December 21, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Earth.com details how biodiversity loss from the agricultural trade is alarmingly high. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – WMRA reports on how Iowa is trying to deal with farm runoff by using “saturated buffers.” Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – A new report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) says we are ignoring important linkages between biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Solidaridad and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced a collaboration to promote the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices in Mexico’s coffee farms, with a goal to drive low-carbon coffee production by providing sustainable solutions to enhance the productivity, climate resilience and livelihoods of coffee-growing communities. Over the next three years, LDC and Solidaridad are committed to working with approximately 3,500 coffee farmers across an estimated 6,700 hectares in Mexico’s states of Chiapas, Veracruz and Puebla, providing them with training and tools to implement practices that promote and restore soil health and coffee plant quality such as the use of cover crops, crop diversification, implementation of new coffee nurseries and resource optimization technologies. The collaboration will also aim to enhance traceability for participating farms, with a goal to drive coffee supply chain transparency. [link]

Purdue University scientists are investigating whether mulching Kura clover, a perennial legume, can provide sufficient nitrogen for corn, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers while enhancing soil organic carbon storage. Kura clover, a unique perennial legume that survives year-round, can harness underutilized temporal and spatial niches of the monoculture corn system. As a legume, Kura clover also fixes inert nitrogen gas from the air, converting it into plant-useable forms available to corn. The project is being funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [link]

Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector is set to receive nearly $1 billion in federal funding to promote climate-smart farming practices and encourage consumer demand for climate-friendly products. This significant investment comes from the federal Farm Bill and the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, both of which prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The funding will support a variety of initiatives, including reducing emissions from livestock; promoting hemp production; supporting climate-smart products; empowering underserved farmers; developing sustainable agroforestry; and promoting low-carbon beef. [link]

The Biden-Harris Administration released a policy framework to guide potential demand-side measures to reduce the importation of deforestation-linked commodities and derived products into the United States, with an initial focus on agricultural commodities. This policy framework, which was developed through an interagency process initiated by section 3 in Executive Order 14072 on stopping international deforestation, reaffirms the Administration’s support for the collective goal of halting and reversing global deforestation by 2030 and outlines six framework elements aimed at maximizing policy effectiveness in achieving this goal. The Administration has also produced a report summarizing tools and practices that agencies use or can adopt to avoid deforestation in multiple development sectors. [link]

The Healey-Driscoll Administration in Massachusetts has announced $3.6 million in more than 100 grant awards to provide funding to local farmers. The funding supports farmers in meeting strict food safety standards, improving soil health and management through composting, sustaining cranberry growing operations, and adapting to changing climate conditions. It also enhances their contributions to the state’s carbon reduction and climate change mitigation goals. [link]

University of Minnesota Extension has partnered with the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project to build a regional dataset of cover crop performance across Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This data will identify the best cover crop types and practices for various growing conditions and inform management recommendations tailored to your region. Cover crops are important soil covers during times when fields are normally left bare. These covers protect soil, water quality, and farmers’ bottom lines. [link]

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund announced the commencement of a pilot project with Chevron Renewable Energy Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, as part of a larger Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program. This initiative represents a notable step toward integrating biofuels into sustainable agriculture outcomes, contributing to the overall goals of the program, which is supported by $157 million in combined funding from the USDA and corporate partners. As part of the program, farmers can enroll their acres and receive support in transitioning to climate smart agricultural practices. The financial investment from Chevron is focusing on acres within 100 miles of their Mason City, IA and Newton, IA biodiesel production facilities. The goal for the program was to enroll 5,000 acres for the 2025 growing season and to date the project has exceeded that goal. [link]

Washington State University researchers are engaging in a new study that examines a variety of soil health changes in lands enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program. Scientists will track soil health, wheat yield and soil microbiology for the lands that are part of a volunteer program that encourages farmers to convert highly erodible and environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetation cover. The program pays landowners to take their property out of production for a contract that lasts 10-15 years. The study will identify the best way to convert land into use for crop production while keeping soils healthy. Researchers will share their findings with farmers to aid decision-making for their own land. [link]

Regenerative agriculture pioneer Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) announced that USDA Rural Development has awarded it a $3.8 million grant through the department’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). FPEP provides grants to help high potential organizations increase or otherwise expand the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives and their availability in the United States. The $3.8 million grant will enable AEA to continue growing its production and farmer impact and further leverage the potential of its newly launched, 55,000-square-foot production facility in Aurora, CO. This state-of-the-art facility houses all of the necessary equipment to efficiently produce AEA’s plant nutrition products, formulated specifically for regenerative growers. The funding will allow the company to make facility upgrades and scale its workforce. [link]

Danish agrotech startup, GrowGrounds, has entered an agreement with 5,800 coffee farmers who will convert to sustainable agroforestry benefitting both nature, climate, coffee, and their own livelihoods. GrowGrounds has announced a transformative partnership with three leading coffee farming cooperatives societies in Nyeri County, Kenya: Iriani Farmers Cooperative Society, Kiawamuru FCS, and Aguthi Farmers Cooperative Society. With GrowGrounds’ expertise in coffee, agroforestry and carbon sequestration, Kenyan farmers will adopt syntropic farming practices that enhance biodiversity, improve yields, and create long-term revenue opportunities. The collaboration goes beyond coffee farming, building climate resilience, restoring ecosystems, and enabling access to the global carbon market. GrowGrounds aims to train these farmers in agroforestry practices and plant 1.1 million trees by 2027, securing 80% of its revenue from carbon credit sales that will be distributed equitably among farmers. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In September this year, a YouGov survey said that Gen Z consumers are placing an overwhelming emphasis on both sustainability and quality in their grocery products, with many willing to spend more to support brands that reflect these values. See more, here.

December 14, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Triple Pundit asks if regenerative agriculture can deliver sustainability outcomes. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – AG DAILY looks at the biggest breakthroughs in agriculture for 2024. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Reuters does a story on SwagBot, the AI-powered robot cattle herder preventing soil degradation. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Post-election farmer sentiment jumped in November as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed 30 points to 145, the highest since 2021. Future Expectations increased 37 points to 161, while Current Conditions rose 18 points to 113. Some of the reasons behind the improvement include expectations for a future of more favorable regulatory and tax environment for the ag sector. [link]

The Campbell’s Company will work with potato farmers to implement regenerative agriculture practices for the production of soups and potato chips as part of a pilot with East Coast grocery chain Ahold Delhaize. The companies will support three potato farms in North Carolina, New York and Michigan in their adoption of practices that improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions. Campbell’s will combine the harvested potatoes with conventionally grown crops to produce Kettle Brand chips, Cape Cod chips and Campbell’s soups, which Ahold Delhaize will then sell in its U.S. stores. [link]

The Soil Health Initiative is back for its second year, offering grants to Boulder County, CO farmers and ranchers to implement regenerative practices that improve soil health, enhance agricultural resilience, and address the impacts of climate change. Funding of $1.1 million is available for the 2025 grant cycle, with $100,000 of that funding provided by Colorado Zero Foodprint member businesses and supporters. Farmers and ranchers who operate on leased Boulder County Parks & Open Space land, private land, or both, can apply for funding until the Jan. 8, 2025, deadline. Grants will be awarded in February. [link]

UW-Madison Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Jeff Hadachek, has developed a tool to aid farmers on understanding the financial impact of conservation decisions. Using datasets from large numbers of farms, Dr. Hadachek created a model that allows farmers to input their own costs to see how their bottom line would be affected if they implemented specific conservation practices. The Soil Health Decision Tool, available at go.wisc.edu/SHDecisionTool, first analyzes all financial impacts from conventional growing practices associated with corn or soybeans. Next, the tool allows you to evaluate conservation changes to the system, such as cover cropping or reduced tillage. Assumptions on yield changes can also be made in the tool. The model then provides graphs that show the profitability of the net return of the two sets of practices on a per acre basis. [link]

The USDA released a report that says some 68% of large crop farms use precision agriculture technology that generates information aiding decision-making by operators, such as yield monitors, yield maps, and soil maps. The annual “Farms and Ranches at a Glance” report showed higher-volume farms are heavy users of the technology, notwithstanding earlier reports showing a low usage rate by farmers nationwide. Large operators said they adopted precision agriculture (PA) technology to increase yields, reduce input costs, and reduce operator fatigue. By contrast, few small farms employed the technology. Last year, the USDA reported 27% of crop and livestock farms used at least one form of PA, from yield monitors and drones to robotic milking, an increase of 2 percentage points in two years. [link]

The extent of the world’s land affected by excess salt is set to increase rapidly with potentially devastating impacts on food production, according to a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. About 1.4bn hectares (3.4bn acres), amounting to 10% of global land, is affected by salinity, with a further 1bn hectares classed as “at risk”. This is already having a serious impact on agriculture, as globally about a tenth of irrigated cropland and a similar proportion of rain-fed cropland is afflicted by excess salt. The potential losses to crop yields are as high as 70% in some cases. Some of the world’s largest and most populous countries are particularly badly hit, including China and the US, Russia, Australia and Argentina. The central Asian region is also a hotspot, with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan badly affected, while Iran and Sudan also rank among the countries suffering the worst effects. These 10 countries account for 70% of salt-affected soils globally. [link]

Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act helped push U.S. investment in farm conservation programs to a record high in fiscal year 2024, however, a majority of applicants for these programs still received no funding as demand continues to outstrip available resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it supported more than 23,000 climate-focused conservation contracts through the IRA, contributing to the highest total investment in the history of the department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The investments covered over 11 million acres in fiscal year 2024. In fiscal year 2024, NRCS made more than $3 billion available from the IRA for climate-smart agriculture and forestry mitigation activities, in addition to the $2 billion available from the farm bill for all conservation activities. Despite the record investment, strong demand for conservation programs meant a majority of farmers who applied received no funding. NRCS failed to fund nearly 64% of the applications received for its three flagship programs: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. [link]

Purdue Extension has partnered with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF), a leading agricultural ecosystem services program, to provide Indiana farmers with greater technical support when adopting climate-smart farming methods, such as cover crops and reduced tillage. This partnership is part of the Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program, a multistate project administered by the SWOF to protect waterways, reduce emissions and provide incentives for farmers to adopt conservation practices. As the first statewide extension office partner with SWOF, Purdue Extension will provide interested Indiana farmers with information and technical assistance. [link]

The Symbiosis Coalition, an advance market commitment for nature-based carbon removal by Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce, announced the launch of its first Request for Proposals (RFP) process, starting with reforestation and agroforestry projects. The RFP will drive progress towards its goal to contract up to 20 million tonnes of high-quality nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030, while helping address market challenges for scaling these projects. Symbiosis intends to prioritize projects with a path to scale, meaning preference for 500,000 tonnes of carbon removal by 2035 and at least 1M tonnes over the project lifetime. It also aims to preserve a pathway for smaller projects with local leadership and particularly impactful ecological, biodiversity, or social benefits. [link]

A number of nonprofit efforts across Appalachia, ranging from offering carbon credits to private landowners to promoting agroforestry, are receiving millions of dollars in federal funds as a part of a larger effort to preserve private forestland. The USDA said nearly $335 million from the Inflation Reduction Act will go toward managing and cultivating privately-owned forests across the country. [link]

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Danone North America are accepting applications for $450,000 in grant opportunities through Feb. 5. The funding is available through the grant program “Understanding the Impact of Hub Farm Resources in Expanding Adoption of Regenerative Agriculture Practices,” and will support socioeconomic research on large and small dairy farms. The funding will go toward one to two awards for research focused on the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that enhance biodiversity and improve soil and water health. The initiative aims to promote the use of regenerative practices by understanding the impact hub farms — cooperative locations that share resources and best practices — can have on implementing these practices. [link]

The European Commission will allocate €132 million in 2025 to co-fund promotion activities for sustainable and high-quality EU agri-food products in the internal market and worldwide. The 2025 promotion policy work program adopted by the Commission is designed to develop new market opportunities for EU farmers and the wider EU food industry, as well as to help them secure their existing business. Its priorities take into account the overarching objectives of sustainability and competitiveness, as well as food security, outlined in the Political guidelines for the Commission 2024-2029. [link]

Millions of cell tower pings from dating, weather, messaging and other mobile apps that use location-sharing services are helping agricultural economists better understand how farmworkers respond to environmental hazards such as wildfire smoke. During California’s most destructive wildfire season in 2020, the number of farmworkers in a surveyed field fell by nearly 35% and the number of hours worked in that same location dropped by 37% on smoky days when elevated levels of particulate matter were in the air. On less smoky days, the number of workers in surveyed fields was nearly 18% below typical levels and the hours worked were 23% below normal, according to novel research from the University of California, Davis, to be published in the January edition of Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. The researchers also found that farmworkers tended to work more hours in the days leading up to smoke events and switched fields to avoid the worst conditions. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late-October, Treehouse California Almonds announced that it is developing a new biochar manufacturing facility in Delano that will be the first commercial system directly tied to agriculture on the U.S. west coast. See more, here.

December 7, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Wired says that chocolate has a sustainability problem, however science thinks it has found an answer. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Politico details how collaboration is key to fulfilling regenerative agriculture goals. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – An article in Nature discusses how progress towards sustainable agriculture will potentially be hampered by siloed scientific discourses. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Source Agriculture Corp., an innovative agri-tech investment company, has announced a strategic investment in Ascribe Bioscience, a cutting-edge company dedicated to developing sustainable crop protection solutions. Ascribe, founded in 2017, is focused on discovering natural products derived from the soil microbiome to help farmers achieve more reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible farming practices. Ascribe Bioscience's lead product, Phytalix, acts like a vaccine for plants by priming their natural defense systems against pathogens. Based on naturally occurring molecules produced by soil organisms, Phytalix has shown proven efficacy in controlling a broad spectrum of pathogens across multiple crops, including corn, wheat, soy, rice, potatoes, and tomatoes. The product is non-toxic, biodegradable, and non-GMO, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides and expensive biological treatments. [link]

The Food Foundation’s Investor Coalition on Food Policy is working the power of investors to engage with policymakers on issues related to food systems in the United Kingdom. The Coalition allows investors to engage with policymakers on food policy issues, supporting regulations that will lead to a healthy, sustainable, and affordable food system. The Food Foundation created the Coalition to help ensure that investors had a voice in the development and implementation of policy after realizing that England’s National Food Strategy (NFS) did not incorporate investor perspectives. In the coming years, the Coalition hopes to continue to engage with food policy in the UK and begin to establish an international focus as well. They also plan to continue working to ensure that investors are recognized as important stakeholders in the food policy landscape. [link]

The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a $40 million loan as part of a $394 million sustainability-linked loan for ETC Group (ETG), one of Africa's largest agricultural commodity supply chain managers. The financing will enhance ETG's working capital, strengthen food systems and support the livelihoods of more than 600,000 smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa. This is the OPEC Fund's first sustainability-linked loan, a financing tool that ties lending terms to meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. The loan incentivizes ETG to improve farmer livelihoods, reduce environmental impacts and enhance food security. [link]

The world needs to urgently change the way food is grown and land is used in order to avoid irreparable harm to global food production capacity, according to a major new scientific report. Currently seven out of nine ‘planetary boundaries’ have been negatively impacted by unsustainable land use, mostly related to unsustainable agriculture, warns the report produced by the German-based Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) along with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Approximately 15 million km² of land area, or 10% of the world’s terrestrial space, is already severely degraded, as measured by the extent of deforestation, diminished food production capacity, and the disappearance of freshwater resources. And this degraded land area is expanding each year by about 1 million km², according to the report. Failure to reverse land degradation trends that result in deforestation and impoverished soils will also have long-term, knock-on impacts with respect to hunger, migration, and conflict, the report warns. [link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has begun accepting grant applications for its Healthy Soils Competitive Fund. This unique program offers financial assistance to qualifying farmers and organizations to adopt conservation practices aimed at improving soil health in the state. Successful applicants will receive up to $50,000 to support three years of enhanced soil health practices. Funds are available for farmers, groups of farmers, or organizations working with farmers that want to manage the following practices in innovative ways: Agroforestry, Cover Crops, Conservation Tillage, Pasture/Hay Planting, Conservation Cover, Critical Area Planting, Conservation Crop Rotation, Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management, Prescribed Grazing, Soil Carbon Amendments. [link]

Pennsylvania’s farms could become more resilient to severe weather brought on by climate change thanks to $40.8 million in federal grant money. The National Hemp Association plans to use a $19.6 million grant to help farmers grow hemp on 5,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The association said the effort will encourage practices such as contour farming, crop rotation, cover cropping, nutrient management and no-till farming. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is the lead partner on a $21.2 million grant to help dairy farmers reduce emissions from livestock and manure, which account for nearly 62% of the state agriculture sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The money will roll out over five years in the form of financial and technical assistance to farmers, said Mike Roth, director of innovation for the state Department of Agriculture. [link]

Cargill said it is laying off 5% of its global workforce, roughly 8,000 workers, as the agricultural giant deals with tepid crop prices and pressure on the beef industry. In a statement, Cargill said the move was part of its efforts to align talent and resources with a long-term strategy set earlier this year. The Minneapolis-based company has over 160,000 employees operating in 70 countries, according to its website. [link]

Toesca Asset Management and Astarte Capital Partners have announced a partnership to establish an institutional platform focused on regenerative agriculture investments in Chile and the broader Latin American region. This first fund, Toesca Permanent Crops II (“TPC II”), a member of the Astarte Platform, is set to invest $350 million in a diversified portfolio of permanent crops based on regenerative and sustainable practices, focusing on Chile’s competitive advantages in permanent crops and targeting strategic expansion into Peru and other Latin American markets. The portfolio aims to deliver strong financial returns through high-performance orchards featuring carefully selected species, all operated under the highest operational, environmental and social standards. [link]

The state of California continues to work on formalizing a state-level definition for regenerative agriculture, recently convening to submit a draft definition to the State Board of Food & Agriculture. “Regenerative agriculture,” as defined for use by State of California policies and programs, is an integrated approach to farming and ranching rooted in principles of soil health and informed by the traditions and innovations from the original Indigenous stewards of the land. Examples of target outcomes include: increased statewide implementation of conservation practice standards that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gases; furthering California's sustainable pest management through conservation practice standards; protecting the welfare and care of animals in agriculture; building healthy, local communities; and protecting spiritual and cultural traditions, among others. State agencies and departments plan to coordinate with the Department, contingent upon resources, in the development of measurable and verifiable outcomes related to individual policies and programs and are responsible for incorporating verification and reporting. [link]

Kansas State University researchers have received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Global Centers program to develop sensors that can more accurately detect nutrients, chemical compounds, soil microbiomes and greenhouse gases in soil. The project will involve more than a half dozen scientists aiming to develop sensors using atomically thin carbon sheets in which the actual sensing events occur at the nanoscale, defined as a dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. The initial research and testing of the nanoscale sensors will take place on K-State’s North Farm in Manhattan, but the goal is to eventually spread to sites in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Ultimately, the goal is to form a Global Center to help train students in interdisciplinary research and education and increase understanding of the capability of the proposed sensors. [link]

Almost half of the fields in Northern Ireland have been tested so far as part of a scheme to help farmers understand the nutrients in their soil. Almost 70% of farms have registered for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, a scheme that is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. The £37m program is run by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and helps farmers understand the nutrient makeup of their soil, including nitrogen and phosphorus levels that can contribute to water quality problems and algal blooms in Lough Neagh through run-off. Fertilizer can then be applied where it is needed and excess nutrients reduced over time. [link]

Mars, Incorporated, a global leader in pet care products, confectionery, snacking and food, has announced major collaborations to scale regenerative agriculture practices across its pet nutrition business in Europe. Multiyear collaborations have begun with suppliers including Cargill and ADM, and technical experts Biospheres, Horta, Agreena and Soil Capital in Europe. Through these partnerships, farmers in Poland, Hungary, and the UK will receive financial incentives and expert advisory services to support adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, including crop rotation, minimal tillage, and cover crops. The programs will support farmers to invest in new methods and offer training to build knowledge and confidence while reducing barriers to adopting regenerative agriculture practices. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-November, CoBank announced the launch of its first sustainability-linked loan in partnership with its customer, Heartland Co-op. See more, here.

