February 24, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Seattle Times writes that the world is quietly losing the land it needs to feed itself. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – AgFunderNews releases its 2024 list of agrifood corporates making regenerative agriculture commitments. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

A little-heard-of pesticide linked to infertility in animals is showing up in the overwhelming majority of oat-based foods sold in the United States, including popular cereal brands Quaker Oats and Cheerios. The chemical, chlormequat, was detected in 77 of 96 urine samples taken from 2017 and 2023, with levels increasing in the most recent years, a new study by the Environmental Working Group finds. Further, chlormequat was found in 92% of oat-based foods sold in May 2023, including Quaker Oats and Cheerios, according to recently published research in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Some studies have shown chlormequat can damage the reproductive system and disrupt fetal growth in animals, a cause for concern as to "whether it could also harm humans," EWG stated. Environmental Protection Agency regulations allow chlormequat to be used on ornamental plants only, not food crops, grown the U.S. [link]

An agritech startup in Thailand aims to give agriculture a new lease of life at a time when abandonment of agricultural land in the country has been a major problem due to beliefs that crop cultivation is difficult amid the impacts of climate change and lack of knowledge. Ricult Thailand recently launched its farming-as-a-service to enable people who have no idea how to cultivate to benefit from their lands. The company will generate income for the landowners by using its expertise to grow crops. Powered with cutting-edge technology developed over many years, the company can make effective decisions — which crops should be grown and when the cultivation should begin to ensure maximum crop yield. [link]

North Carolina State University and three partner institutions are leading a new four-year USDA NIFA-funded project to investigate whether living mulches can equally benefit soil health and the farmer’s bottom line as producers evaluate the transition from conventional to organic agriculture. A four-state group plans to compare multiple cover crop species and whether animals grazing cover crops and living mulches can provide a low-cost means of jumpstarting organic soil health and fertility without significant off-farm inputs. NC State’s research site will be hosted at the Center For Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro, NC. Other partner institutions are Washington State University, Oregon State University and the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania. [link]

Around 6.18% and 4.91% of India’s land is highly and moderately suitable for agroforestry, respectively, the Indian Space Research Organization’s (Isro’s) geographical data has revealed. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana have emerged as the top large-sized states suitable for agroforestry while Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Nagaland ranked highest among the medium-sized states according to the satellite data published on the Bhuvan website. The data is important because it aligns with global and national commitments such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Green India Mission. [link]

The Noble Research Institute is on a mission to reshape the future of U.S. pecan farming with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Charles Rohla discussed the institute's upcoming projects at the American Pecan Council meetings, which include creating regenerative pecan courses and engaging in cutting-edge research. The emphasis is on soil health management and leveraging regenerative practices to lower input costs while boosting profitability. For pecan farmers, adopting regenerative practices means prioritizing soil health through reduced tillage, diverse cover cropping, and the integration of livestock, which introduces beneficial microbes to the soil. This approach not only aims at enhancing soil fertility and tree vitality but also promotes diversification and additional income through methods like silvopasture. [link]

Increasing farm profitability through regenerative agriculture is the focus of two free workshops scheduled for Feb. 20 and 22, in Missouri. The two one-day workshops are designed to help Missouri farmers understand and then successfully transition from conventional agricultural practices to more profitable, low-input regenerative practices that improve soil health and water quality. The workshops are conducted by Understanding Ag LLC’s regenerative farmer-consultants through the nonprofit Soil Health Academy. They are partially funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under the Clean Water Act’s Section 319. [link]

Trace Genomics, an industry leader in DNA-based soil intelligence, has announced its successful Series B funding round at $10.5 million led by existing investors S2G Ventures and Ajax Strategies, as well as new investor Rabo Ventures. With this additional funding, Trace plans to expand its commercial growth, making its offerings available to more farmers and agronomists. [link]

