2020 contender on Tuesday said he would aim to make American agriculture the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions if elected.

That goal is part of a sweeping rural policy platform the former vice president unveiled during appearance in Manning, Iowa, on Tuesday. The plan also calls for revamped trade policy to boost exports, investment in renewable energy and more support for regional food systems.

Cut emissions, make money: "Many farmers are some of the best stewards of our land, air, and water," the Biden campaign said in the plan. "As president, Biden will ensure our agricultural sector is the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions, and that our farmers earn income as we meet this milestone." The document also said farmers should be able to participate in carbon markets, with the goal of creating new revenue streams.

"Soil is the next frontier for storing carbon," the plan says.

A contrast to the field: The plan was noticeably less focused on anti-trust issues compared with those from Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Biden didn't explicitly call for breaking up companies or blocking future mergers. Instead, a Biden administration "will protect small and medium-sized farmers and producers by strengthening enforcement of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts and the Packers and Stockyards Act," the campaign said.

Major focus on health care: A whole section of plan is dedicated to rural health care issues, an important but often-overlooked farm policy issue. Biden said he would protect the Affordable Care Act, boost funding for rural hospitals and do more to deploy telehealth options.