November 30, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Iowa Capital Dispatch tells the story of a huge organic farm in Iowa that thrives without chemicals. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – North Penn Now Community News looks into how Pennsylvania farmers are using regenerative practices to grow healthier, more profitable crops. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Farming Life speaks with a family in Northern Ireland that has successfully introduced mob grazing on their sheep farm. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

A trial at Newcastle University’s Nafferton Farm, near Newcastle, has showed an “encouraging” yield response to the application of basalt rock dust, according to Jez Wardman of UNDO. Set up in 2022, the carbon dioxide removal company partners with quarrying companies to spread rock dust on agricultural land in the UK and abroad. The Newcastle trial involved the application of basalt rock spring oats in 2022, with spring oat yields roughly 15% higher overall on the plots where product was applied. [link]

Transitioning from conventional to organic farming practices can be challenging, but the new Organic Transition Initiative-Regenerative Agriculture Pathway Program is designed to provide the resources needed to make the transition successful. The program was created by the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association with a Conservation Collaborative Cooperative Agreement with Natural Resources Conservation Service. It hopes to serve as a resource hub for producers with both educational materials and hands-on experiences. Technical assistance is also available in the form of walking producers through the process of moving from conventional to organic certification, adopting the NRCS Organic Management Standard 823, and potentially regenerative organic certification, as well. [link]

In Peru’s northern region of San Martín, farmers, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved in advancing agroforestry have collaborated closely with researchers to develop an innovative agroforestry-focused decision-making platform. Known as the SMART platform, this initiative—named after the region—has been in development since 2021. It harnesses participants’ collective knowledge to deliver practical and accessible information, promoting agroforestry practices. The SMART community of practice comprises more than 20 organizations, cooperatives, government agencies, academics and others committed to advancing agroforestry in the region. [link]

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will be discussing regenerative agriculture at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Over the past year, the Board and CDFA initiated a public process to define regenerative agriculture for state policies and programs. The December 3 meeting provides the Board the opportunity to consider a staff definition. The meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar from 10:00am to 1:00pm. [link]

A new study in the journal, Frontiers in Environmental Science, says that global land is sufficient to provide a sustainable supply of food and ecosystem services throughout this century, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with a 1.5C warming goal. Led by researchers at the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy (CS3), the study applies the MIT Integrated Global System Modeling (IGSM) framework to evaluate costs and benefits of different land-based climate mitigation options in Sky2050, a 1.5 C climate-stabilization scenario developed by Shell. If transformative changes in policy, land management practices, and consumption patterns are implemented, 2.5–3.5 global hectares (gha) of land would be used for NBS practices to sequester 3–6 gigatons (Gt) of CO2 per year, and 0.4–0.6 gha of land would be allocated for energy production — 0.2–0.3 gha for bioenergy and 0.2–0.35 gha for wind and solar power generation. [link]

Supported by a three-year, $799,883 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an international team led by researchers at Penn State will address the so-called “dark side” of biochar, assessing the threat of organic contaminant residues in biorefinery char products. Biochar comprises organic waste material and is made by pyrolysis, a process that involves heating the organic material in a limited oxygen environment. While biochar has significant potential for use as a soil amendment and for carbon sequestration, its manufacturing process can produce harmful compounds if it is not designed and executed properly. The goal of the research is to identify and test design and optimization strategies for biorefineries to produce biochar without the presence of dangerous organic compounds such as such as benzene, hexane and toluene. [link]

An Illinois-based processing facility has completed its first run of climate-smart soybeans. These food-grade soybeans are now poised to enter the soy milk market, a step in delivering climate-smart agricultural products directly to consumers. The Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain project (Transform F2C) leads the effort, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant. The processor, Scoular, is the first of five processing facilities anticipated to work within the project. The Transform F2C project incentivizes producers to implement climate-smart practices, such as cover cropping, conservation crop rotation and reduced tillage practices. The project expects to engage farmers implementing these practices across the Midwest and Great Plains regions, with a goal to exceed the 36,000-acre target set forth at the beginning of the effort. [link]

A Cornish farmer is trialing different approaches to improve soil health while reducing erosion and flooding – and using robotics technology to help him measure his success. Working in a group of farmers across Cornwall, with Innovative Farmers and Farm Net Zero, Malcolm Barrett trialed methods of sowing maize that minimize ploughing. Now the University of Plymouth has partnered with the trial as part of its ongoing research in the potential for agri-tech innovations to support land and water management. The university is pioneering the development of sensors that estimate soil organic matter and moisture levels, using natural radioactivity signals that come from all soil minerals. This can provide data to help farmers see how effective their practices have been across a field and help them to plan how to better manage soils and water and improve productivity. [link]

Cover crops are going into the ground and protocols are being written for a Texas A&M AgriLife Research-led project designed to help producers across the Cotton Belt improve efficiencies and the sustainability of their operations. AgriLife Research weed science and cropping systems agronomist Muthukumar “Muthu” Bagavathiannan, Ph.D., is leading a $10 million grant project to transform cotton production into a more sustainable system in the southern U.S. The goal of the new multistate project is to use improved management practices, such as reduced tillage and precision input management, to enhance soil health and sustainability across the Cotton Belt. [link]

Contrary to widespread concerns that global crop yields have stagnated in recent decades, a comprehensive study of worldwide food production finds yields have continued to grow at roughly the same rate since the 1960s. John Baffes of the World Bank and Xiaoli Etienne of the University of Idaho, U.S., reported these findings on November 27, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. The researchers found that there has been no discernable slowdown in the global growth of crop yields during the last six decades -- any observed slowdown in specific crops, regions or countries has been offset by gains in others. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early November, Campbell Soup Company and Kind Snacks advanced projects that would advance regenerative agriculture practices for key ingredients with financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See more, here.

November 23, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – World Economic Forum writes about how regenerative agriculture can make climate solutions more resilient. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – NPR wonders if the solution to soil releasing CO2 could be letting water reclaim the land. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Forbes says it’s time to move from oil to soil. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

U.S. President Biden announced in Manaus, Brazil that USAID will commit nearly $40 million to strengthen protection of the Brazilian Legal Amazon, including by launching a suite of new activities to accelerate the bioeconomy and catalyze further funding from U.S. philanthropies and the private sector. The new initiatives will support more than 42 million hectares of Protected Areas – an area the size of California – with activities reinforcing forest fire management, supporting uptake of regenerative agriculture in areas at high risk of deforestation, improving territorial management for Indigenous communities, and strengthening bioeconomy value chains to ensure economic development and forest conservation go hand-in-hand. [link]

Global climate finance for sustainable and agroecological food systems is shrinking amid a worsening climate crisis putting pressure on agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, according to a new report by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food. The report stated that the percentage of climate finance for food systems dipped from 3 to 2.5 percent between 2017 and 2022 despite food systems accounting for about a third of all global greenhouse gas emissions. And funding into food systems dipped further as sustainable and agroecological food systems interventions only accounted for 1.5 percent of the money within the period. [link]

A brand-new free digital agroforestry designer toolkit is being launched by cloud-based mapping software company Land App and partners. Aimed at farmers, estate managers and land agents across the UK, Land App’s ground-breaking new Agroforestry Designer Toolkit aims to platform agroforestry – the intentional integration of trees into farms – and its many benefits to farmers, their livestock and nature. The Agroforestry Designer Toolkit was developed in partnership with Shropshire Council and with input from Edd Colbert (Agroforestry Design). It is funded by Trees Outside Woodland (a partnership project of Defra, The Tree Council, Natural England, and Shropshire Council) with support from the Forestry Commission, Nature-Friendly Farming Network, The Tree Council and the Woodland Trust. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched its 2024 Statistical Yearbook, offering an in-depth overview of the most significant trends shaping global agrifood systems. The 2024 edition is structured into four thematic chapters covering: the economic dimensions of agriculture; the production, trade, and prices of commodities; food security and nutrition; and sustainability and environmental aspects of agriculture. [link]

Indigo Ag and Truterra have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at simplifying, expanding and accelerating the adoption of ag sustainability solutions. The two companies will work toward creating a common framework for high-integrity agriculture sustainability programs that effectively responds to the demands of downstream buyers within and beyond the ag value chain by ensuring greater consistency and standardization of ag sustainability outcomes and delivering a broader spectrum of solutions. Farmers enrolling in agricultural sustainability programs will have the ability to more easily choose the program that best suits their farming operations, with the support and expertise of their trusted advisors, the ag retailers. They will also benefit from new, actionable insights generated by aggregating and standardizing data. [link]

The dairy checkoff announced that it has launched the Dairy Conservation Navigator, an online resource hub designed to provide farm advisors, stakeholders and conservation professionals with science-based information on sustainable farming practices and technologies. The Navigator aggregates science-based information from more than 70 experts, helping users make informed decisions that enhance farm profitability and sustainability efforts. Dairy checkoff scientists and others developed a list of over 80 practices that have a positive environmental benefit in areas including nutrient management, methane reduction, soil health, manure handling and more. The tool can be accessed at www.dairyconservation.org. [link]

A new study from Penn State University reveals that phosphorus, a vital nutrient in soil, is increasingly being washed away from agricultural land in the United States due to heavier rainstorms. The study analyzed data from 430 rivers across the country and found that phosphorus loss from farmland has risen over the past forty years, even with efforts to reduce agricultural runoff. The study also found that while efforts to control phosphorus pollution from urban wastewater are effective, agricultural runoff remains a significant challenge due to increased storm severity, a phenomenon tied to climate change. Researchers believe that solutions will need to include both technological advancements and changes in farming practices. [link]

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, a leading agricultural ecosystem services program, announced that McCormick & Company has joined its Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program. In collaboration with PepsiCo, the organizations will provide greater financial and technical support to farmers enrolled in the Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program helping to drive adoption of voluntary, regenerative agriculture practices. The Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program is administered by the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) and was created in 2023 with a $95 million grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, and $62 million in corporate commitments from companies like PepsiCo. Farmers enrolled in the program, who span 12 states across the Midwest and Plains regions, have opted to implement conservation practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, extended crop rotations, and fertilization management to help improve soil health, water quality, reduce erosion, and more. [link]

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, Serve Colorado announced the launch of a new Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) in regenerative farm management, aimed at fostering the next generation of agricultural professionals in Colorado. This new RAP is the result of a collaborative effort supported by a 2022 Scale Up Grant from the State of Colorado. Over the past 18 months, dedicated partners, including local experts and educational institutions, have come together to design a comprehensive training program that meets the evolving needs of the farming industry. The program aims to place its first two apprentices by December 31, 2024, with training and work scheduled to begin in March 2025. [link]

At COP29, CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) has joined the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) in announcing investments and partnerships aimed at transforming food systems and building resilience to climate change. Amid the momentum, CGIAR unveiled two new AIM for Climate Innovation Sprints focused on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, reinforcing its commitment to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in our food, land, and water systems. The new Innovation Sprints include a $250 million impact fund (FICRA) that will channel patient debt financing to 25-30 financial institutions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, along with a $150 million, 10-year blended impact fund (Ag360 Climate Fund) focused on gender-responsive circular agriculture projects in the Global South. [link]

Seventy-eight NGOs, including Save Soil, 4per1000 and SEKEM, endorsed a policy recommendation document on regenerative farming climate financing to be presented to the UNFCCC at the ongoing UN climate conference (COP29). The key policy recommendations include: Making climate finance accessible to farmers for adopting regenerative agro-ecological practices, increasing climate finance allocation to farmers for creating carbon sinks in farmlands, developing supportive policies and infrastructure for adopting sustainable land practices, mobilizing private investment into soil regeneration, and integrating soil restoration into climate finance strategies. Implementing regenerative agro-ecological practices worldwide could contribute 27 per cent of the carbon sequestration needed to cap global warming below a 2-degree Celsius rise. Yet, a lack of financial support limits farmers' ability to transition from conventional, soil-degrading practices. [link]

Amsterdam-based TRACT, which offers sustainability measurement systems for supply chains, announced that it has raised $11.2 million in new funding. The funds will be used to expand the scope of the company’s services, which include a SaaS platform that enables companies in the agricultural and food industries to assess and develop methods to reduce their carbon footprints. The new funding will accelerate initiatives related to scope 3 (indirect) emissions, as well tracking insights into farmer income and working to support reporting related to CSRD and CSDDD, EU regulations that require companies to report sustainability information, along with performing due diligence on the sustainability of the organizations they work with, TRACT said. [link]

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Danone North America announced the opening of a Request for Applications (RFA) focused on promoting regenerative agriculture. The grant opportunity Understanding the Impact of Hub Farm Resources in Expanding Adoption of Regenerative Agriculture Practices will provide up to $450,000 total over one to two awards for research fostering the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. This funding intends to support socio-economic research on both large and small dairy farms that aims to promote replication of hub farm best management practices across the farm environments. The research should also provide guidance for encouraging middle adopters of regenerative agriculture practices to increase and maintain cover crop acres and facilitate the acquisition of appropriate equipment and infrastructure to scale these practices. [link]

Kiss the Ground announced $500,000 in direct-to-farmer grants alongside a new set of farmer offerings. Beyond the $500K in direct financial support covering training and equipment, Kiss the Ground has vastly expanded storytelling initiatives focused on the farmers. The shorts-series "5 with a Farmer" features quick, heartfelt chats with the people behind our food, while the mini-documentary series "Stories of Regeneration" documents the inspirational journeys of farmers making real change through regenerative agriculture. Kiss the Ground’s updated farmer hub features a map of over 100 regenerative farms nationwide, encouraging consumers to support local regenerative agriculture. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, a new study from Dartmouth College indicated that farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative agriculture practices to decrease their dependence on agrochemical companies. See more, here.