Catona Climate, a global climate finance company, announced that Microsoft has signed a six-year offtake agreement to purchase 350,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits from an agroforestry project in Kenya. Funded, designed and managed by Catona in collaboration with long-standing nonprofit partner, Trees for the Future, this project supports Microsoft's goal to become carbon negative by 2030. The Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Project located in Homa Bay, Kenya, partners with 15,000 local smallholder farmers to develop forest gardens — multi-tiered mixtures of trees, shrubs, and crops — on their land. [link]

A U.S. soil scientist based in the Upper Midwest sees mostly positive outcomes for crop farmers as an abnormally mild winter continues. Jeff Strock with the University of Minnesota says warmer than normal temperatures have kept frost depths shallow, allowing precipitation to infiltrate the ground and replenish soil moisture. This could lead to early-season planting in 2024. [link]

Produce Now has introduced its revolutionary approach to fresh produce with the launch of "Better than Organic" crops cultivated inside specially developed GrowPods. The company grows its food in GrowPods – repurposed shipping containers, transformed into portable, scalable automated climate-controlled indoor farms. With a commitment to sustainability and food purity, GrowPods are designed to operate without the use of pesticides, harmful chemicals, animal runoff, contaminants, or pathogens, ensuring that all produce is of unparalleled quality that surpasses organic standards. [link]

Inside a nondescript University of Buffalo computer lab, a new tech-savvy style of indoor farming is blossoming. Lettuce and basil are growing inside a phonebooth-sized greenhouse, all under the unflinching eyes of an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to identify the faintest signs of sickness and distress among the plants. The early detection of nutrient deficiencies, pests and other problems — as well as the opportunity to optimize LED lighting programs that indoor farming operations rely upon — are the crux of a new research project at UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. [link]

Walmart said its suppliers have removed 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions from their value chains, six years ahead of the target date. In 2017, the retail giant started an initiative to encourage its suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint, aiming to avoid, reduce or sequester the 1 billion tons of emissions by 2030. This week, the company said that its suppliers have achieved that goal, working on measures such as energy efficiency, packaging redesign, food-waste reduction and trucking-load optimization. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-January, the World Economic Forum released a report proposing a model for achieving sustainable agriculture worldwide. Read more, here.

February 17, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Fast Company says that when trees are planted alongside crops, farms become more sustainable . Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Grist asks how much carbon farmers can store in their soil. The answer? Nobody’s sure. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The World Economic Forum notes that extreme weather is driving food prices higher. These 5 crops are facing the biggest impacts. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

Texas commodity producers interested in improving the sustainability of their operations can apply to participate in the Texas Climate-Smart Initiative, spearheaded by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The five-year project is designed to work with Texas producers to adopt climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices, assess the benefits of these practices and develop models for voluntary, market-based climate solutions. The size of the program is $65 million, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. [link]

Cargill is introducing a sustainable agriculture program to help Australian canola growers connect with new and emerging markets with the launch of Cargill SustainConnect. The Cargill SustainConnect program will open new revenue streams for growers in Australia and assist Cargill in catering to the rising demand from domestic and international customers for sustainable Australian canola. Cargill SustainConnect builds on Cargill’s global efforts to make sustainable farming programs commonplace across its global supply chains, including its RegenConnect program in North America and Europe. [link]

Ceres Global Ag Corp. announced an exclusive agreement with Grupo Trimex, Mexico's largest flour miller, to collaboratively develop and execute regenerative agriculture initiatives across Canadian and U.S. hard red spring wheat supply sheds. The primary focus of the collaboration is the adoption of innovative agronomic practices and technologies that deliver positive outcomes at the farm gate, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and positively impacting other sustainability indicators such as biodiversity and water quality. [link]

