Section 4701 - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program(a) The purpose of this section is to promote research and education that will encourage the development and use of economically and ecologically sound sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic methods, biological control, integrated pest management, soil improvement, cultivation, harvesting and irrigation techniques, and transportation and marketing innovations, through: (1) the control of pests and diseases of agricultural importance through alternatives that reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and petrochemicals;(2) the production, processing, and distribution of food and fiber in ways that consider the interactions among soils, plants, water, air, animals, tillage, machinery, labor, energy, and transportation to enhance the viability of agricultural soils, public health, and resource conservation;(3) the expansion of marketing opportunities and promotion of products produced through the practice of sustainable agriculture that will encourage the purchase of Vermont grown foods and promote regional food security; and(4) the coordination of research and education activities on sustainable agriculture among private and public agencies and individuals within Vermont.(c) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets is authorized to apply for, accept, and make use of grants from public and private sources to achieve the objectives of this section, in accordance with the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5. In awarding grants, preference shall be given to individuals, especially farmers, conducting on-farm research.Added 1989, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2003, No. 42 , § 2, eff. 5/27/2003; 2009 , No. 33 , § 16; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), §§249, 302, eff. 2/14/2014; 2019 , No. 61 , § 16.