November 16, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Oregon Capital Chronicle highlights an Oregon farm incubator that seeks to make it easier for people to become farmers. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Financial Times discusses how to feed the world via the power of uncommon collaborations in agritech. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – NC State Extension has published a report on the enhancement of animal welfare and productivity at farms using silvopasture in NC and VA. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Carlsberg Denmark has entered into an agreement with DLG and Viking Malt to purchase Danish malt barley grown according to regenerative principles. The malt barley will be used for a specially brewed Carlsberg, which will be available in 2025 and be Carlsberg's first beer in Denmark with regenerative raw materials. As part of its sustainability strategy, Together Towards ZERO and Beyond, Carlsberg Group has committed to sourcing all raw materials according to regenerative principles by 2040. This transition will benefit both climate and the environment. [link]

Ecologists at the University of Oregon have been awarded a grant to test what they hope is a win for conservation and a win for hazelnut farmers. The $2 million federal grant allows the UO team to expand their research into improving soil health and climate resilience in hazelnut groves by planting native wildflowers with added crushed basalt under the trees. The funding is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Innovation Grants Program, through the Inflation Reduction Act. [link]

Berlin-based agritech startup Klim is working to get farms to switch to regenerative farming more easily, and to help expand its operations internationally, the startup recently secured a $22 million Series A funding round led by Europe’s largest bank BNP Paribas. Notably, the round is one of the largest raised by agritech startups in Europe this year. With Klim, farmers get tools to plan, execute and finance the transition to regenerative practices. This includes data on restoring soil health, biodiversity, capturing carbon and reducing emissions. Farmers can also use Klim’s platform to track the progress of their transition and prove it to supply chain partners, enabling them to earn revenue payouts for sequestered carbon. Klim then takes a commission on the sale of carbon “insets” linked to supply chains, and farmers can generate revenue from these by selling them on Klim’s marketplace. [link]

LandAlive, which takes place on November 22 and 23 at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, is bringing together expert farmers and speakers to explain how the whole food supply chain can become more resilient, profitable and environmentally sustainable. A new prize fund has just been announced, which will officially launch at LandAlive, offering two farmers or farm advisers in South West England £2,500 each towards a two-year regenerative farming program called Roots to Regeneration (R2R). The prize fund, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, aims to stimulate innovation in farm business models in response to climate change, biodiversity loss, soil health, animal welfare, and – importantly – supporting farmer wellbeing. [link]

The Soil Inventory Project (TSIP) has announced a new partnership with EarthOptics, formalizing the two organizations' commitment to share data and expertise to produce the most advanced insights into soil health and sustainability. TSIP, a science-led non-profit, and EarthOptics, a leader in advanced soil sensing and predictive analytics technology, will enhance data exchange to provide robust, trusted, and actionable information on soil carbon storage, greenhouse gas accounting, and farm sustainability for farmers and ranchers. Through this partnership, TSIP will offer participating EarthOptics customers access to its cutting-edge modeling and automated reporting tools. By leveraging EarthOptics’ innovative soil sensing technology, which collects high-resolution physical, chemical, and biological soil data, the collaboration aims to empower agricultural stakeholders with data-driven insights for enhanced productivity and sustainable practices. [link]

Cargill RegenConnect has surpassed one million enrolled acres for the 2025 U.S. planting season, a milestone that underscores Cargill’s ongoing efforts to support farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices. Since its launch in 2021, Cargill RegenConnect has provided farmers with the tools, resources, and incentives they need to implement regenerative practices like low till, no-till, and cover cropping. The nearly 1,500 farmers enrolled in the U.S. program receive dedicated agronomist support, one-year contracts, payments for carbon sequestered, and choice of regenerative practices to adopt. This flexible approach helps farmers find the methods that work best for their operation as they transition. [link]

The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) has entered into a Conservation Collaborative Cooperative Agreement (CCCA) with NRCS to promote regenerative organic practices (ROP) within the state. By joining the Regenerative Agriculture Pathway Program, producers can improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance water quality. These practices can also lead to increased biodiversity, improved crop yields, and greater resilience to climate change. SDSPA will provide hands-on technical assistance, educational programs, and resources to help producers implement ROP on their operations. [link]

A new comprehensive study, “Potential for U.S. Agriculture to Be Greenhouse Gas Negative,” says that five major areas exist for carbon footprint reduction to get the sector to net zero, or below. Led by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action and supported by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, the study says that soil carbon management, nitrogen fertilizer management, animal production and management, crop yield gap, and efficient energy use will be key to getting U.S. agriculture to a net-negative greenhouse gas emitter. Published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, the analysis suggests aggressive adoption of conservation practices in these areas can more than offset its carbon footprint while increasing farmer profitability and farm resiliency. [link]

CoBank has announced the launch of its first sustainability-linked loan in partnership with its customer, Heartland Co-op. Through this partnership, Heartland Co-op will receive a slight interest rate reduction on its operating line of credit with CoBank if it achieves ambitious goals related to water quality conservation practices and farmer engagement. Environmental Defense Fund supported the development of the loan and advised on the water quality targets. [link]

Agriculture sustainability-focused startup NitroVolt announced that it has raised €3.5 million euros (USD$3.7 million) in seed funding, with proceeds to be used to help to commercialize its system for producing ammonia for farmers with a minimal carbon impact. Ammonia is used extensively in a number of areas, especially agriculture as a key ingredient in nitrogen fertilizers. Production of fertilizers such as nitrogen is an energy intensive process that, when it uses fossil fuels, contributes an estimated 2% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Founded in 2023, Denmark-based NitroVolt aims to solve this challenge with its Nitrolyzer system, which will produce “green ammonia” at the point-of-use...the farm. The company has developed a system that combines air, water, and renewable electricity in an electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis process that totally removes fossil fuels from the production process, making its ammonia 100% renewable, carbon-free, and competitive with current ammonia prices. [link]

Analysis conducted by the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University on behalf of Regenified and Diestel Family Ranch, confirms that Diestel turkeys grown with regenerative farming practices are not only better for the land, but can also improve fatty acid ratios and phytochemicals in turkeys. Diestel's regenerative birds were the first to be fed 650-tons of U.S.-grown Certified Regenerative feed that directly improves bird and soil health. In addition, Diestel turkeys have access to open land that was designed to replicate their natural shaded forest habitat. The Diestel brand has higher levels of zinc than a national leading brand. Vitamins B3 and B12 were found to be higher in the Diestel Regenerative samples compared to a national leading brand. The analysis also found that the Regenerative Diestel ground had higher levels of phytochemicals compared to a national leading brand, then transferred into the birds that eat plants from this land. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October, Sysco and ABP launched a five-year collaborative sustainable farming project in Tipperary, Ireland, aiming to help pioneer regenerative farming methods. See more, here.

November 9, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Maryland State Department of Natural Resources details how food forests enable fruit harvests and deeper connections to the land. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Earth.org says that in order to save our soil, we should invest in smallholder farmers. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – An article in Nature shows us how to climate-proof our crops. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

A new study from Dartmouth College indicates that farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative agriculture practices to decrease their dependence on agrochemical companies. Although farmers can earn money through carbon credits by doing regenerative agriculture, the study's authors were somewhat surprised to learn that this was not what was moving the needle for them. Instead, the farmers were more motivated by a desire to "get off that treadmill of high-input, high yield commodity agriculture," Susanne Freidberg, a professor of geography at Dartmouth and the study's co-lead author, said. [link]

Kiss the Ground, a leading nonprofit in the Regenerative Movement, launched a monthly subscription service for its certified regenerative coffee, Kiss the Ground Coffee, on November 1, 2024. This initiative follows an overwhelmingly successful donation-based beta launch in the summer of 2024, aiming to support regenerative farming practices and raise awareness about regenerative coffee production. After uncovering the harmful effects of conventional coffee production, Kiss the Ground partnered with Buena Vida Specialty Coffee, a Costa Rican company prioritizing farmer prosperity and soil health. Sourced from La Bella Farm, a small regenerative farm in Costa Rica, Kiss the Ground Coffee promises exceptional quality and flavor while supporting responsible production methods. [link]

The Cherokee County Conservation District is partnering with Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Choctaw Nation Conservation District, the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Conservation District to provide $3.2 million in funding to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices. Examples of conservation practices that producers may be eligible for include cover cropping, rotational grazing, native grassland planting, brush management, no-till, prescribed grazing and more. Agriculture producers may be eligible for up to $23,000 of financial assistance to help implement conservation practices that create healthy soils, improve rangeland, and protect water quality. [link]

Kenya has launched a new initiative, aimed at promoting the planting of bamboo trees along the Nzoia River basin, in western Busia County. The project is being funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences through its Sino-Africa Joint Research Center and is designed to control flooding, enhance climate resilience, and improve food security for local communities, as well as restore the ecological health of the Nzoia River, a major tributary of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest freshwater body. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program's affiliated International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP). [link]

A new project spearheaded by researchers at Purdue University and Michigan State University is harnessing solar power to make irrigation more efficient and cost-effective for farmers. By integrating solar energy with IoT (Internet of Things) technology, the project aims to help farmers in rural areas manage energy demands, cut costs, and gain better control over irrigation practices. Solar energy will be used to power irrigation pumps and support “peak shaving” — reducing the strain on power grids during high-demand periods. In addition, IoT sensors in the field will allow farmers to monitor soil moisture, energy use, and other critical data in real-time through cloud storage. [link]

UK-based Sapling Spirits has partnered with chef and farmer Julius Roberts to launch a premium Regenerative Vodka. The new release highlights Sapling’s mission to adopt the latest environmental practices and innovative thinking by offering consumers a vodka that helps regenerate soil. Roberts has supported Sapling with his expertise in regenerative agriculture, ensuring every aspect of the vodka’s production aligns with sustainable practices and supports local farmers. Sapling Spirits’ Regenerative Vodka will launch in retail with Jeroboams and online on the brand’s website and Amazon. It is priced at £55 (US$71) per bottle. [link]

Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States have officially launched a multi-donor “fund of funds”, known as FASA, whose aim is to address the financing challenges faced by agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (agri-SMEs) across Africa. Over the next 10 years, the “Financing for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises in Africa” Fund, or FASA, aims to support 500 agri-SMEs and 1.5 million smallholder farmers across the continent, which together constitute Africa’s largest employer and economic engine, ultimately benefiting 7.5 million people while bolstering nearly 60,000 jobs. Although they produce 80% of Africa’s locally consumed food and generate a quarter of the continent’s rural employment, agri-SMEs face an estimated $100 billion lending gap, according to a recent analysis. FASA Fund aims to address this gap with an ambitious, targeted approach. [link]

Campbell Soup Company and Kind Snacks announced projects that would advance regenerative agriculture practices for key ingredients with financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Campbell’s received $3.4 million through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program to increase adoption of sustainable practices and reduce water consumption among tomato growers in California. Separately, Kind, a subsidiary of Mars Inc., said it will unlock more than $300,000 for regenerative agriculture in almonds through USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Program. More major food companies are relying on the USDA and a collaborative network of nonprofits and suppliers as they make a herculean push to transform their supply chains in order to meet company sustainability goals. [link]

An analysis in the International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews emphasizes the role of biodiversity in agriculture, adding to a wide body of science on its importance. The authors, from Western Illinois University in the United States and Rome Business School in Italy, find that biodiversity supports critical ecosystems and organisms needed for sustainable food production. Research shows that higher plant diversity disrupts pest life cycles and promotes beneficial insects, which prevents farmers from relying on chemical inputs. Crop diversity also improves soil health, reducing the need for chemical inputs while also providing habitats for beneficial organisms that help control pests and diseases. This improves yield stability and further contributes to ecosystem services, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility. [link]

Moldovan winemakers and their stakeholders can monitor, in real time, the level and quality of regenerative agriculture taking place in their vineyards through the new Re.Wine platform - the result of collaboration between Czech Big Terra and the Moldovan National Association of Rural Development (ACSA). The Re-Wine platform was developed through the Czech-UNDP Challenge Fund, an initiative implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The platform includes key periodical weather events that are essential for ecological adaptability of grape varieties, crop management and crop modelling. Also, essential data are available on the quality of carbon sequestration in a given vineyard, such as start, peak, and end of season, vegetation state at those times, minimum value (relevant to health of vines and characterization of the year), and also rates of ripening and natural degradation, considering loss of texture, flavor, etc. [link]

New research reveals a significant gap for UK businesses between their awareness and action when it comes to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets. The findings from Virgin Money highlight that while 68% of decision makers within SMEs are familiar with the concept of ESG targets, more than half (54%) have not yet set targets for their business. This is despite over two-thirds (71%) of them acknowledging that adopting ESG practices is important to their customers. This disconnect shows the challenges businesses face in translating awareness into actionable strategies. Confidence in understanding the necessary steps to meet ESG targets is holding firms back from making necessary changes, with one in four (25%) decision makers within SMEs not being confident about the specific actions required. Concerns about competitiveness and costs are also prevalent, as one in four (26%) who have set ESG targets for their business believe that meeting these goals could make their business uncompetitive, and one in three (34%) think it's too expensive to implement. However, the primary challenge businesses with ESG targets face in meeting their goals is that 51% are waiting for regulatory or government guidance before making the necessary changes. [link]

New Boston Consulting Group research among over 1,000 US farmers shows that more than three-quarters have a positive attitude toward what the US Department of Agriculture calls “climate-smart agriculture.” Yet, despite this willingness and a general consensus on what sustainable practices look like, farmers lack a clear path forward, mainly because they do not have access to the necessary capital. A big part of the problem is measurement—more specifically, the lack of a practical system for measuring, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) of sustainable agricultural practices. In BCG’s research, more than 75 experts across the entire agrifood value chain agreed that current measurement practices do not provide sufficient transparency and credibility to enable investments, such as insurance and loans, that incentivize farmers to make the transition to new farming practices. Without better measurement, private investment will not play; and without access to increased private funding, farmers are stuck in the mud. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late-September, U.S. farmers began increasing pressure on the Biden administration to allow vaccinations for chickens, turkeys, and cows to protect them from bird flu infections that have devastated flocks for three years. See more, here.

November 2, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Civil Eats discusses the “soft path” of water for farmers in the parched western U.S. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Virginia Tech showcases the work of a Ph.D. student harnessing the power of mustard for sustainable pest management. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Food Tank says that “sustainability” is the freedom to farm how we should be farming. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

A Hicksville, Ohio, production facility is turning chicken manure into a product that redefines plant nutrition management with the potential to boost farmers’ return on investment and protect the environment. EnviroKure Inc. has pioneered a technology that maximizes the potential of all fertilizers by using a process involving hydrodynamic bioconversion technology to create two products—a solid, less used, fertilizer that can be directly applied to land, and its “foundational Biostim product” that can be blended into a variety of products and utilized as an ingredient in value-added fertilizers. Chicken manure is historically known as “nature’s finest fertilizer,” but it is also known to harbor pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella. EnviroKure’s technology removes pathogens and produces a product that is soil-building and amplifies nutrients in the soil. [link]

A university study which aims to identify ways in which farming in Gloucestershire can be more sustainable has been awarded £30,000 in funding. Led by the University of Gloucestershire (UoG), the new Gloucestershire Food and Farming for Net Zero project will work to identify ways to support positive changes to how people eat and farm across the county. The funding has been awarded by UK Research and Innovation to support the UK’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. [link]

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has published its ‘Living Planet Report 2024’, which reveals a “system in peril”, with a global wildlife decline of 73%, up 4% from 2022’s estimation. The report, now in its 15th edition, offers a comprehensive overview of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. It condemned the current food system model, which it deems “inherently illogical”, due to its undermining of society’s capacity to feed its population now and into the future. [link]

Big Picture Ranch has announced the launch of a 100 Million Acres Pledge, an ambitious movement to regenerate 100 million acres of U.S. farmland by 2030. Through a broad coalition of partners, including founding pledge member Maker’s Mark, this initiative serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities across the country. The 100 Million Acres Pledge encourages brands, farmers, and individuals to commit to transitioning 10% of U.S.-sourced acreage into certified regenerative systems by 2030, contributing to healthier soils, more resilient ecosystems, and a sustainable future. Big Picture Ranch is a production company co-founded by filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell, known for their work in environmental activism and sustainability-focused documentaries including “Kiss The Ground,” and “Common Ground”. [link]

Treehouse California Almonds is developing a new biochar manufacturing facility in Delano that will be the first commercial system directly tied to agriculture on the west coast. Treehouse Almonds is partnering with biochar producer Sitos Group on the $9 million slow pyrolysis biochar manufacturing facility that will transform almond shells into biochar. The facility will be funded by private investment from Sitos Group shareholders and New Markets Tax Credits, a federal program that provides tax credits to attract private investment. [link]

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, led by Cornell, has been awarded a second five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue advancing its mission of improving global food security and agricultural resilience. This renewed funding will enable the Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement (ILCI) to strengthen its interdisciplinary efforts to support demand-driven, socially responsive crop improvement programs in key regions around the world. Established in 2019 with an initial $25 million grant from USAID, ILCI supports public plant breeding programs in low-resourced countries. In its initial phase, the lab collaborated with National Agricultural Research Institutions across 11 countries to advance crop improvement initiatives designed to address food security needs in Central America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. [link]

Viterra Ltd. is partnering with xFarm Technologies SA to support farmers in the adoption of agricultural practices focused on carbon measurement and regenerative agriculture provided through the latest technological tools and agronomy assistance for sustainable farming. Participating farmers will have access to Viterra Sustainable Farming, a farm management information system (FMIS) developed by xFarm Technologies to facilitate farmer’s day-to-day operations while encouraging more sustainable practices. Viterra also will help farmers adopt regenerative agricultural practices and produce low-carbon crops through its Regenerative Agriculture Program, which is designed to help them identify the most appropriate regenerative agriculture practices for their land and provide them with the most advanced tools from xFarm Technologies to implement these practices. [link]

A Missouri State agriculture professor has received a six-figure grant for a drone-assisted study of pastureland, especially how trees and grasses grow and remain healthy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a $300,000 grant to Michael Goerndt, associate professor in the university's School of Agricultural Science and Conservation, for the project. Titled “Adaptation of Pasture and Forestland to Silvopasture and Black Walnut Systems in Southern Missouri," this new project will study the integration of pastureland and Black Walnut forests. [link]

Gucci owner Kering, drugmaker GSK and building materials producer Holcim became the first companies to adopt science-based targets to protect nature established by a new group that aims to reduce biodiversity loss resulting from human activity. The measures from the Science Based Targets Network initially are focused on protecting land and reducing freshwater usage. The three companies’ adoption of the nonprofit’s targets comes amid a growing push from businesses to pay more attention to their impact upon the natural world. Established after a year-long pilot program, the targets largely include reducing freshwater usage, often through water recycling and reducing leakages, while Kering in particular is committing to avoiding development or exploitation of natural ecosystems. The move to set science-based targets to project nature comes while negotiations from governments, nonprofits and civic groups take place at the COP16 conference in Cali, Colombia, a global conference aimed at protecting biodiversity and nature. [link]

Regenified, a leader in regenerative agriculture verification, has released a new report - Exploring Consumer Appetite for Regenerative Agriculture - that highlights a growing interest in regenerative agriculture. The in-depth study involved 850 U.S. consumers, segmented into General Consumers and Values Based Shoppers, showing an emergence of a subset of consumers spanning both groups—dubbed the Emerging Regenerative Market—who demonstrate significant interest in regenerative values and a desire to purchase regenerative products. While the data reveals an increasing recognition of regenerative practices, it also highlights the need to increase understanding and access. Consumers preferences for certification, nutrient density, and product availability underpin the opportunity for market expansion. [link]

The OECD will release the latest estimates of government support to agriculture along with monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policy developments on Wednesday, November 6. Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2024: Innovation for Sustainable Productivity Growth is based on the OECD’s comprehensive system for measuring and classifying support to agriculture — the Producer and Consumer Support Estimates (PSE and CSE) and related indicators. The report covers 54 countries, including all OECD members, five non-OECD EU member states and 11 economies. This year’s report focuses on policies fostering sustainable productivity growth in agriculture. [link]

Enrollment for incentive payments for regenerative grazing and climate-smart fieldscapes has begun as of Nov. 1, according to Rob Myers, director of the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture. The program is part of a $25 million USDA grant to the University of Missouri. The regenerative grazing program offers payments of $50 per acre for Missouri farmers who develop management plans for prescribed grazing on eligible pastures. Support is available for designing grazing plans that can improve pasture productivity and soil health. Another enrollment option focuses on small and underserved farmers who implement three or more climate-smart practices appropriate to their farms; the participants also need to be willing for their farms to serve as demonstration sites for those practices. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October, Tesco unveiled the nationwide launch of a regeneratively farmed milk product in the UK. See more, here.