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has greenlighted 48 FAO-led projects worth about $2.9 billion – comprised of $294 million in project financing and $2.6 billion in co-financing – that will play a pivotal role in fostering a sustainable agrifood systems transformation to end hunger and conserve the environment. The initiatives, benefitting 4.2 million people in five different regions globally, will restore more than 474,000 hectares of land; improve practices on over 24 million hectares of land and marine habitats; create and improve the management of over 2 million hectares of protected areas on land and sea; mitigate 133 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions; and remove 202 metric tons of hazardous agrochemicals. A total of 46 countries partnered with FAO to access finance from the GEF in this work program, including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Afira, and Tunisia, among others. [link]

In her annual budget proposal, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has recommended $4 million for a Farm to Family Program, with a goal to support regenerative farming, agriculture supply chains and the promotion of Michigan food products in the home. While the Governor wants to focus on delivering local food to local people and building economic prosperity, Republican State Representative Dave Prestin said that the program should instead focus on the difficulties of distribution, noting that products from the farm to the end consumer need attention. [link]

A U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) study is underway tracking 10,000 Americans eating differentiated diets for six weeks around the country. The goal? Figure out a way to offer personalized diet advice based on a few simple medical tests. If the study succeeds, it could help Americans get healthier and cut through years of confusion about nutrition guidance. Scientists agree broadly on what constitutes a healthy diet—heavy on veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean protein—but more research is showing that different people respond differently to the same foods, such as bread or bananas. The study’s scientists will take the vast amounts of data they are collecting to create algorithms that, they hope, can predict what a particular diet will do for any one of us. [link]

Agricultural communities in Calapan, Philippines, are celebrating a sustainable future with the introduction of a solar-powered water pump project. Spearheaded by Yara Fertilizers Philippines, Inc., in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the initiative aims to revolutionize rice irrigation in Barangay Santa Cruz. The project, funded by a PHP 4 million grant, replaces traditional diesel-powered pumps, reducing costs, ensuring better profitability for farmers, and minimizing CO2 emissions. [link]

NITI Aayog, a public policy think tank in India, has unveiled the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal, aiming to bolster efforts in environmental conservation and sustainable land use across India. Utilizing cutting-edge remote sensing and GIS technologies, the report offers a comprehensive state-wide and district-wide analysis, providing crucial insights to government departments and industries engaged in greening and restoration projects. At its core, the report aims to evaluate the suitability of agroforestry practices across all districts of India. Additionally, it has introduced an Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) for national-level prioritization, utilizing thematic datasets. [link]

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) has announced seven new flagship restoration projects ahead of the 6th UN Environment Assembly, which will be held from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1 in Nairobi, Kenya. The projects - regarded by UNEP as role models for reversing ecosystem degradation at scale - are slated to restore a combined 40 million hectares of land in Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. The newly announced World Restoration Flagships focus on restoring mangroves, forests, river basins, and degraded drylands with the support of national governments, UN agencies, and non-for-profit organizations. [link]

The Biden-Harris Administration announced that it made record investments in private lands conservation in fiscal year 2023 thanks to historic resources made available by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history. In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), totaling over $2.8 billion in financial assistance to producers for conservation efforts. NRCS also released updated state-by-state data showing where investments went in FY2023 for resources provided under both the Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act. [link]

North Dakota and Minnesota farmers and ranchers may be eligible to participate in a national pilot program that will pay farmers and ranchers $100 an acre or an animal unit to implement conservation practices on their land. The Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture will provide payments to producers in certain parts of each state for adopting or maintaining practices that curb greenhouse gas emissions, including no till, minimum till, prescribed grazing or cover crops. The three-year project is funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities that will pay out $57 million in 2024 and 2025 to roughly 4,000 producers in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Virginia. [link]

The UK's Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has set out its green policy priorities for the next Government, calling on all parties to make bolder pledges on the energy transition and regenerative agriculture. These include expanding grants and other incentives for food and drink manufacturers seeking to install innovative green energy technologies and energy efficiency technologies, beyond the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund that is allocated on a competitive basis. The FDF is also imploring Ministers to facilitate the creation of a new ‘Sustainable Food Pact’. It describes the Pact as a “pre-competitive industry collaboration to restore and maintain the natural systems needed for agricultural productivity”. [link]

