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.