October 26, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Civil Eats wonders, if restaurants serve up climate education, will diners pay attention? Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Guardian says that North Carolina farms face depleted, toxic soil after historic flooding from hurricane Helene. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Forbes writes that regenerative farming is a business imperative for multinationals. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

New research released by McKinsey & Company reveals that global farmers are eyeing sustainable practices, innovative technology implementation, and new yield increasing products to boost profits given wider macro environmental pressure. McKinsey’s 2024 Global Farmers Survey, which gathers perspectives from 4,400 farmers, outlines a cautiously optimistic outlook around the ability to capture increased profits in the years to come. However, expectations on rising profit margins differ widely based on region, with North American and European farmers overall expecting profits this year to be lower (64% and 55% respectively) while farmers in Latin America and India anticipate higher profits over the next two years (58% and 76% respectively), up from 42% and 37% in 2022. [link]

Cattle producers can learn more about the benefits of cover crop grazing and practical management strategies to optimize productivity at the 2024 Cover Crop Grazing Conference in North Platte, NE on November 6. The conference is held by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and will include a trade show, presentations about annual forages for winter grazing, selecting and using temporary fences, planting dates and forage production, and insights from a producer who has effectively incorporated cover crops into his farming and ranching business. [link]

The Climate Collaborative, in partnership with the UNFI Foundation, has announced the launch of the second cohort of its Regenerative Transition Community of Practice (CoP) in November 2024. The CoP brings together leaders from across the grocery industry—CPGs, retailers, food service providers, distributors, suppliers and funders—to increase their capacity to navigate the complexity of regenerative supply chain transition. The inaugural cohort, launched in November 2023, featured 14 leaders from companies at the forefront of the industry, including NSI, Aurora Organic Dairy, Califia, Clif, Sweetgreen, Wildway, Rumiano Cheese, and UNFI. The program provided an immersive learning experience, helping participants navigate the complexities of organic and regenerative transition with expert facilitation, peer collaboration, and leadership capacity building. [link]

South Dakota State University Extension will host its Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit conference for crop producers and industry professionals in Wagner on December 10, 2024. Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit is an annual conference for crop producers and industry professionals. It provides valuable information for everyone who raises crops, forages and livestock. The main themes of this year's meeting are managing the farming system for soil health and profit, and integrating grazing cattle into the crop production system. [link] 

Purdue University researchers are investigating whether mulching Kura clover, a perennial legume, can provide sufficient nitrogen for corn while enhancing soil organic carbon storage. The innovative system could potentially boost the much-needed supply of soil nitrogen in Midwest corn production, according to Yichao Rui, assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy who’s leading the research on the little-studied effects of Kura clover on corn production. Integrating Kura clover into a continuous corn production system offers a possible path toward both high corn productivity and environmental sustainability. As a unique perennial legume that survives all year long, Kura clover also fixes inert nitrogen gas from the air, converting it into plant-useable forms available to corn. [link]

Former Unilever CEO Paul Polman, the Rockefeller Foundation, and healthy nutrition advocates are on a campaign to get big food and beverage companies and retailers to produce and market healthier products. The group recently sent a letter to the leaders of major, global food and beverage companies urging them to create healthier and more sustainably sourced products and to market so-called junk foods high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, more responsibly. According to the letter, “70% of the world’s processed foods do not fit in a healthy diet.” The result of more people globally, particularly in emerging markets, consuming these diets is a rise in diabetes, heart disease, and cancer – a cost they quantified at US$19 trillion when including both consumer health and environmental/economic-related costs of these foods. The signatories to these principles will be made public at a March summit in Paris. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing a “research roadmap” to address PFAS in agriculture and prevent so-called “forever chemicals” from contaminating food production. The department’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) held a three-day workshop bringing together more than 150 interagency researchers, universities and state partners to identify key solutions to the emerging threat of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances on farmland. Stakeholders intend to build on the workshop and release documents to communicate solutions to the agricultural research community. New partnerships will also help bring those solutions to life, especially in locations “where PFAS has critical impacts on agriculture,” the ARS said. [link]

Biodiversity is declining more quickly within key protected areas than outside them, according to research that scientists say is a “wake-up call” to global leaders discussing how to stop nature loss at the UN’s Cop16 talks in Colombia. Protecting 30% of land and water for nature by 2030 was one of the key targets settled on by world leaders in a landmark 2022 agreement to save nature – and this month leaders are gathering again at a summit in the Colombian city of Cali to measure progress and negotiate new agreements to stop biodiversity loss. Nearly a quarter of the world’s most biodiversity-rich land is within protected areas, but the quality of these areas is declining faster than it is outside protected areas, according to the analysis by the Natural History Museum (NHM). The authors say there are a few reasons why this might be the case. A lot of protected areas are not designed to preserve the whole ecosystem, but rather certain species that are of interest, which means total “biodiversity intactness” is not a priority. Another reason is that these landscapes could have already been suffering degradation, which is why they were protected in the first place. Researchers say specific local analysis is key to working out why each one is failing. [link]

The Climate Bonds Initiative has announced the launch of its newly developed Agriculture Production (Crop and Livestock) Criteria, now officially available for certification under the Climate Bonds Standard - a labeling scheme for entities, assets and debt instruments. This landmark development represents the culmination of significant collaborative efforts by leading experts and will provide a critical tool for investors to decarbonize one of the most emission-intensive sectors—agriculture production. The Agriculture Production Criteria offer a robust framework to help mitigate crop and livestock emissions, identifying agricultural practices that can align with global sustainability frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework as well as support the Global Methane Pledge. [link]

The environmental costs of hurricanes Helene and Milton are now becoming clear. The storms damaged or destroyed 200,000 commercial beehives—a vital resource for pollinating U.S. crops—in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Hundreds of landslides devastated communities throughout Appalachia. And a 40-mile-long toxic red tide hovers just off Florida’s Gulf Coast, threatening fish and humans. Throughout Florida, Milton caused between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion in agricultural losses, according to a preliminary estimate by the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, from beef cows to blueberries. [link]

In a perspective paper published on October 23 in the Cell Press journal, Joule, bioengineers propose a radical new method of food production away from "inefficient" photosynthesis towards what they call “electro-agriculture". The method essentially replaces photosynthesis with a solar-powered chemical reaction that more efficiently converts CO2 into an organic molecule that plants would be genetically engineered to “eat.” The researchers estimate that if all food in the US were produced using electro-agriculture, it would reduce the amount of land needed for agriculture by 94%. The method could also be used to grow food in space. [link]

A definition for regenerative agriculture has been created by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). Regen ag is one of the buzzwords of the farming industry right now, but discussion of the topic has been hampered by the lack of a clear definition and understanding of what the broad topic entails. The definition is: “Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that aims to restore and enhance the natural recipients of agro-eco systems while supporting the long-term health and viability of agricultural businesses and communities. The foundation of this farming system is the integrated management of soil health, biodiversity, water resources, human health and climate.” [link]

Conservation efforts benefiting Tennessee’s Duck River and sustainable farming are among 92 projects to receive new funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the department announced Wednesday. Projects supporting conservation in Tennessee will receive more than $66 million of the total $1.5 billion awarded throughout the country through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The funding comes from the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Duck River Watershed Society was awarded $20 million to support stream restoration in the Duck River, which is among the most diverse freshwater rivers in North America. Agricenter International, a Shelby County-based nonprofit focusing on agricultural research and environmental conservation, will steward almost $25 million to support the “Middle Tennessee Field and Forest Partnership.” The MidSouth Development District, an organization that works in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, will receive a little over $21 million to fund the MidSouth Regional Conservation Partnership Program. [link]

The University of California, Riverside, has been awarded $1.5 million in grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to lead three interconnected projects aimed at transforming California’s specialty crop farming. The initiatives focus on youth engagement, sustainable waste management, and advanced agricultural technologies. Each of the three projects has received about $498,000 in funding and will integrate education, research, and practical application to help shape a sustainable future for global food systems. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late August, farmers in six Asian countries successfully increased their rice yields using nuclear-derived climate-smart agricultural practices with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. See more, here.

October 19, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Forbes expects regenerative agriculture to solve big issues in food production but wants to know who will pay for it? Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Fast Company discusses how farmers and businesses are joining together to protect the world’s most precious resource: soil. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Columbia Missourian details how community support is a key element to scaling regenerative agriculture. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

The Soil Association Exchange has partnered with Lloyds Bank to support agricultural farmers, drive sustainable farming & combat soil degradation. Through this partnership, farmers will be offered a direct plan on how they can expand their sustainability efforts, support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and improve soil health. Farmers will be given guidance on how they can advance their sustainability plans. They will also be able to cooperate with experts to link them to new avenues that will help fund the move to sustainable farming and receive an action plan based on support from corporate partners in the supply chain. [link]

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced the department is offering a competitive grant program to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure benefiting rural communities in Michigan. The grants are funded by the Nonferrous Metallic Minerals Extraction Severance Tax and are available for projects addressing expansion and sustainability of land-based industries like food and agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas production, and tourism. Money will be allocated to practices like worker training related to land-based industries or energy, transportation, housing, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas. [link]

Tesco has unveiled the nationwide launch of a regeneratively farmed milk product in the UK. Trewithen Dairy's new product, Regen Milk, showcases its dedication to sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Farmers involved in producing Regen Milk receive an additional 5p per liter compared to conventional milk, demonstrating Trewithen Dairy's dedication to supporting fair and sustainable farming. These farmers rotate their free-grazing dairy cows every five days, providing access to fresh pasture, cultivating diverse plant species, and eliminating artificial fertilizers by incorporating natural solutions like clover planting. [link]

A report by SNS Insider says that the global biofertilizers market is anticipated to grow to $7.1 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4% from 2024 to 2032. One of the key drivers of growth in the biofertilizers market is the world trend of promoting sustainable agriculture, whereby increasing awareness of the issues caused by chemical fertilizers motivates customers to instead choose biofertilizers given that they are natural substances that help soil to become more fertile and plants to grow. [link]

The Hershey Company has announced a five-year agreement with nine cocoa-producing cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire. The move is part of its "Cocoa For Good" strategy, a 10-year, $500 million investment by the company to address the complex challenges facing cocoa farmers. The agreement aims to build lasting relationships with farmers that enable a more resilient supply. [link]

Regenerative agriculture pioneer Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) announced a global partnership with Topraq, a Turkish precision agriculture technology company. Topraq specializes in optimizing inputs such as water, energy, and fertilizers using sensor data to enhance farm profitability across Turkey and surrounding regions. The partnership, which includes an investment from Topraq in AEA, will strengthen both companies' offerings to growers seeking to adopt regenerative practices for their citrus, grape, cotton and other high value crops. Notably, the partnership will bring increased access to regenerative agricultural solutions for growers in southeast Europe and west and central Asia, a crucial area in the global food supply and a region in which Topraq works extensively. [link]

Mars Inc. has announced collaborations to provide financial incentives to farmers as they implement regenerative agriculture practices in North America. These partnerships aim to encourage wheat, corn and rice farmers in select regions to implement regenerative agriculture practices, contributing to Scope 3 carbon reductions as part of the Mars Net Zero Roadmap. Multi-year partnerships have begun with partners and suppliers including ADM, The Andersons Inc., Riceland Foods, and Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, led by Royal Canin USA and Mars Petcare US Inc. Key agricultural regions covered are in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario. Farmers will be supported as they implement cover crops, reduced tillage and extended crop rotations, with an aim to deliver benefits such as increased yields, lower greenhouse gas emissions through reduction and carbon sequestration, improved water quality, enhanced soil health, and greater biodiversity in the implementation regions. [link]

BASF is expanding its BioSolutions offering through a partnership with Acadian Plant Health, a renowned marine plant harvesting, cultivation, and extraction company based in Dartmouth, Canada. BASF will leverage Acadian's seaweed biostimulant technology to complement its biological portfolio and expand the availability of products in new markets while increasing solutions that grow more sustainable crops. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that, when applied to plants or the surrounding soil, have the ability to enhance crop growth, improve stress tolerance, and maintain marketable yield. [link]

Foodservice specialist Sysco and meat processor ABP have launched a five-year collaborative sustainable farming project with the aim of pioneering regenerative farming methods in Tipperary, Ireland. Throughout the duration of the project, Tipperary farmers will learn from industry experts and apply regenerative farming practices and works to improve soil and water quality, biodiversity, animal health and crop diversity. The ‘Regen beef’ initiative aims to share the learnings of the project with the wider farming industry. [link]

A new Deloitte survey says that 79% of agrifood executives report revenue growth from their sustainability investments. Additionally, 74% said that they achieved at least 2% cost reductions through sustainability investments. Nearly all of the 350 food and agriculture executives surveyed by Deloitte and NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) acknowledged the financial value of sustainability investments, with 60% of executives expecting the value from sustainability strategies to increase over the next two years. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, a new study said that 75% of farmers are already being impacted by climate change or worried about its impacts. See more, here.

October 5, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Missouri Independent writes about how perennial crops can breathe new life into depleted soil. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Hill says that lawmakers are racing to avoid a Farm Bill disaster. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Civil Eats looks into how restaurants are surviving supply disruptions on key ingredients. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Ibrahim Ishaka, a Food System/Nutrition Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, recently revealed that Nigeria loses around 50 percent of its agricultural products along the food supply chain. He explained that food waste posed significant challenges to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, impacting food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Ishaka further highlighted additional factors contributing to post-harvest losses, including: inadequate storage facilities, poor handling practices and poor transportation infrastructure. He also noted that inefficient food processing methods, improper packaging, inadequate storage, and unhealthy consumption habits further exacerbate food waste. [link]

Zoetis and Danone recently announced a joint business development plan to drive sustainable practices on today’s dairy farms through the power of genetics for healthier cows. Combining Danone’s commitment to environmental stewardship with Zoetis’ expertise in animal genetics, the partnership aims to innovate the dairy industry’s approach to breeding for sustainability. The focus is on integrating sustainable practices into dairy genetics and selection, emphasizing animal well-being, reducing environmental impact, and promoting long-term resilience in dairy farming. [link]

PepsiCo is buying Mexican American food company Siete Foods for $1.2 billion, marking the company’s first food acquisition in roughly five years. Like many food companies, Pepsi has been trying to shift its portfolio to include healthier options in recent years, usually through acquisitions. Recent additions include Bare Snacks, Health Warrior and PopCorners. Siete founder, Veronica Garza, started the company in 2014 when she began selling grain-free tortillas. Since then, its portfolio has grown to include tortilla chips, taco shells, salsas and seasonings, often designed to accommodate different dietary restrictions. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, assuming it receives regulatory approval. [link]

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana is accepting applications for the St. Mary Initiative, focusing on key conservation practices to mitigate resource concerns that could be caused by the loss of irrigation water in the St. Mary Canal and Milk River system. Producers in the region may not be able to plant annual crops, irrigate forage, or provide adequate stockwater due to the St. Mary Canal siphon failure. Conservation practices in the initiative include cover crops, fence, livestock water systems, and upland wildlife habitat management. The St. Mary Initiative will be funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) using the Act Now application process. [link]

The Land Group announced its formal launch, after several years of operating in stealth. The Land Group acquires, transforms, and operates farmland - employing regenerative approaches to deliver consistent, financially compelling, and environmentally sustainable investment returns and asset appreciation. Founded in 2016 by Francisco Roque de Pinho and Joaquín Labella, The Land Group currently operates 40,000 hectares of farmland across eight properties in Uruguay and Paraguay, with plans for expansion beyond South America in 2025. [link]

The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition launched a new website aimed at increasing access to local food resources by connecting consumers with local food producers in their area. The new website, known as South Dakota Fresh Connect, allows producers and farmers markets to create free accounts and public profiles to list their available products on a map. Consumers, restaurants, markets, and other organizations can also create free accounts to locate the nearest sources for the goods they need and directly contact the producers. [link]

The Markets Institute at World Wildlife Fund (WWF) proposed a new framework to support the growing demand for globally traded food while reducing the worst environmental consequences of food production. The framework, known as Codex Planetarius, is a proposed system of performance standards for global food production, focusing on the world’s least efficient producers. It aims to identify the key environmental impacts of global food production and trade, establish metrics that are globally standardized, and inform guidelines to foster international agreement. [link]

CropX, a global leader in digital agricultural solutions, has announced the launch of an enhanced variable rate application (VRA) planning capability for growers to use to improve the precision of their in-field operations. This new feature empowers users to optimize seeding, irrigation water, and fertilizer based on in-field variations, maximizing the productivity and efficiency of a field. The latest VRA capability allows users to create detailed seeding and fertilizer application maps for their fields and easily export the maps to machinery for immediate implementation. [link]