General Mills and Unilever recently made significant investments in a University of Maryland-led initiative to evaluate the adoption and efficacy of climate-smart farming practices. The Harvest Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, or Harvest SARA, uses satellite measurements to shed light on the suitability of certain land management techniques for producing robust yields that are gentle on the ground from which they came. Unilever and General Mills’ gifts to the Harvest SARA Initiative Fund will be used to build a robust and actionable evidence base for various management practices, and provide science-based, good practices for quantifying environmental, economic and social outcomes associated with their adoption. [link]

Iowa State University is helping to lead a five-year, $16 million project to explore some big, interconnected questions impacting agriculture in the Corn Belt and Great Plains. The project will seek to understand how combinations of crops (corn, soybean, wheat, rye), agronomic management (tillage, fertilizer), diverse soils and water (rainfed, irrigated, subsurface drainage) affect productivity and environmental performance of cropping systems. The expansive study will collect new data from experimental field sites in seven states (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska and Ohio) and use simulation modeling to expand the knowledge gained across time and space. [link]

The Missouri Organic Association (MOA) will recruit a total of 80 farms to participate in a project that will test the effects of biochar usage in agriculture. The carbon- and nutrient-dense substance, made from biomass like wood chips or animal manure, is the star player in a new project that MOA is pioneering through the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program. Biochar traps microorganisms that can sequester carbon emissions in the soil for long periods of time, lessening farmers’ environmental impact. It can also help farmers by holding things like fertilizer in the soil. [link]

The 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture was released this week, reporting increased farm profits but decreased farmland in what Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called “a wakeup call.” The U.S. is now home to about 880 million acres of farmland, down from 900 million at the time of the last census in 2017. Number of farms also declined relative to 2017, down 142,000 to 1.9 million. The last time the country saw numbers this small was 1850. Average farm income has risen, weighing in at $79,790 as of 2022. Growers have continued to adopt technologies and practices that reduce their environmental footprint. No-till has increased to 38% of acres in 2022 compared to 35% in 2012, while cover cropping amounted to 18 million acres in 2022, up 17% compared to 2017 and 75% compared to 2012. From 2017 to 2022, the number of acres of cropland that were fertilized (excluding pasture) fell by 5%. Acres treated to control insects fell by 26% while acres treated to control weeds, grass, or brush fell by 10%. [link][link]

A series of workshops focused on regenerative ranching and adaptive grazing will be held in Texas and surrounding states this year. The courses are offered by the Noble Research Institute, the nation’s largest independent agricultural organization with a commitment to assisting farmers and ranchers in exploring and implementing regenerative management practices. The Noble Land Essentials course teaches farmers and ranchers how to grow more nutritious forage from fertile soils, build drought resilience while mitigating flood risk and boost ranch productivity with long term profitability. The Noble Grazing Essentials course helps farmers and ranchers by equipping them with skills to identify variables and resources to consider in grazing plans. Participants will also learn how to determine the limiting factors of current grazing practices, develop a strategy to address forage production issues and establish goals for enhanced resilience and grazing production. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late January, Kroger announced that it had set a new supplier goal that requires all of its fresh produce suppliers to use Integrated Pest Management practices for all products supplied to the grocery company by 2030. Read more, here.

February 10, 2024

Spotlight Story

Spotlight – ESG Clarity takes a look at how we’re going to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

Agribusiness giant Cargill is giving the University of Minnesota $2.5 million to study a pair of crops that could become transportation fuels of the future. The University of Minnesota said it will use the funds to research two novel oilseed crops known as winter camelina and domesticated winter pennycress. Oil from these two plants could be used to develop “low-carbon transportation fuels” and provide new revenue streams for farmers. The university said that the two crops’ oil could be used as a “drop-in replacement” for jet fuel and diesel. It could be used as food or animal feed, too. Cargill’s donation is specifically going to the school’s “Forever Green Initiative,” a program designed to identify and grow new forms of food, feed, and biomaterials. The Forever Green Initiative is now studying a portfolio of more than 15 perennial and winter-annual crops. [link]

