Here we go! In a move that’s been anticipated for months, USDA Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced the next step in the Administration’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture.
| | | | | | | | | Momentum Is Building For Climate-Smart Agriculture | | | Here we go! In a move that’s been anticipated for months, USDA Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced the next step in the Administration’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture. There have been broad hints that the agency was looking to tap the Commodity Credit Corporation’s mandate to build and expand markets for U.S. agriculture as a tool for financing climate-smart agriculture. The new initiative – The Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative – is currently short on detail. But the Administration’s announcement noted that the Partnership could support a set of pilot projects that incentivize, quantify and monitor the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart conservation practices on working lands. This comes against a backdrop of wrangling on Capitol Hill as Democrats try to navigate passage of a broad “Build Back Better” agenda that includes historic levels of investment for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Add to that recent announcements from Cargill and Rabobank launching voluntary carbon programs for farmers, and the feeling of momentum being built is palpable. The most encouraging sign for me, though, is producer sentiment. At Trust In Food™, we’re tracking producer awareness, sentiment, and triggers for participating in carbon programming and are seeing cautious optimism and interest. Clearly, there’s a lot a work ahead before the potential of climate-smart ag carbon markets is realized. But it is an exciting time to be in the space. Do you have experience and an interest in being on the front lines of supporting the uptake of climate-smart ag practices and programs? We’re hiring – check out the new opportunities here! Yours in regenerative ag, Amy Skoczlas Cole
Executive Vice President
Trust In Food™, a Farm Journal initiative
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| | | | | | | | | | USDA Announces $3 Billion Investment in Agriculture, Animal Health, and Nutrition; Unveils New Climate Partnership Initiative, Requests Public Input (via USDA) | | Shared by Nate Birt, vice president, Trust In Food: A new $3 billion initiative announced this past week by USDA will emphasize partnerships in helping farmers and foresters integrate climate-smart practices into their business. A public comment period remains open through early November, with input needed on the state of climate-smart commodity markets, possible protocols, methods for verification and inclusion of underserved people.
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| | To Address Climate Change, Mend Ruminant Production, Don't End It (via AgWeb) | | Shared by Emily Smith, community engagement coordinator, Trust In Food: Eighty-nine percent of Americans include meat in their diets, so rather than ending the production of animals, Farm Journal Foundation's Stephanie Mercier, argues there are ways to improve livestock production practices that also benefit the environment such as increased grazing, feed additives and the use of superior genetics.
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| | Making Nature-Positive Food The Norm (via Ellen MacArthur Foundation) | | Shared by Rebecca Bartels, director of business development, Trust In Food: The Ellen MacArther Foundation asks, "Rather than bending nature to produce food, can food be designed for nature to thrive? And what if food could build biodiversity and tackle climate change?" In the Foundation's report titled, "The big food redesign," it shares how companies can take a design-led approach that takes nature-positive food into the mainstream.
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