Washington State University (WSU) scientists have successfully tested a novel method to produce jet fuel from lignin-based agricultural waste. This breakthrough could revolutionize aviation fuel production, helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint and reliance on fossil-derived fuels. Published in Fuel Processing Technology, the research presents a continuous process for transforming lignin polymers, a key component of plant cells, into a sustainable form of jet fuel. [link]

Grow Ahead, a digital crowdfunding platform that supports farmer-led climate resiliency projects around the world, is launching a Week of Action from October 7-11. The Week of Action will raise awareness and funds for environmentally and socially responsible agroforestry projects, highlighting the importance of farmer-led initiatives to address the dual crises of climate change and global poverty. By partnering with fair trade organizations and mission-driven business partners, Grow Ahead aims to educate, inspire, and mobilize advocates, consumers, and businesses to combat climate change through radical shifts in community development. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1 million, four-year grant to a Penn State-led team of plant scientists and an economist to explore anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), a microbial-driven process aimed at weed management to support the transition from conventional to organic farming systems. The ASD process promotes the decomposition of organic matter through soil saturation, creating anaerobic conditions that build up volatile fatty acids and other organic acids that are toxic to weeds. The project’s primary goal is to improve the profitability and sustainability of organic vegetable and specialty crop production while facilitating the transition to organic farming. [link]

On October 10 and 11, the Crops that Nourish Convening will bring together agriculture, food security, and environmental health experts to discuss a global agenda for crops that support the health of humans and the planet.  Taking place at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., the event is organized by CIMMYT, Johns Hopkins University, CGIAR, the Institute for Planetary Health, and Food Tank. Panel discussions and keynote remarks will address crops that contribute to sustainable agrifood systems, improvements to crops and soils that can build resilience for farmers, and what the future of food and agriculture systems should look like. [link]

A new cover crop survey by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is gathering insights on cover crops from crop consultants, seed dealers, ag retailers, conservation planners, and others who help guide farmers in their decision-making. Seven previous cover crop surveys by CTIC, SARE, and ASTA have provided farmers’ perspectives on the benefits and challenges of cover crops. This is the first of the organizations’ cover crop survey series to explore the opinions and experiences of people who advise farmers. CTIC/SARE/ASTA cover crop surveys help seed producers evaluate market demand and fluctuations, trending species and regional needs to supply the growing market for cover crop seed. [link]

The California Water Institute at Fresno State announced its first formal partnership with Sustainable Conservation on a $498,423 grant-funded project from the California Department of Food and Agriculture aimed at enhancing aquifer replenishment in the San Joaquin Valley. Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit organization focused on solving California’s land, air, and water challenges, and the California Water Institute will implement six on-farm recharge pilots specifically in pistachio orchards to study nitrate leaching, soil health and function, and crop yield. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-September, The Lactalis Group announced that it will purchase General Mills’ U.S. yogurt brands and facilities. See more, here.

September 28, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The United Nations writes that in this “triple COP year”, leaders must align efforts to ensure planetary health. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – KOSU discusses why more farmers are planting native landscapes in their crop fields. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The New Climate Institute offers a report on how to navigate regenerative agriculture in corporate climate strategies. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Lehigh University researchers are developing biodegradable mulch films that deliver nutrients to crops, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics in agriculture. Mulch films are a common tool in agriculture, helping suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and regulate soil temperature to boost crop yields. However, traditional plastic mulch films present environmental concerns, as they do not decompose and contribute to plastic pollution. The research team is working on incorporating biodegradable polymers with nutrients that benefit crops while breaking down naturally in the soil. [link]

Varda, an agtech data service provider, has announced that it has joined a four-year €6 million ‘DeepHorizon’ project, funded by Horizon Europe, to conduct extensive subsoil sampling across European countries. Varda, founded by Yara, a global leader for nutrient production, has developed SoilHive, an innovative platform to facilitate access to public and private soil data, on a global scale. The DeepHorizon work will involve extending existing ontologies to include subsoil domains and functions, enabling data sharing across different stakeholders, creating the first European-level subsoil dataset, and enhancing SoilHive to improve the discovery of subsoil data, including the ability to search data at the horizon level. [link]

Agrifood corporates are making some progress on reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions but lagging when it comes to scope 3, according to a new report from sustainability advocate and nonprofit Ceres. “Taking stock: the state of climate action and disclosure in the food sector” examines the climate disclosures of 50 major agrifood corporates with the aim to “provide investors with clarity around the numbers and lay out best practices companies can take to drive progress forward.” Of these companies, 60% are making progress on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions but are behind on reducing Scope 3 emissions, which can make up 65%-95% of a company's total emissions, according to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). [link]

Indianapolis-based Corteva Agriscience has announced a collaboration with Pairwise, a food and ag technology company based in Durham, North Carolina, to share gene-editing research to improve plant breeding of crops, including corn and soybeans. Anchoring the collaboration is Corteva’s $25 million equity investment in Pairwise, made under the umbrella of Corteva Catalyst, the company’s new investment and partnership platform focused on accessing agricultural innovation to drive value creation. In addition, Corteva and Pairwise have formed a joint venture to accelerate and expand the delivery of advanced gene edited technologies aimed at increasing crop yield for food, fuel and fiber production. [link]

A new UC Riverside study on California agriculture and climate proposes a plan for new water capture, storage, and distribution systems throughout California that will sustain agriculture and keep up with climate trajectories. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that groundwater aquifers have more storage potential than surface water reservoirs. So, instead of devoting decades to build more dams and reservoirs that are subject to evaporation and overflow, water should be diverted into these depleted aquifers below the Central Valley and the coastal plains. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is an intentional method of recharging aquifers, especially those at low levels. Already commonly implemented in California, MAR infrastructure includes conveyance structures that redistribute water to dehydrated locations, and injection—spraying water on land or, the more costly option, directly infusing water in wells. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recently added three unique agricultural systems to its Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program, highlighting their cultural and environmental significance. These new additions include Austria’s carp pond farming system, Indonesia’s salak agroforestry system, and São Tomé and Príncipe’s cocoa agroforestry system. These newly recognized systems, the first from Indonesia and São Tomé and Príncipe, and the second from Austria, demonstrate the FAO’s ongoing efforts to spotlight agricultural practices that contribute to food security, sustainability, and cultural preservation. Now comprising 89 systems across 28 countries, the GIAHS program promotes agro-biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and sustainable farming practices that are vital to the global fight against climate change. [link]

Shifting to a plant-rich food system represents 'spectacular pay-off' as climate benefits per dollar far outstrip those on offer from renewables and EV projects, a new study claims. Investing in the development of plant-rich food systems could offer more than five-times the emissions cuts provided by the same investment in renewable energy, and four times the reduction on offer from electric vehicles (EVs). That is the striking conclusion of a new report published by the Tilt Collective and tech firm Systemiq. The joint analysis also calculated that an initial investment of between $250m and $500m in advancing a plant-rich food system could ultimately catalyze $7bn of public and private finance and create multiplier impacts and new market opportunities. [link]

Gen Z consumers are placing an overwhelming emphasis on both sustainability and quality in their grocery products, and many are willing to spend more to support brands that reflect these values, according to a recent YouGov survey. The study reveals that 70% of Gen Z supports climate-smart agricultural practices. Additionally, 55% are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products, and over half of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that prioritize lower environmental impacts or locally sourced foods. Quality is also important for this younger generation. Eighty percent of Gen-Z said they prioritize food quality in purchasing decisions, and 70% are willing to spend more on high-quality food. [link]

Bayer Crop Science is testing a short variety of corn on about 30,000 acres (12,141 hectares) in the U.S. Midwest with the promise of offering farmers a variety that can withstand powerful windstorms that could become more frequent due to climate change. The corn’s smaller stature and sturdier base enable it to withstand winds of up to 50 mph. The smaller plants also let farmers plant at greater density, so they can grow more corn on the same amount of land, increasing their profits. The smaller stalks could also lead to less water use at a time of growing drought concerns. [link]

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state are working with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a free soil sampling program to increase knowledge around nutrient management practices that benefit farm operations. ISDA promotes the importance of nutrient management and the principle of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework. The 4R framework incorporates using the “Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place” to achieve cropping system goals. This program includes row crop, pasture, hay and specialty crop fields located within Indiana’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin. Eligible landowners will be prioritized by acreage enrolled (i.e., 100 acres or less), fields that have never been soil sampled, and fields that haven’t been sampled regularly (i.e., within the last 4 years). Sign-ups began Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and ISDA is accepting registrations until Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. [link]

Farmers in the United States who raise livestock in large industrial operations could get funding from President Joe Biden's signature climate law to transition to more environmentally friendly practices under bills introduced in the House and Senate this week. About 1.7 billion animals are raised on U.S. industrial livestock farms, and they produce twice as much waste as the country's human population, according to the environmental group Food & Water Watch. The facilities can produce significant air and water pollution. The bill introduced by Alma Adams in the House and Cory Booker in the Senate would use IRA funds to help industrial livestock farmers reduce their environmental impact by moving animals to pasture or converting to organic crop production. The effort could face resistance from Republicans who want the IRA funds made available for other programs in the long-delayed farm spending bill being drafted by Congress. [link]

A team of Penn State agricultural scientists conducted a new study on dairy manure management strategies for ecosystem services in no-till crop systems, resulting in a new strategy that achieves multiple conservation goals while maintaining corn yields. The findings were recently published in Agronomy Journal and note that applying manure early in the spring synchronized with a growing cover crop, when temperatures are cooler, can reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions compared to later in the spring when temperatures are warmer and the cover crop has been terminated. This practice offers a potential strategy to simultaneously achieve multiple conservation and agronomic goals. The surest way to prevent nitrogen loss as ammonia gas and nitrogen-laden runoff is to inject liquid manure below the surface of the ground, as this approach is considered a best management practice to lessen agricultural pollution in the troubled Chesapeake Bay watershed, to which Pennsylvania belongs. [link]

A new study says that 75 percent of farmers are already impacted by climate change or worried about its impacts, and 71 percent of them report reduced yields as a major concern. It goes on to say that 6 out of 10 have already experienced significant revenue loss due to weather events out of the norm recently and that 75 percent are open to implementing new technologies to better cope with climate change. The 2024 Farmer Voice survey spoke with 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, and was conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer. [link]

U.S. farmers are increasing pressure on the Biden administration to allow vaccinations for chickens, turkeys and cows to protect them from bird flu infections that have devastated flocks for three years. Bird flu, which is lethal for poultry and reduces milk output in dairy cows, has eliminated more than 100 million chickens and turkeys since 2022 in the biggest U.S. outbreak ever. A USDA spokesperson said the agency has been collaborating with state and federal agencies and researchers to protect livestock, farmers and farm workers and is researching animal vaccinations. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, Natural Grocers announced a new partnership with the Rodale Institute to expand awareness of regenerative agriculture and enable grocery customers to provide financial support for the organic food movement. See more, here.

September 21, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Forbes shares the big problems with big livestock farms. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Grist asks if we can eat our way out of the climate crisis. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Just Food does a deep dive on food companies and their water usage. Read about it, here.

Industry Updates

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing an additional $9 million in the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help farmers enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of their farms. Funding will be used to help with the adoption of new technologies and best management practices to support soil health, water quality, and energy efficiency while increasing on-farm productivity. The initiative will also help Ontario farmers improve the long-term environmental resilience of their farms. Farmers will be able to submit up to two applications to the program, depending on their needs, with successful recipients receiving up to $90,000 depending on the project category. [link]

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $3.5 million to a UF/IFAS scientist and his team to study microbial life in the soil and share research findings to promote crop productivity and sustainable soil health management. Samuel Martins, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of plant pathology, is leading eight researchers from six institutions: the University of Florida; Pennsylvania State University; the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; the University of California, Davis; William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey; and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The team will collect soil before and after harvest at 12 organic tomato farms in California, Connecticut, Florida, and Pennsylvania. After extracting DNA from samples, they will conduct computational analyses to identify the soil's microbial and viral composition and determine associations between predators and prey. The researchers propose to test the effects of various organic amendments like worm casings and chicken manure on micro-predators and pathogens in the ground. They want to learn whether micro-predator predation can be enhanced in the soil with amendments to better protect plants. [link]

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for grants to support innovative sustainability-focused research or demonstration projects on Minnesota farms. The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant funds projects that explore the energy efficiency, environmental benefit, and profitability of sustainable ag techniques, from the production through marketing processes. Eligible projects must test and demonstrate on-farm practices that will benefit a broad range of farmers. Past grants have explored topics such as cover crops and crop rotation; conservation tillage; pest management techniques; input reduction strategies; and alternative energies such as wind, methane, and biomass. The MDA will award approximately $350,000 in this round of grant funding, and applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. No cash match is required for requests below $25,000. However, for requests between $25,000 and $50,000, applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar match. [link]

Rodale Institute has received $1M from Holdfast Collective, Patagonia’s non-profit shareholder, with the grant serving as a catalyst in funding the Institute’s work providing technical assistance, business planning services, and equipment stipends to historically underserved farmers and ranchers in Ventura County, CA. The California Department of Food and Agriculture will provide an additional $1.5M to total a $2.5M investment as the organization continues to raise funds for these and other critical projects across the country. The California Organic Center in Camarillo will serve as the hub for demonstrations of regenerative organic practices in Ventura County. Rodale Institute agronomists will be consulting directly with farmers to help with crop selection, marketing coordination, as well as Organic and Regenerative Organic Certifications. [link]

The COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency revealed outcomes on its Action Agenda, including updates related to the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste as well as the Baku Harmoniya Initiative for Farmers, a new initiative that will unite the disparate landscape of existing programs, coalitions and networks designed to empower farmers. The Baku Harmoniya Initiative for Farmers aims to create a portal to clarify the landscape of existing programs designed to empower farmers along with catalyzing investment in climate-resilient agrifood systems by matching needs with available funds. The Declaration Reducing Methane from Organic Waste is being developed in partnership with the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Secretariat and UNEP’s Climate and Clean Air Coalition and seeks to enhance ambition with more governments signing the GMP. [link]

A surge of pollen in spring can affect the formation of clouds and rainfall, according to a new study. The authors say that, as the planet warms, pollen counts are expected to grow, potentially giving rise to more springtime rainfall. For the new study, scientists analyzed pollen counts from 50 sites across the U.S. over a decade, finding that a boom in springtime pollen led to an uptick in cloud ice, which was linked to more frequent rainfall. The study was published in Environmental Research Letters. In light of the findings, the researchers call for incorporating the effect of pollen into climate models. As the planet warms and springs grow longer, pollen counts are edging upwards. More airborne pollen could lead to more frequent and intense rainfall in the decades to come. [link]

The One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) coalition, one of the first private sector regenerative agriculture initiatives, convened by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), reached a major impact milestones as it celebrates its five-year anniversary in September. Comprising 26 corporate members with a collective market value of $893 billion, OP2B has worked since its launch in 2019 to incentivize regenerative agriculture, a holistic approach to transform agricultural models, taking environmental and socioeconomic dimensions into account. According to its five-year progress report released this week, investments in transition finance for regenerative agriculture totaled $3.6 billion between 2019 and 2023. The coalition aims to impact over 12 million hectares of land, equivalent to over 29 million acres, by 2030. [link]

Purdue University and Bayer announced the creation of the Coalition for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture, a public-private partnership designed to help improve the soil health of farmland while also increasing food production for a growing population. The coalition’s mission is to generate robust, real-world data in support of regenerative agriculture practices to help farmers restore soil health and biomass, increase biodiversity, and improve the resiliency of ecosystems over time. The coalition’s new framework will also support education and outreach programs to enhance sustainable and regenerative agriculture. [link]

CPG General Mills and food retailer Ahold Delhaize USA (ADUSA) are partnering to transition more acreage within their shared supply chain to regenerative agriculture. The two companies will co-invest in “priority supply sheds” — geographic regions where they source ingredients — by helping farmers in those areas transition to regenerative agriculture. Farmers will receive technical and financial support to implement regenerative agriculture practices such as cover cropping and nutrient management. The goal of the partnership is to transition more than 70,000 acres of farmland in the state of Kansas and in Canadian province Saskatchewan by the end of 2025, which is “the approximate number of acres” from which General Mills sources ingredients for products sold at Ahold Delhaize USA brands. [link]

Farm data from the UK Government's recent comprehensive review of 685 farms and 235,000 hectares shows that soil carbon varies greatly, depending on a number of factors. The review was delivered through the Soil Association’s Exchange program in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group which has provided finance for 84% of participating farms. Overall, soil carbon varied greatly from 32 to 267 tonnes of carbon/hectare, reflecting the diversity of farm types, landscapes and geographical locations of the businesses involved. Farms that included livestock scored well for diversity of plant life, had higher levels of carbon stored in their soil and produced manure which reduced the need for artificial fertilizer, but scored poorly on carbon emissions. The review focused on six key areas: soil health, carbon, biodiversity, animal welfare, water, and people & society. It found stark differences between farm types, both in terms of their current footprint and the measures they could feasibly adopt to improve their environmental performance. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late-August, the USDA said that it had infused $82.3 million into the American specialty crop sector to bolster the competitiveness of fruit, vegetable, and tree nut producers. See more, here.

September 14, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Yale Environment 360 discusses how agroforestry could help revitalize America’s Corn Belt. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Bain & Company looks at new models for financing the food transition. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – JD Supra reviews the new frontier of regenerative agriculture certifications. Read about it, here.