A number of farmland transactions took place across the U.S. Midwest during 2023, with some of the more notable purchases taking place late in the year ranging from $8,800 per acre all the way up to an incredible $23,700 per acre. In Sioux City, Iowa, a 39.4 acre cropland farm sold for $23,700 per acre in November 2023. In Carroll County, Missouri, four different tracts of land totaling 692 acres sold between $8,800/acre to $20,000/acre during the same month. And in Illinois, multiple transactions of farmland ranged from $15,900/acre up to $22,700/acre during November, as well. [link]

The inaugural ReACH Innovation Summit, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering innovation in regenerative agriculture, was held on February 6, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri. Co-hosted by BioSTL and Bayer, the summit was part of the concerted efforts by the Heartland Regenerative Agri-Food Alliance (ReACH) to address formidable challenges such as diminishing arable land, water, and energy resources. ReACH is a powerful coalition that includes prominent companies and producers such as AB Inbev, ADM, Bayer, Bunge, and Burger King. The alliance's primary objective is to collaborate on devising and implementing regenerative agricultural techniques that can sustain the planet's future. The summit featured pitches from 13 startups from various regions who presented their innovative solutions to real-time challenges in agriculture. The innovations spanned a wide array of areas including artificial intelligence, soil health, carbon credit generation, and more. [link]

The Delmarva Soil convention kicked off this week at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. The event focused on giving farmers better tools to improve and measure soil health. It also highlighted the impacts that those practices can have on crops, groundwater, and the health of surrounding communities. Farmers say they are learning how to quickly diagnose soil health and learn how to respond. They added that leaving the soil healthy for generations to come is the most important job of a farmer. [link]

5th World, at the forefront of regenerative agricultural innovation, is set to present a talk at the South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas, titled "The Soul & Science of Regenerative Agriculture." The presentation will address urgent topics in sustainable agriculture and propose innovative solutions to the pressing challenges facing our ecosystems and food systems today. The talk will explore how regenerative agriculture, when integrated with cutting-edge technologies, can heal our climate, restore our health, and rejuvenate our soil, thereby securing an abundant future for all. [link]

UK farmers are invited to join a new research project that aims to develop a soil health sensor that measures microbial diversity and fungal-to-bacterial ratio to improve farm productivity. The three-year Thriving Roots Underpinning Total soil Health (Truth) project is looking to involve up to 30 UK farmers to carry out a series of on-farm trials for which they will be paid. The intention is to deliver a platform comprising soil/root health testing tools and a knowledge exchange group that can inform sustainable soil management practices. [link]

Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), a company empowering growers to implement scalable regenerative agriculture solutions, has launched a data-driven standard for growing regenerative cotton called Integrity Grown. This new standard sets a high bar for regenerative cotton growing practices that increase yields, lower chemical inputs and water usage, and improve soil health. The program’s purpose is to empower and attract more cotton growers to transition to regenerative practices. So far, more than three million pounds of regenerative cotton have been sourced through the initiative. [link]

A new project in the UK links artificial intelligence and indoor farming to improve the sustainability of food production. The Advanced Crop Dynamic Control (ACDC) project led by LettUs Grow, in partnership with Fotenix, Rothamsted Research, Crop Health and Protection, and Vertically Urban, focuses on the application of image-based analysis, artificial intelligence, and bespoke software to create indoor farming systems that are not only energy-efficient but also sustainable. Innovate UK has announced its support for the ambitious ACDC project with £757,151 in funding through the Novel Low Emission Food Production Systems competition. The primary goal of the project is to address and rectify the inefficiencies in temperature controlled environment agriculture (TCEA) operations by harnessing cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches to enhance energy efficiency across the board significantly. [link]

The Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH) at the University of California, Davis has received a $500,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to evaluate links between food production, nutrition, and personal health. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the IIFH and the North American Center of Excellence for the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI) will leverage newly developed tools and robust life cycle analysis to comprehensively define how agricultural practices (e.g., conventional vs. regenerative) impact the molecular composition of foods, and further, people’s health and well-being. [link]

Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness in food, feed, and fiber, has launched its global regenerative agriculture program across the U.S. Cotton Belt to help meet the growing demand for traceable and sustainably grown cotton. Olam Agri started its regenerative program in cotton in 2020 to provide cotton farmers with the tools, resources, and access to market opportunities to mitigate climate risks, increase soil fertility, sequester carbon, encourage biodiversity, and manage water and energy use. The new program is the culmination of this work and will offer customers cotton products with full chain of custody certification from production, harvesting, ginning, and storage, to shipment. All the farms and ginning facilities under the program are regenagri certified. [link]

Farmers Business Network (FBN), the farmer-to-farmer network, has announced updates to its Gradable platform along with its sustainability partnerships and supply chain programs. Those updates, according to FBN, will allow for regenerative financing offers for farmers for 2024 as part of its efforts to increase grower profitability while enhancing sustainability. FBN and Gradable enable farmers to access voluntary and regulatory rewards within the supply chain through practice and outcome claims created by partners like ADM, POET, and the Environmental Defense Fund. [link]

In the UK, the Coca-Cola Company is conducting a trial where labels will be removed from Sprite and Sprite Zero bottles in an effort to better manage waste. During this experimental phase, bottles will sport an embossed logo on the front in lieu of traditional labels, with product and nutritional information laser-engraved on the back. A significant challenge in recycling lies in material separation, with recyclable materials needing to be separated from contaminants and non-recyclables before then being sorted into their respective material categories, such as metals, plastics, glass, and more. With this perspective in mind, eliminating labels—distinct from bottles despite their recyclability—could theoretically streamline the recycling process by obviating the need for their separation from bottles. This could also lead to a reduction in packaging material usage. Given the millions of soft drink bottles produced and sold annually, such efficiencies could yield significant environmental benefits. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October last year, General Mills announced a collaboration with Walmart and Sam’s Club to advance the adoption of regenerative agriculture on 600,000 acres in the United States by 2030. Read more, here.

February 3, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Conversation notes that Australia’s soils are notoriously poor. Here’s how scientists are working to improve them. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Food Navigator walks through bee study research that reveals environmental vulnerability and a food production threat. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Food Dive discusses how to bridge the divide between food companies and farmers when it comes to environmental responsibility. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts has announced new financial support from General Mills for the Conservation Agriculture Reach Everyone (CARE) program – an initiative in partnership with the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project Inc. The goal of the CARE program is to increase the number of farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma participating in conservation planning and programs to improve soil health, water quality, and the viability of working lands. The CARE program focuses on providing resources and assistance to socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers, expanding their knowledge of innovative technology, soil health, and invasive species eradication to sustain their farms, and empowering them to actively participate in all conservation programs. Since its inception in 2017, the CARE program has made significant strides, reaching and positively impacting more than 7,000 producers. [link]

Vanguard Renewables, a national leader in organics-to-renewable energy production, is excited to announce the addition of Foremost Farms USA, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the United States, to the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA). Vanguard Renewables partners with food and beverage manufacturers to recycle their inedible food waste via Farm Powered anaerobic digestion, which converts organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG). This RNG is then used to generate electricity, heat, and transportation fuel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. [link]

