(1) The director of agriculture shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties relating to the development of markets, for agricultural products, state and federal cooperative marketing programs, land utilization for agricultural purposes, water resources, transportation, and farm labor as such matters relate to the production, distribution, and sale of agricultural commodities including private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW
15.85.020.
(2) The director of agriculture shall exercise all the powers and perform all duties necessary to monitor food system performance and coordinate statewide food security, including working collaboratively with state, local, and federal agencies; tribes; nonprofit organizations; research institutions; and industry experts with roles and responsibilities pertaining to agricultural resilience and food access. When evaluating food system performance, the director shall consider metrics that, at a minimum, relate to monitoring and quantifying regulatory costs imposed by the state of Washington on fuel, packaging, and labor. Beginning June 30, 2030, the department shall report to the legislature at least once every four years, in compliance with RCW
43.01.036, on the competitiveness of Washington's agricultural regulatory landscape relative to peer state competitors for the commodity types prevalent in Washington's in-state agricultural economy.