Industry Updates

Scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently released a study highlighting the role of geospatial maps and satellite data in shaping the future of food security. The study covering an area of 477 million hectares spanning across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, identified and mapped 27 major cropping systems across an entire year, as opposed to the more traditional single harvest measurement. This time series data provides a new perspective on rethinking and redesigning cropping systems, addressing food security and climate resilience challenges in the near future. Geospatial mapping can inform policies that ensure the efficient distribution of resources like water, fertilizer, and seeds, based on the specific needs of different cropping systems. Additionally, these maps can be integrated into disaster management strategies, helping to identify areas vulnerable to agricultural stress, such as droughts or floods, and allowing for more targeted and effective responses. [link]

The Michigan Farm Bureau Carbon Credits Task Force has completed its work to construct guidelines for carbon credits in the state. Requested by delegates at the 2023 State Annual Meeting and later appointed by the MFB Board of Directors, the task force crafted more than a dozen recommendations for consideration by MFB's State Policy Development Committee at its Oct. 9-10 meeting. The chair of the group noted that the Task Force was focused on making recommendations that ensure growers are the ones being compensated for the credits that are being generated by the practices they’re implementing on their operations. [link]

Mars Incorporated has joined forces with IDH, a global foundation focused on transforming Agri commodities’ markets, and other private sector partners to expand a program aimed at supporting small-scale cattle ranchers in Brazil through good farming practices that contribute to regenerative agriculture. Mars’ Pet Nutrition business will invest €600,000, building on a €80,000 investment from IDH, to further develop the program and expand support to an additional 120 ranchers by the end of 2026. The Sustainable Production of Calves Program, which has been running since 2019 and currently supports 700 small-scale cattle ranchers in three different biomes in Mato Grosso and Pará states of Brazil, aims to improve the sustainability, resilience, and incomes of small-scale cattle production. [link]

Ensuring global food security with a focus on sustainability was the central theme of discussions at the International Agricultural Forum (FIAP), held this past week in Brazil. During the ceremony, the Brazilian Agriculture Minister announced the reopening of beef exports to Canada and new market opportunities for Brazilian DDG (Dried Distillers Grains) in Morocco and Colombia. Mauro Mendes, the governor of Mato Grosso, outlined three major challenges facing Brazilian agribusiness: combating illegal deforestation, developing an effective agricultural insurance system to address climate change, and strengthening Brazil's response to global demands. Helder Barbalho, governor of Pará, a state that preserves 75% of its territory as native forest, stressed the importance of bioeconomy investments and the urgency of regulating the carbon market. [link]

A sweeping global research review published in Science, co-written by professors at the University of Minnesota with more than 20 experts around the world, has examined the links between climate and agriculture. The study revealed the likelihood of an emergent feedback loop in which, as climate change puts more pressure on the global food supply, agriculture adopts practices that further accelerate climate change. The authors also identified new agricultural practices that have the potential to greatly reduce climate impacts, increase efficiency and stabilize our food supply in the decades to come, to include precision farming, perennial crop integration, agrivoltaics, nitrogen fixation, and novel genome editing. [link]

The North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program currently has four open grant programs to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the region. These grant programs are for farmers, ranchers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in the 12 states in the North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Since 1988, NCR-SARE’s competitive grants have advanced agricultural innovation that promotes economic viability, stewardship of the land, air, and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and their communities. [link]

Over $20 million in grant funding is available for farmers to promote climate friendly practices through Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. These Climate-Smart Farming and Marketing grants, spanning across 15 states, are designed to directly support farmers studying and implementing climate-smart practices. Among those practices are cover cropping and minimal tillage and establishing trees and shrubs. Pasa is currently seeking applicants and hopes to support 2,000 farmers in all. The grant program runs through 2028. [link]

Farmland LP announced an investment from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund to develop Soil Carbon Credits on its 18,500-acre farm portfolio and expand the market for regenerative soil carbon credits. This work will also include preparing the necessary protocols, a critical step towards increasing regenerative agriculture practices globally to sequester vast amounts of atmospheric CO2 as mineralized soil carbon. Farmland LP will package carbon credits from diverse regenerative agriculture practices, which it expects to generate using Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard, the foremost carbon program in the world. [link]

Bayer has launched its global initiative, ‘Bayer ForwardFarming’, in India - the newest of 29 ForwardFarms worldwide. Each ForwardFarm serves as a beacon of sustainable agricultural practices, providing a platform for farmers, researchers, and stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge. The Bayer ForwardFarm in India will demonstrate innovative farming techniques tailored to the needs of 150~ million smallholder farmers in the country, with a particular focus on sustainable rice cultivation, thus promoting the transition towards regenerative agriculture. [link]

Consumers like the goals of regenerative agriculture, but they don’t want to pay more for food produced with the climate-friendly practices, said a Purdue University survey released this past week. Seven out of ten consumers taking part in the poll said they supported regenerative agriculture — once it was explained to them — but fewer than half said they would pay an additional 50¢ for a bag of snacks produced using regenerative practices. Most of the 1,200 consumers in the survey said they were not familiar or only slightly familiar with regenerative agriculture. [link]

In a recently published report, BASF has shared the first results from its multi-year Global Carbon Field Trials. The results demonstrate that a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of up to 30% in agriculture is possible compared to standard farming practices, when tailoring climate-smart approaches by crop and region. BASF committed to the same target reduction in 2020 to help farmers reduce their GHG emissions per ton of crop produced. [link]

The Lactalis Group announced that it will expand its yogurt business in the United States by purchasing General Mills’ US yogurt brands and facilities. The French dairy cooperative will acquire such yogurt brands as Mountain High and :Ratio from General Mills as well as brands under license like Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Oui and others. In addition, the company will add manufacturing facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Reed City, Mich. General Mills’ US yogurt business had sales of approximately $1.2 billion in fiscal 2024, according to Lactalis. The price to be received by General Mills for its US and Canadian assets is approximately $2.1 billion. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late-August, a new study was published in Nature Food, showcasing a scalable, cost-effective model for producing cultivated meat. See more, here.

September 7, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Country Living does a spotlight on the man pioneering a soil-centric farm and its Michelin restaurant. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Carbon Pulse says that the doubling of carbon removal credit prices is essential to sustaining regenerative agriculture in the U.S. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The World Economic Forum discusses how food security needs to be a collective effort. Read about it, here.

Industry Updates

Farmers in six Asian countries have successfully increased their rice yields using nuclear-derived climate-smart agricultural practices, with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Scientists from the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture have focused on optimizing fertilizer and water use to increase agricultural efficiency while maintaining soil health. Particularly notable successes were observed in Bangladesh, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam, where rice production increased from 1 to 2.5 tonnes per hectare. [link]

A team of faculty at the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) are pursuing more sustainable forms of agroforestry thanks to a new grant awarded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Their research will focus on the genetics of trees and their domestication for wood pulp production — ultimately maximizing economic gains and reducing environmental impacts. Assistant Professor of Forest Genomics, Hao Chen, and Assistant Professor of Forest Ecophysiology, Chen Ding, are focusing their research on greenhouse-grown varieties of poplar trees, a species that has the potential to revolutionize pulp mills by increasing their yield of sustainable fibers up to 40% while reducing carbon emissions. [link]

As part of the government of Canada's commitment to meet climate mitigation targets, it announced a $87.5 million investment over four years to support 16 collaborative research projects involving 165 researchers from 30 different academic institutions across Canada, that will contribute to a sustainable, profitable and resilient agriculture and agri-food sector. Building research partnerships among Canadian post-secondary researchers and farmers, producers, and private, public and not-for-profit organizations is key to tackle climate change and build resilience in the agriculture sector. These research partnerships will initiate and accelerate the development of solutions to support a sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector in a net-zero economy, according to a recent press release from the Canadian government. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has rolled out a program in Kenya aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices towards reducing carbon emissions that are leading to global warming and climate change. Methane emissions from livestock, nitrous oxide from fertilizers, deforestation for expanding farmland and reliance on fossil fuels in modern agricultural machinery have significant consequences on climate change. The initiative - which is also being supported by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) - is promoting a circular economy in agribusiness by encouraging farmers to use food waste to produce new products. [link]

It takes a long time, up to several decades, before the benefits of organic farming take full effect on land that was previously cultivated conventionally, a new study from Lund University suggests. A research team from Lund University investigated 88 different fields in southern Sweden, on 30 different farms. The results show that after thirty years of organic farming, the number of arable plant species had more than doubled in the fields of the organic farms, from an average of 15 to 35 plant species. The fact that it took so long for the recovery, and that the improvement in biodiversity continued gradually over several decades, is something that must be kept in mind when evaluating the benefits of organic farming, say the researchers. [link]

A special purpose acquisition company led by Impact Ag Partners co-founder Bert Glover is set to form a business combination with Australian Food and Agriculture Company (AFA) in a deal that values AFA at A$780 million ($531 million). The merged entity, Agriculture and Natural Solutions Company, plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The SPAC, Agriculture and Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation (ANSC), is a joint venture between Impact Ag and US asset management firm Riverstone Holdings, and aims to use AFA's operations as a vehicle for agricultural decarbonization and production. AFA is a major agricultural player in New South Wales, managing 225,405 hectares of grazing and cropping land and about 54,693 ML of water licenses in the Murrumbidgee and Murray irrigation areas. [link]

Natural Grocers has announced a new partnership with Rodale Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic agricultural movement through rigorous research, farmer training and education. During Organic Month, customers will have an opportunity to support the retailer's goal of raising $100,000 for Rodale Institute with donations at the register and a portion of proceeds from the sales of themed reusable shopping bags. Additionally, Natural Grocers will focus its monthly community educational efforts, discounts, recipes and giveaways on the organic food movement and regenerative agriculture. [link]

University of Manitoba researcher and project lead, Dr. Martin Entz, Jarislowsky Chair in Natural Systems Agriculture for Climate Solutions, and team have received a NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Grant to study net-zero farming systems. The grant will provide $7.6 million over four years to support the Canadian agriculture sector by identifying strategies to enhance economic competitiveness, promote food security, environmental stewardship and innovation in a net-zero economy. The project will bring together stakeholders in agriculture, environmental stewardship, First Nations and academia to amplify their collective efforts and meet the sustainable agriculture production targets in Canada. [link]

Agmatix, an agricultural data and AI-powered technology company, announced the launch of RegenIQ at the Regenerative Agriculture Summit in Europe. RegenIQ is designed to drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture by offering a structured approach to assessing the impact of field-level efforts, supporting both environmental health and productivity. Aligned with regenerative agriculture's leading global definitions and frameworks, RegenIQ aims to address one of the most pressing challenges: the lack of a consistent and acceptable measurement system at scale. By connecting agrifood companies to real-time field-level activities, RegenIQ enables them to tailor regenerative practices to specific crops and conditions through a standardized, data-driven approach. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding $380,000 to support four new cooperative agreements with Tribal partners through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). Earlier this year, APHIS awarded $830,000 to support two additional NADPRP projects that are collaboratively led by Universities and Tribes, bringing the total NADPRP funding for Tribal-related projects to $1.2 million. The selected projects include education and training on the use of effective and practical biosecurity measures to protect domestic livestock; the development of animal disease emergency response plans; improved animal disease traceability capabilities; enhanced poultry health, biosecurity and flock management; methods to improve virus containment for swine owners; and the development and delivery of community-based outreach and education on animal disease prevention, early disease detection, and response to animal disease outbreaks. [link]

A new report from The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture outlines the steps needed to ensure the sustainability and resilience of farming in the bloc. As the publication highlights, the cost of inaction is rising, and it is critical for the Commission, the EU Parliament, member states, and stakeholders to swiftly adopt its recommendations. Announced by president von der Leyen in her State of the Union address in September 2023 and launched in January 2024, the Strategic Dialogue brought together key stakeholders from across the whole agri-food chain, including farmers, co-operatives, agri-food businesses, and rural communities; as well as NGOs and civil society representatives, financial institutions and academia. The report makes 14 key suggestions for EU agriculture moving forward. [link]

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director, Tim Boring, announced a $4 million research grant with the University of Michigan as part of Governor Whitmer's Healthy Climate Initiative. The funds will focus on soil health research to address water quality challenges and improve outcomes within Michigan's portion of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). The grant also funds work to increase adoption of climate-smart regenerative agriculture practices and conduct water quality monitoring studies in the WLEB. [link]

Researchers from Kansas State University have been exploring how farming practices affect the amount of carbon stored in soil and recently published results in the Soil Science Society of America Journal that show soil enhanced with manure or compost fertilizer stores more carbon than soil receiving chemical fertilizers or no fertilizers at all. The team also found that the soil treated with manure or compost contained more microbial carbon, an indication that these enhancements support more microorganisms and their activities in the soil. In addition, they identified special minerals in the soil, evidence that the treatments contribute to active chemical and biological processes. [link]

Ceres Global Ag Corp., a global agricultural, energy and industrial products merchandising and supply chain company, announced the continuation and expansion of their regenerative agriculture partnership with Miller Milling, one of the largest wheat millers in the U.S. Ceres' regenerative agriculture program delivers local, scalable solutions to wheat growers in North Dakota. By implementing advanced nutrient practices, the program improves both agronomic and environmental outcomes, enabling the adoption of sustainable practices that enhance nutrient use efficiency. Miller says that as part of its partnership with Ceres, it has expanded enrolled acres in its program from 4,500 acres across 5 growers to 16,800 acres across 15 growers. [link]

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) has received a Climate Smart Commodities grant to advance the adoption of regenerative farming practices, ensure the fiscal sustainability of our farmers and protect our most valuable natural resources including our people. OACD has partnered with the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Choctaw Nation Conservation District, the Muskogee Creek Conservation District and 25 individual conservation districts to provide $4.9 million in funding to local Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. Agriculture producers may be eligible for up to $25,000 of financial assistance to implement conservation practices that create healthy soils, improve rangeland and protect water quality. [link]

The Transfarmation Project has announced the launch of its North Carolina demonstration hub, transforming a commercial poultry barn into a state-of-the-art 15,000 square foot greenhouse. The revitalized hub will be a vibrant vegetable farm and research center dedicated to developing and showcasing sustainable alternatives for former chicken farmers. The demonstration hub's opening marks a significant milestone for The Transfarmation Project. The team has worked tirelessly for over three years to bring their vision to life and facilitate transitions from factory animal farming to specialty-crop production. [link]  

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-July, Lloyds Banking Group said that it was reinforcing its commitment to UK farmers by providing fee-free lending, financial support and resources for agroforestry projects over £25,000. See more, here.

August 30, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – SciTechDaily warns that we’ve “disrupted evolutionary processes” and that modern seeds aren’t ready for climate change. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Carbon Pulse discusses “the next big frontier” - the development of nature insurance…and its ability to protect biodiversity. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Equities.com says that the decarbonization of agriculture is the next frontier in impact investing. Read about it, here.

Industry Updates

A new study showcases a scalable, cost-effective method for producing cultivated meat, marking a significant step towards sustainable and ethical food production. The study, published in Nature Food, demonstrates the use of tangential flow filtration (TFF) for the continuous manufacturing of cultivated meat. The new bioreactor assembly permits biomass expansion to 130 billion cells per liter, achieving yields of 43% weight per volume. The process was carried out continuously over 20 days, enabling daily biomass harvests. Additionally, the research introduces an animal component-free culture medium, priced at just $0.63 per liter, which supports the long-term, high-density culture of chicken cells. This continuous manufacturing method could significantly reduce the cost and complexity of cultivated meat production, potentially bringing it closer to everyday consumers. [link]

New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa’s North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to a better maize yield, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops. The study interviewed more than 300 small-scale maize farmers from 30 rural communities across the North West province, bordering Botswana, and found that 86% of these farmers had adopted climate-smart agriculture techniques in recent years. The farmers who adopted climate-smart agriculture had more maize to consume than farmers who had stuck to ordinary farming methods. They harvested 6.2 tonnes of maize per hectare per year and earned R15,000 (US$824) per hectare from selling their maize. The farmers who stuck to ordinary farming methods harvested 3.9 tonnes per hectare and earned R11,500 (US$632) per year. [link]

PepsiCo Pakistan hosted ‘Seeds to Smiles’, a thought leadership event underscoring the company’s unwavering commitment to supporting Pakistan’s farmers, growing the agricultural ecosystem, and investing in Pakistan’s food systems security. The company engaged in interactive dialogue centered on a commitment to regenerative agriculture and fostering a positive value chain, brought to life through digital exhibits and a panel discussion, culminating in a ceremony to honor the success of the She Feeds the World (SFtW) Pakistan program. SFtW is a multi-country partnership between the PepsiCo Foundation and CARE which aims to improve food security and nutrition of rural households while supporting small-scale women agricultural producers by providing local support to help them adopt regenerative agricultural practices, increase their yields and ultimately increase their income. So far, 173,000 members of rural communities have been positively impacted through the provision of training programs, economic inclusion of smallholder farmers, health & hygiene interventions, and financial literacy workshops. [link]

Populus, America's first carbon positive hotel, is proud to introduce its One Night, One Tree program. Coinciding with the opening of the hotel in Denver on September 18 and in partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Populus will plant one tree for every night’s stay, representing up to 20,000 newly planted trees in 2024. One Night, One Tree is a part of the hotel’s overarching approach to sustainability; other efforts to offset its operational carbon footprint include collaborations with local farms to promote regenerative practices, committing to 100 percent renewable electricity, and turning all food waste into compost to be returned to local farmers. [link]

Target Corp. sees plenty of runway for its burgeoning food and beverage business, with the company's CEO saying that it is still in the early days of building out its food business. Target’s food and beverage sales have increased nearly $9 billion over the past four years to become a $24 billion business. Food and beverages represented about 23% of Target’s fiscal 2023 sales. Recently, Target has been reducing prices on thousands of food items. The company has also paid more attention to seasonal product assortments as a way to drive foot traffic in-store. [link]

Arable, a leading innovator in climate-smart agriculture, announced a collaboration with Google aimed at accelerating the adoption of agricultural technology that promotes water conservation and crop productivity simultaneously. The collaboration will equip farmers in southwest Nebraska with Arable's innovative crop intelligence solution to facilitate data-driven decision-making that enhances irrigation precision. To enable this innovative initiative, Google provided funding to support the widespread deployment of the Arable system across 25,000 acres in the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD). Participating farmers were identified by the team at the TPNRD and Arable executed the deployments of its award-winning technology throughout the region. Arable will also provide training and ongoing support to ensure growers maximize value and will monitor the overall program’s progress against its objectives. [link]

The latest findings from Pro Farmer's annual crop tour have agricultural markets buzzing with optimism, particularly for corn in Iowa, which is showing record yield potential. The tour, which meticulously assesses crop conditions across major U.S. states, has placed Iowa's corn yield at an impressive 192.79 bushels per acre, significantly above past averages. Conversely, Minnesota's corn has suffered due to excessive rains, impacting fertilizer absorption and bringing yields down to 164.90 bushels per acre, the lowest since 2012. While some areas face setbacks, others are poised to meet or exceed expectations, particularly with soybeans which are on track for a successful harvest barring any major weather disruptions. [link]

There’s an opportunity to get a free soil health test with Michigan State University Extension through a newly funded research project. The project seeks to understand how climate change and extreme weather events impact crop yields, soil health and the economic well-being of farmers across Michigan while facilitating opportunities for Michigan farms to contribute to climate change solutions. This project is currently looking to enroll row-crop growers (corn, soybean, wheat, etc.) that are using conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till, 3+ crop rotation, manure, CRP or biodiversity strips, or have an interest in implementing conservation practices. Any row-crop farmer in Michigan is eligible to participate. Once enrolled, select two fields of your choice. A member of the team will visit your fields and soil sample post-harvest 2024. Results will be shared back through a report and an optional consultation. [link]

Research led by a team at the University of Reading claims greater education about sustainable agriculture in the UK is needed in order to support farmers. This includes clearing up the confusion between ‘organic’ and ‘regenerative’ farming, it says, noting that the issue has troubled farm owner and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson on his Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm. Published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, the study used an innovative modelling approach to map out the complex web of factors influencing and hindering the uptake of organic farming in the UK. By tapping into the expertise of 18 farming experts, the researchers created a “mental model” of 55 factors driving organic adoption. The results revealed that farmers are less concerned about the cost of growing organic veg or a lack of subsidies from the government – instead, it is the lack of long-term thinking from shoppers, landowners and policymakers about the benefits of sustainable farming that is preventing an organic revolution. [link]

EarthOptics and Pattern Ag have merged, creating a category leader in soil digitization to power advanced crop management and climate sustainability. The newly combined soil intelligence company will be the authoritative source of soil insights and the leader in Predictive Agronomy. Its comprehensive data will enable farmers, ranchers and their advisors to know their soil’s exact physical, chemical, and biological properties, helping them plan their most impactful input and management decisions to maximize profitability and sustainability goals. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of an updated guideline that makes recommendations to strengthen the documentation that supports animal-raising or environment-related claims on meat or poultry product labeling. In the updated guideline, FSIS strongly encourages the use of third-party certification to substantiate animal-raising or environment-related claims. Additionally, the updated guideline recommends that establishments using “negative” antibiotic claims (e.g., “Raised Without Antibiotics” or “No Antibiotics Ever”) implement routine sampling and testing programs to detect antibiotic use in animals prior to slaughter or obtain third-party certification that includes testing. [link]

Mad Markets, Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) has formally launched with the acquisition of Timeless Seeds, Inc., a renowned lentil and chickpea processing company founded in 1987, and a pioneer in the organic agriculture movement. Mad Markets' mission is to reverse the trend of monoculture commodity production and trading by accelerating the adoption of regenerative organic agriculture across the USA. The goal of the company is to become a go-to source of regenerative organic ingredients for a wide range of clients, from consumer-packaged goods to wholesale buyers. The strategy aims to build the 'missing middle' of regenerative supply chains by investing in legacy infrastructure companies that can directly connect communities of growers and buyers. Anchor Investors for Mad Markets PBC and Timeless Seeds, INC include Terra Regenerative Capital and Builders Vision, with support from Blueberry Capital PARTNERS. [link]

A team of scientists, led by Professor Jean-Michel Ané at the University of Wisconsin, is transforming agriculture with corn capable of fixing its own nitrogen. This groundbreaking research began with the study of a maize variety in Sierra Mixe, Mexico, which naturally fixes nitrogen through aerial roots. The maize, along with sorghum found in Africa exhibiting similar traits, holds promise for dramatically reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers—a major environmental and economic concern. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has infused $82.3 million into the specialty crop sector to bolster the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts producers. Grants totaling $73 million were distributed through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, with an additional $9.4 million via the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. These grants will fund over 520 diverse projects ranging from marketing initiatives to cutting-edge university research and technical support for growers. [link]

Starting next year, Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Canada will deliver training to certified crop advisers (CCAs) in Manitoba and Saskatchewan about soil health and conservation agriculture. The program is branded as the Canadian Prairies Trusted Advisor Partnership and will aim to fill the continued gap in technical assistance for science-driven soil health management in the Prairies. General Mills, PepsiCo, Bimbo Canada, Nature United and the South East Research Farm in Redvers, Sask., are supporting the program. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early August, Brazilian pork and chicken processor, BRF, said that it would pay a 2% premium over market prices for soybeans produced through regenerative agricultural practices. See more, here.

August 17, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The New York Times discusses an Australian start-up’s unusual approach to slowing climate change via work in the farm sector. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article in Nature looks at unintended food safety impacts of agricultural circular economies. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Technology Networks discovers new farming nutrition strategies that could slash methane emissions by 60% in coming years. Read about it, here.

Industry Updates

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced the launch of a collaborative regenerative agriculture program in Argentina, involving various agricultural value chain stakeholders with a common goal to help reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural ecosystems and resources, and boost climate resilience in agricultural communities, while continuing to meet growing demand for sustainably produced agricultural goods. Focusing on soy, corn and camelina crops, the regenerative agriculture program aims to cover 205,000 hectares and involve 400 farmers in the country by 2030. Among other partners, The Nature Conservancy will provide technical support for the design and implementation of the program. Syngenta will help organize producers in the program. And Nestle will help drive demand for these products. [link]

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) continues to spearhead environmental sustainability in agriculture with recent federal grants totaling $1.7 million aimed at advancing sugar beet nitrogen management and agroforestry practices. These funds are part of the wider $90 million Conservation Innovation Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service aimed at innovative agricultural practices. UNL's project on sugar beet nitrogen management is on developing best practices for nitrogen application that enhance sugar yield while promoting environmental sustainability. The grant includes incentive payments to growers, encouraging the adoption of these practices with less financial risk. Money has also been allocated to explore alley cropping in the Midwest, focusing on integrating trees and shrubs with crop production to improve resilience against climate threats like drought and wildfires. [link]

Farmers looking to try cover crops can get a helping hand with cost and technical assistance through the recently established Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) initiative. Operating in 20 states, FSH facilitates financial incentives and technical assistance to farmers planting cover crops for the first time. The initiative results from a partnership between the United Soybean Board (USB), the National Pork Board, and the National Corn Growers Association, alongside the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Soil Health Institute, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding comes from a grant awarded by USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The 20 states covered by the FSH initiative include Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is reaching out to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to gather in-depth information about the conservation practices they use. Nearly 12,000 operators nationwide will receive the 2024 Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey. Data obtained will support the third set of national and regional cropland assessments delivered by USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), a multi-agency effort led by NRCS to quantify the effects of conservation practices across the nation’s working lands. CEAP Cropland Assessments quantify the environmental outcomes associated with implementation and installation of conservation practices on agricultural lands. Findings are used to guide conservation program development and support conservationists, agricultural producers, and partners in making informed management decisions backed by data and science. [link]

Boosting the power of crops and soils on U.S. farms and ranches to absorb and store more greenhouse gas emissions is one of many tools that state and federal leaders are investing in to combat climate change, but the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide that can be naturally removed from the atmosphere by soils and their crops is vastly overinflated, according to new research in the journal, Earth's Future. The researchers found that if cover cropping occurred across the U.S. on all suitable farmland – about 30% of all cropland in the U.S. – it could double the carbon dioxide that these lands currently absorb from the atmosphere. But this would reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture in the U.S. by just 3%. This is one-third of the 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions the USDA has claimed cover cropping could cut. Agriculture is responsible for about 10% of the U.S.’s overall annual greenhouse gas emissions. The findings question whether investments in carbon removal, or carbon sequestration, on “natural and working” farmlands would be better spent on other actions to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. [link]

Canadian regenerative ingredients specialist, Above Food, will acquire The Redwood Group's specialty crop food ingredients division for $34 million. Based in Montana, U.S., Redwood's ingredients business supplies grains, pulses and specialty crops to customers in over 35 countries across high-growth product categories in both the human and pet food markets. Its vertically integrated model spans from the farm to the consumer, encompassing origination, merchandising, processing and value-added finishing. [link]

Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing concerns about the ongoing drought in Kansas and Colorado that could threaten US farmers and ranchers’ livelihoods, asking for assistance in the new Farm Bill. The senators called out four programs in particular that they believe could be improved to support producers: the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Watershed and Flood Prevention Program (PL-566). Additionally, the senators recommended increased investment in water conservation research and the scaling of innovative and voluntary water conservation approaches, such as the creation of a voluntary groundwater conservation pilot program. [link]

Two innovative University of Saskatchewan (USask) research projects have received funding from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to use satellite technology for detailed mapping and analysis of the Earth’s surface. USask researchers are using state-of-the-art satellite imaging techniques to map agricultural emissions and to plan emission reduction strategies. By using machine learning to incorporate data information from satellite imaging and factors like soil moisture content, the team hopes to identify areas of potential high emissions early so they can be mitigated. [link]

Scientists in the US are aiming to reduce farmers’ reliance on pesticides by developing four new long bean varieties that are resistant to the attack of aphids and nematodes that commonly infest the legume. The aphid-resistant varieties can be substituted for current local lines to minimize insecticide use, and the nematode-resistant varieties can serve as “climate-smart green beans” used in mechanical harvest systems, according to the researchers. The California Department of Food and Agriculture provided the University of California, Riverside with funds of over $400,000 to develop the new varieties over 32 months in collaboration with the University of California’s Cooperative Extension and farmers in Fresno County, California. [link]

Farm Advisors has formally launched a new conservation mentor program that will help farmers implement soil health practices on their operation. The program is currently operating under the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative and will focus on advisory work with farmers, letting producers themselves ultimately make the best conservation decisions for their land. [link]

Candy giant, Mars, is buying Cheez-It maker, Kellanova, in a nearly $36 billion deal, bringing together brands from M&M’s and Snickers to Pringles and Pop-Tarts in the year’s biggest deal to date. The deal is a bet on consumers continuing to indulge in branded snacks and comes as packaged food companies face stalling growth after years of price hikes to cover sky-rocketing inflation. [link]

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are exploring the impact of cover crops on soil health and corn production to improve agriculture sustainability. The research findings will be used to develop tools to help farmers make decisions about when, where and what type of cover crops could be beneficial. A $650,000 award grant from the National Institutes for Food and Agriculture will support the research project. The research team will conduct multi-year field trials of 12 cover crop species that integrate with corn production, and use root phenomics, cutting-edge sensing technologies, and machine-learning enabled agroecosystem modeling to gain an improved understanding of the variation for root traits that exists among diverse cover crop species and their influence on soil and cash crops. [link]

Two investors announced an Australian partnership focused on ecosystem services and regenerative agriculture. The Australian arm of family office, Macdoch, and US-based agricultural investor, Impact Ag Partners, have launched a vehicle called Impact Ag Australia, according to a press release. The new entity will aim to demonstrate how investing in natural capital and adopting regenerative agricultural practices can increase farm productivity and profitability, rebuild the resilience of agricultural land, and decarbonize the agriculture industry. [link]

In Chippewa County, Wisconsin, the annual Wisconsin Farm Technology Days event is wrapping up, and a 70-foot-long soil pit is creating an immersive experience in conservation. The pit is 70 feet long, with ramps almost 100 feet long. Once people get down inside, they can see the different soil layers - commonly referred to as horizons. Participants are also educated on how to properly preserve soil, such as growing cover crops, leaving residue in the field, using minimal tillage, and adding manure or cattle to the land. [link]

Land O'Lakes affiliate, Truterra, has announced its first-ever programs specifically for dairy producers. The 2024 Truterra dairy soils carbon program rewards pre-qualified dairy producers who adopt sustainable farming practices on the crops they use for dairy feed — including silage and alfalfa. Sustainable practices include the use of cover crops, strip-till or no-till to improve soil health and increase soil carbon levels. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early August, a report from University of California-Riverside (UCR) researchers called for urgent and innovative measures to address declining water availability from climate change. See more, here.

August 10, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Civil Eats publishes 17 food and ag approaches to tackling the climate crisis. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article in Nature looks at the impact of climate-smart agriculture practices on multidimensional poverty among coastal farmers in Bangladesh. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Vox shines a light on how the most powerful environmental groups help greenwash Big Meat’s climate impact. Decide for yourself, here.

Industry Updates

Candy giant Mars Inc. is in advanced talks to acquire snack-maker Kellanova in a deal that could approach $30 billion in value, according to people familiar with the matter. Kellanova, which was spun off from Kellogg last year, has a market value of around $22 billion. It sells brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Eggo waffles, MorningStar Farms and some international cereal banners. Privately held Mars sells brands including M&Ms, Snickers and Skittles. The McLean, Va.-based company is family owned and also runs a substantial pet-food business. [link]

The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) was selected as a sub-awardee of Growing GRASS, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant project. The Growing GRASS project is led by the American Sustainable Business Network and Other Half Processing and aims to establish high-value supply chains for meat processing byproducts of regeneratively raised beef and bison, providing more climate-friendly materials for pet food, textile and ingredients markets. Being awarded this grant supports PSC’s ongoing mission to advance sustainable ingredient sourcing practices within the pet food industry, according to the association. [link]

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge announced an additional 500,000 acres of cropland are now enrolled into H2Ohio, bringing the total enrollment to 2.2 million acres statewide. Newly enrolled H2Ohio producers will develop and implement a Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP), which help assess and reduce the risks of agricultural nutrient runoff associated with nutrient application that contributes to poor water quality. H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water by supporting best farming practices, road salt runoff reduction, litter cleanup, dam removal, land conservation, and water infrastructure revitalization. [link]

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding invited state farmers to apply for $13 million in tax credits available to support their efforts to improve soil health and water quality. Tax credits through Pennsylvania’s innovative conservation financing program, Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP), can be combined with other state funding, including the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, and Conservation Excellence Grants, as well as federal funding to help pay for farm enhancements that protect the environment and boost farm sustainability. Farmers may receive REAP tax credits of 50 to 75 percent of a project’s eligible out-of-pocket costs. Farmers whose operation is in a watershed with an EPA-mandated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) can receive REAP tax credits of 90 percent of out-of-pocket costs for some projects. Examples of funded projects include no-till and precision ag equipment, waste storage facilities, conservation plans, and Nutrient Management Plans. Also eligible for tax credits are measures that limit run-off from high animal-traffic areas, as well as cover crops and stream buffers that prevent erosion, keeping nutrients in the soil and out of the water. [link]

The University of Illinois Extension program will host a field day event entitled, "Farming for the Future: Digital and Regenerative Agriculture Field Day", on August 15th. The event will be held at the University of Illinois Energy Farm in Urbana, IL, and will aim to showcase how digital agriculture and regenerative agriculture can coexist and complement each other. Field day topics will include an update on cover crop practices, robotic on-farm systems for both crops and livestock, insight into making in-field broadband a priority, an update on air quality efforts, and discussions about greenhouse emissions and carbon sequestration. [link]

Brazilian pork and chicken processor BRF will pay a 2% premium from market prices for soybeans produced through regenerative agricultural practices. The initiative is being organized by a consortium, which BRF is part of together with Germany's Bayer AG and other Brazilian companies, as well as a local research group. Produzindo Certo, a firm that sets up sustainable agriculture supply chains and is part of the consortium, expects the project to include 30 soy farms within a year, producing over 200,000 metric tons of verified regenerative soy. [link]

Ever.Ag, a leader in digital solutions for agriculture, announced the official launch of their new Sustainability platform, specifically designed to support the dairy industry in providing sustainable and low carbon dairy ingredients to their customers. Ever.Ag’s Sustainability platform harnesses auditable and reliable data to empower the dairy industry, enabling them to meet rigorous environmental standards and consumer expectations for sustainable products. [link]

Washington state is launching its second year of a program to encourage on-farm compost use by reimbursing growers for some costs. All commercial Washington farmers – including those in agriculture, silviculture and aquaculture – are eligible for the program. Participating farms are eligible for 50% reimbursement on qualifying costs for compost purchases and associated transportation, equipment, and labor costs. Participants must agree to conduct soil sampling before and for several years following the application of compost. Additionally, the compost must be purchased from an approved compost facility. [link]

Mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) labeling rules for added sugars, expected from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October, are just the beginning of government efforts to reduce sugar consumption and prompt product reformulation away from sugar in the U.S. The FDA is trying to reach “nutritionally illiterate” consumers, or those with low nutrition literacy who aren’t going to flip the product over to the back panel that contains additional information. Since Mexico mandated FOP labeling along with warning signs in 2020, sugar consumption has declined, but diabetes and obesity rates have continued to increase. [link]

The South East Research Farm (SERF) in southern Saskatchewan, Canada has landed a research contract from food giant, PepsiCo, and the U.S. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). SERF is running trials with cover cropping and other management practices to discover what their environmental and crop production impacts might be in western Canadian conditions. PepsiCo is interested in boosting canola and oat production’s positive environmental impact because it is a major consumer of oats and provider of oat products such as Quaker oatmeal, while it also uses large amounts of canola oil in its other food products. [link]

A groundbreaking study by Conservation International has unveiled the substantial potential of agricultural lands to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) without compromising food production. By integrating trees into farming systems, the study published in Carbon Balance and Management suggests it’s possible to improve soil health, biodiversity, and water quality while mitigating climate change. The study reveals that tropical and subtropical regions offer the greatest potential for carbon sequestration through increased tree cover on agricultural lands. Implementing these practices across 2.6 billion hectares could remove over 3 billion tons of CO2 annually, which is the equivalent to the total annual emissions from all of the world’s cars. [link]

Nespresso USA is introducing Nespresso Bloom, the brand's first range of honey products, harvested from the same coffee plants as some of the company's coffee products. Harvested from the same flowers as the coffee of Nespresso Master Origins Colombia capsule, the first two products from the Nespresso Bloom range offer endless possibilities for pairing with coffee, pastries, breakfast bites and more. For 20 years, the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program has been working directly with coffee farmers to improve the quality of their coffee and protect their land for the future through sustainable agriculture practices to help ensure they have a fair income for years to come. [link]

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) in partnership with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $111 million investment in the ag sector through a U.S. EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Through this program, IDOA will receive $73 million for climate-smart ag practices and IEPA $38 million for electrification of small engines. The funding will be distributed over a five-year period for projects that improve soil health, reduce erosion and improve air quality. [link]

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture was awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist in the creation of a demonstration area for climate-smart agricultural practices. The $417,493 grant will support the implementation of beneficial agricultural practices involving silvopasture, the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land, and biochar, a substance made from the burning of wood in an oxygen-limited environment. SFA’s project is one of 53 projects that the USDA is supporting in an effort to improve the environment and agricultural production. In total, the USDA is investing $90 million in Conservation Innovation Grants. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-May, the Noble Research Institute was given a 2024 Regenerative Agriculture Research Grant from the Greenacres Foundation to advance its ongoing pecan-focused silvopasture research. See more, here.

August 3, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Bloomberg writes that U.S. farmers want to adapt to climate change, but Federal Crop Insurance programs won’t let them. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Vermont’s WCAX says that local farmers are seeking out new flood mitigation strategies…to include purposely growing weeds. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Farm Progress reports that high land prices are squeezing farmers, large and small. Give it a read, here.

Industry Updates

Verra launched its new ABACUS market label, a new seal of approval indicating exceptional quality for carbon credits generated by ecosystem restoration and reforestation projects that go above and beyond what is required under Verra’s methodology for Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) projects, known as VM0047, in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. Verra developed the ABACUS label with input from a consensus-based working group that included experts from Amazon, Carbon Direct, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Pachama, TerraCarbon, Stanford University, SCS Global Services, and the University of California, Berkeley. Ecosystem restoration projects wishing to apply the ABACUS label to their carbon credits must go above and beyond VM0047 by matching and observing control areas to measure project additionality in real time, publishing all inventory measurements and disturbance monitorings annually, restoring to diverse ecologically appropriate ecosystems, and maintaining or enhancing agricultural production in the project area and surrounding landscape. [link]

UFA Co-operative Ltd. and MyLand, a pioneering soil health company based in Phoenix, AZ, announced a three-year collaboration on a commercial pilot with various growers in Alberta to create responsible farming practices and soil health management, leveraging advanced microbial technologies to benefit farmers and the environment. The commercial pilot will be integrating MyLand’s proprietary technology and soil as a service to enhance the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil. This integration aims to result in enhanced soil fertility, optimized crop yields and the promotion of eco-friendly farming practices through the MyLand service. [link]

Nutrien has joined the Rice Stewardship Program, committing $1 million over four years to encourage sustainable rice production in six U.S. states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, and California. For over a decade, the Rice Stewardship Program has helped growers adopt and improve sustainable agricultural practices on over 1,000 rice farms, collectively totaling over 800,000 acres. Jeff Tarsi, president of Global Retail for Nutrien, said the company has a wide selection of proprietary products that will work hand in hand to promote the conservation and sustainability efforts of the Rice Stewardship Program. [link]

Ralston Family Farms, a women-owned rice farming company, has achieved certification from Regenified, a leading third-party regenerative verification and supply chain solution company. Demonstrating its commitment to regenerative agriculture practices across all 6,000 acres, the Arkansas family farm works diligently to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, water conservation, and foster ecosystem resiliency through regenerative practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and no-till planting. As demand for transparency in food sources continues to rise, achieving regenerative certification — marked on the shelf by the Certified Regenified seal — will help assure consumers that the rice they purchase from Ralston Family Farms supports a movement to drive positive change for the planet. [link]

An increased use of agricultural drainage tile is one reason a 2025 deadline to reduce nitrate and phosphorus entering the Gulf of Mexico by 20% is unlikely. Drainage tile, a system farmers use to drain water from croplands, is also a contributor to the historic loss of up to about 100 million acres of wetlands in the U.S., researchers say. This hidden underground pipe system stretches over more than 50 million acres in the U.S., with about 84% of those acres in the upper Midwest. It has become essential to modern agriculture, but it brings devastating environmental consequences. About 98% of drainage tile in the nation is located in watersheds with excess nitrate and phosphorus levels. Tile changes the natural movement of water, serving as a conduit for pollution that is flushed quickly into nearby waterways. [link]

A $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide a substantial boost to an artificial intelligence project led by the University of Hawaii at Manoa that can assist those in Hawaii’s agricultural sector to use water sustainably. The variable nature of Hawaii’s seasons often leaves crops without adequate water throughout the year, despite abundant rainfall in some areas. The project will incorporate data from a network of weather stations across the islands feeding it into an innovative AI-enhanced irrigation management system. Farmers in Hawaii would be able to effectively and efficiently reduce irrigation water and enhance yields by adopting an AI-enhanced irrigation scheduling software tool, CropManage. [link]

Two South Dakota State University researchers are partnering with 20 eastern South Dakota farming operations and GEVO to pursue practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase farm profitability. In these projects, Moradi is using statistical models and machine learning/artificial intelligence techniques to  convert information from satellites and drones, combines, soil test results, weather reports, soil surveys and farmer practices into recommendations that will reduce costs and improve profitability. SDSU has two other academic partners in what overall is a $30-million project financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program. Iowa State and Colorado State have similar projects underway. [link]

Applied Carbon, a technology company designing automated biochar production machines that convert in-field agricultural crop waste into biochar, announced that it has raised a $21.5 million Series A round. The funding round was led by TO VC, with participation from Congruent Ventures, Grantham Foundation, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, S2G Ventures, Overture.vc, Wireframe Ventures, Autodesk Foundation, Anglo American, Susquehanna Foundation, US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, and Elemental Excelerator. The funding will be used to deploy a fleet of biochar machines across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, delivering high durability carbon removal and agricultural services. [link]

In its latest Market Impact Report, retailer Whole Foods highlighted its support for sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture through both legislative and financial means. The U.S.-based retailer highlighted that over 57% of fresh produce sold at its stores was organic and that 154 products were labeled as regenerative organic certified. In 2023, the Whole Foods Market Foundation loaned more than $7 million to partners and donated more than $6 million to nonprofit organizations through "community giving programs." As for its legislative and policy support, Whole Foods clearly states that it is "actively engaging" in the 2023-24 farm bill to drive more sustainable agriculture and has worked with various farming and organic research coalitions and foundations to endorse different legislation. [link]

A report from University of California-Riverside (UCR) researchers calls for urgent and innovative measures to address declining water availability due to climate change. In a UCR release the researchers said California should take urgent and bold measures to adapt its $59 billion agriculture sector to climate change as the amount of water available for crops declines. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the report provides a roadmap for more water capture, storage, and distribution systems that align with climate projections and ecosystems. It further explores how runoff and groundwater can be reused as it generally flows from mountainsides to coastal lands. [link]

Landowners and landholders of Appalachian Ohio counties interested in agroforestry practices such as forest farming and silvopasture, and other methods of sustainable forestry management can get a free site visit through Rural Action’s Sustainable Forestry Program. The goal of this project is to help landowners develop goals that support the implementation of agroforestry practices and sustainable forest management. During the site visit process, landowners will have the opportunity to walk their property with Rural Action Sustainable Forestry Staff to evaluate potential agroforestry and silvopasture sites, along with opportunities for sustainable forest management such as tree plantings and invasive species removal. Rural Action is a regional community development organization working with members and community leaders on a range of quality of life, environmental, and economic projects across rural Appalachian Ohio. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a meeting in Chile to promote an integrative perspective for a systemic approach to the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. The discussion was organized around the idea of "One Health", which is an integrated unifying approach that seeks to balance and sustainably optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems, safeguarding the interrelation of activities related to sustainable agriculture, animal, plant, forest, and aquatic health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), nutrition, and livelihoods. In this discussion, specialists from livestock, aquaculture, agriculture, and forestry discussed the opportunities and challenges of addressing agrifood systems in a coordinated manner with a focus on sustainability, intergenerational responsibility, and the protection of natural resources and the environment. [link]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the University of Chicago’s Development Innovation Lab (DIL) have signed a knowledge exchange arrangement that facilitates the scale-up of innovations to reduce the impacts of climate change on agriculture and promote climate adaptation in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and the Pacific. The overall objective is to inform the scale-up of climate-resilient, evidence-based investments in the field of agriculture; improve farmers’ access to accurate climate services and weather forecasts; and raise global awareness on digital innovation in climate services to improve food security. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

This time last year, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released draft guidance of the federal government’s first-ever recommendations for U.S. government agencies on accounting for ecosystem services in benefit-cost analysis when evaluating investment decisions. See more, here.

July 27, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Civil Eats reviews Project 2025’s wish list for how to change the U.S. agriculture industry. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – AP News writes a story on African farmers and their worries that their soil is dying from chemical fertilizers. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Forbes conducts an interview with Kiss the Ground on how the organization wants to change our food system. Give it a read, here.

Industry Updates

Subsaharan Africa is estimated to record an annual soil nutrient loss worth up to $4 billion, according to the latest findings by a pan-African organization Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) in collaboration with the Regional Multi-Actor Network (RMRN). Roughly 65% of arable land in Subsaharan Africa is degraded with soil nutrients rapidly being depleted and soil health deteriorating to the disadvantage of food security across the continent. Findings further disclose that Africa's population is poised to increase 2.5x by 2050, tripling cereal demand and putting soil health at a critical point. [link]

ADM has transitioned more than 2.8 million of its acres to regenerative agriculture in partnership with more than 28,000 growers, the company said in its newly released 2024 regenerative agriculture report. It has also set its 2024 target to 3.5 million acres and increased its 2025 goal from 4 million to 5 million. ADM defines regenerative agriculture as “an outcome-based farming approach that protects and improves soil health, biodiversity, climate and water resources while supporting farming business development.” [link]

A grant of $307 million has been awarded to Nebraska by the EPA, going towards sustainability practices for agriculture and energy in the state. The EPA is awarding a total of $4.3 billion in grants to 30 states, all in an effort to reduce climate pollution. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will use the funds from the grant for voluntary programs, such as “efficiency measures to reduce energy costs, incentives for sustainable agriculture practices, advanced livestock waste management, among others.” [link]

A Midwest program manager with American Farmland Trust says new farmer led, regional groups focused on conservation are sprouting up in Illinois. Dr. Staci McGill says “Farmers for Watersheds” groups are focused on farmers sharing experiences, given that farmers tend to learn best from other farmers. Funding can be used for a variety of different things, be that creating a field day, incentivizing farmers directly to institute some of these practices, and capitalizing on how society can create mentorships and peer programs within farmer groups. McGill says five million dollars in Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding has been set aside to establish the Illinois “Farmers for Watersheds” program. [link]

India gained 2,660,000 hectares of forest annually from 2010 to 2020, securing the third spot globally behind China and Australia, according to FAO. The UN agency commended India for its efforts in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative approaches, including developing a national policy to better support agroforestry initiatives. However, the FAO also highlighted challenges posed by climate change, such as increased wildfire intensity and pest outbreaks, affecting forest sustainability globally. [link]

The Navarra 360º project will grant 80 farmers in Navarre, northern Spain, a €3 million (US$3.3 million) investment from EIT Food, Foodvalley and Food Innovation Hub (FIH) Europe to support their crop rotation system. The project aims to boost sustainable practices in the Spanish province. The aim of the project is to reduce the use of phytosanitary products by 20% and mineral fertilization by 49%, and it will be carried out by 2026. The implementation is expected to inform the design and delivery of further landscape projects in other parts of Europe. [link]

A class of nanoscale particles called “nanocarriers” could make crop agriculture more sustainable and resilient to climate change, according to a group of specialists at Purdue University. Based on a 2022 workshop focused on nanomethods for drug delivery in plants, researchers have now published their conclusions in Nature Nanotechnology. Their article, titled “Towards realizing nano-enabled precision delivery in plants,” reviews the possibility nanocarriers could make crop agriculture more sustainable and resilient to climate change. The recent article says that nano-enabled precision delivery of active agents in plants will transform agriculture, but there are critical technical challenges that we must first overcome to realize the full range of its benefits. [link]

Dairy company, FrieslandCampina, has launched a pilot to accelerate regenerative agriculture. The pilot brings together a diverse group of 20 FrieslandCampina member dairy farmers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in a study group. Based on practical experience, they will develop knowledge, experience and insight about the effects of regenerative farming practices over the next few years. This will also focus on practical and financial feasibility of measures. [link]

The Government of South Sudan, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, is enhancing its support for smallholder farmers to build resilience against climate-related challenges, including recurring floods and extreme weather conditions. A significant $30 million grant from the World Bank's International Development Association aims to support sustainable agricultural practices, agroforestry, and natural resource management for farmers, fisherfolks, and livestock herders. South Sudan, one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, has experienced severe climate change impacts, with excessive flooding over the past four years destroying livelihoods and exacerbating food insecurity. [link]

Regenerative ag pioneer Colin Seis, a producer from New South Wales, Australia, will present a workshop on Aug. 6 in Fort Pierre, SD. Seis didn’t set out to help reinvent agriculture. Instead, he changed the way he farmed in 1979 because he had no choice…with wildfire ravaging most of his operation at that time. He adopted low input agriculture as a way to survive without much income over the near-term and has evolved to now only using limited fertilizer inputs alongside rotationally grazed livestock and the production of multi-species crops on 2,000 acres. Today, his operation is the most profitable it has ever been. [link]

Applications will soon open for the latest round of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants. The grants are available to individual producers, producer groups, and tribal and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grant awards will provide up to 50% cost-share, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $45,000. Examples of eligible new or used equipment include, but are not limited to, no-till drills, air seeders, strip tillage units, and more. [link]

A new report from The Organic Center details the nutritional difference in organic produce relative to conventional produce, along with the environmental, human health and socioeconomic benefits of organic produce production and farming. The report’s findings are based on a review of 85 scientific studies throughout the world conducted over the last three decades on the health and environmental impacts of organic produce and agriculture, according to a news release. The Organic Center says organic produce is more nutritious and tastier than non-organic produce and contains more antioxidants and nutrients. Eating organic produce reduces dietary exposure to pesticides, while farming organically drastically improves the health of those growing food by limiting chemical exposure from pesticide application. [link]

Researchers at Harper Adams University and the University of Leeds have launched a short survey on regenerative agriculture for anyone who is over 18 and involved in farming. The survey aims to find out more about its participants’ perceptions and use of regenerative agriculture practices. As farmers fill in the survey, the team is hoping it will discover what practices farmers consider regenerative agriculture, which of these practices have been implemented, and the perceived impacts they have had. Results from the survey will also be used to create maps of regenerative agriculture practice in the UK – and to highlight knowledge gaps and where changes in practice and targeted policy interventions might be needed. [link]

A research project at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) aiming to advance the Mississippi farming industry in sustainability and economic growth has earned a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Fan Zhang, associate professor in the School of Construction Management, and Dr. Zhe Qiang, associate professor in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, are the recipients of a $139,000 USDA Solid Waste Management Grant for their yearlong project titled “Empowering Rural Communities by Implementing Plastic Waste Management Trainings for Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana Farmers.” This initiative includes establishment of a plastic waste management training program for farmers in rural areas designed to stimulate economic gains, address climate pollution, and increase community and business resilience. [link]

ALUS and General Mills are expanding the regenerative agriculture pilot program, Growing Roots, after exceeding several targets set for the initial two-year pilot period. General Mills has committed to incremental funding to further the goals of Growing Roots through 2026. From 2022–24, ALUS enrolled 115 producers who are managing 234 regenerative agriculture projects across more than 12,000 acres of farmland. ALUS and General Mills launched Growing Roots in 2022 in response to interest in regenerative agriculture from producers, consumers, corporations, and governments. Through the pilot program, over 60 percent of participants learned or tried a new practice. Participants also noted that Growing Roots created unique opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing among producers. [link]

Results from a 2023 study on regenerative agriculture were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), finding that the integration of crop and livestock systems was successful as long-term carbon storage solutions and increased soil fertility. The study was conducted by Colorado State University's Department of Soil and Crop Sciences together with the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. The main practices reviewed were no-till, cropping system intensification like cover cropping, double crops, and intercrops, perennial plant integration, and silvopasture. [link]

PepsiCo Foods North America has unveiled an initiative to expand opportunities in the agriculture industry for young people, who make up just 9% of U.S. farming. The effort, called the Planting Pathways Initiative, will start with pilot partnerships that provide job pathways both on the farm and within the agriculture sector at large. Initial partners include Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Farm Foundation. The initiative is part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive (pep+), a plan announced in 2021 to transform the CPG giant’s supply chain and put environmental and social progress at the forefront. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late May, farm machinery companies, DeLaval and John Deere, co-launched a digital ecosystem to help dairy farmers become more sustainable and efficient. See more, here.