A new economic analysis involving researchers at the University of Oxford and London School of Economics has found that transforming the global food system could realize benefits of up to $10 trillion per year, and that the costs of achieving this would be relatively small in comparison. The new analysis forecasts that a business as usual approach would mean that by 2050 food insecurity will leave 640 million people underweight in some parts of the world, while obesity will increase by 70% globally. In contrast, an alternative Food System Transformation approach could result in undernutrition being eradicated by 2050, and cumulatively 174 million lives saved from premature death due to diet-related chronic disease. According to the model, these benefits would result in economic gains equivalent to economies being 12% larger on average for 30 years across lower income countries, 3.4% across middle income countries, and 1.7% across high income countries. Furthermore, the cost of achieving this transformation through better policies and practices was estimated to be equivalent to 0.2-0.4% of global GDP per year – much less than the potential multi-trillion-dollar benefits that change could bring. [link]

Kroger announced that it has set a new supplier goal that requires all of its fresh produce suppliers to use Integrated Pest Management practices for all products supplied to the grocery company by 2028 or 2030, based on the grower’s size. The grocer expects medium- to large-sized growers to meet the goal by the end of 2028 and gives small-sized ones until 2030. Kroger said that the change will protect more pollinators and help create a more sustainable produce supply chain. [link]

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund is accepting grant applications that will further the organization’s mission to promote soil health and regenerative agriculture. The Soil Health Fund is an endowment established to make grants that support educational events and programming for youth, current and future farmers and ranchers and others, including women and small stakeholders directly involved in agriculture in Nebraska and surrounding states. The priority for funded projects is to support current and future growers in adopting practices that address water quality and soil health, such as cover crops, reduced tillage, complex crop rotations, and nutrient management to reduce soil erosion, nutrient run-off and greenhouse gas emissions. The next round of competitive funding is open now with a cutoff date of March 1 for an award of up to $1,500. [link]

Bregal Investments is establishing a new strategy dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in agriculture and helping make crops more sustainable while generating salable carbon credits. The Bregal Sphere Nature strategy will invest in so-called agroforestry projects that combine tree- and bush-crops such as cocoa and coffee with plantings of other native trees or bushes. Bregal plans to sell carbon credits generated by the projects it backs, with buyers expected to be businesses looking to compensate for their own emissions. [link]

At least three cargoes of Brazilian soybeans were traded recently to a U.S. East Coast crusher, which is not typical for this time of year, according to industry trade sources. End-users import some Brazilian soybeans to the East Coast during most years, though those shipments are typically for summer delivery. The $1.35 discount to March soybean futures the cargoes were booked at is also not usual for this time of year. Plunging Brazilian soybean prices have made arbitrage trade viable for East Coast destinations. [link]

Although an ever-growing number of Canadian farmers and ranchers are implementing regenerative practices, most Canadians still don't understand how regenerative agriculture contributes to their lives. A new national campaign, Stories of Regeneration, aims to bridge the gap and foster relations between producers and consumers. Created by Regeneration Canada, the campaign evolved from a series of farm-to-table events held this past summer into what has now become a collection of films, podcast conversations, articles, and webinars that shine a light on the many benefits derived from farming in a way that is good for the people and the planet. The Regeneration Canada team, with support from Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada through the AgriCommunication Program, is now proudly launching these stories featuring ten farmers from eight provinces, each representing operations with diverse production systems. [link]

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced $2.232 million in funding for research proposals on issues critical to sustaining and growing the state's $132.5 billion agriculture industry. Funded projects will address complex challenges ranging from reducing impacts of climate change and measuring soil and water conservation, to tackling emerging animal care issues, and developing plant-based solutions to reduce threats to human health. [link]

Nestlé UK and Ireland has announced a new partnership with The Allerton Project, a research farm in Leicestershire with an award-winning blueprint for future rural landscapes. The partnership is promising for Nestlé UK and Ireland as it provides an opportunity for farmers and suppliers of Nestlé to receive practical, context-based land management advice to deliver positive environmental outcomes on their land. The Allerton Project will also provide a mix of immersive, field-based training with classroom-based content to managers and executive-level staff to further embed perspectives on supply chain resilience within Nestlé’s working culture and the integral part it plays in Nestlé’s operations. [link]

Researchers recently published a study in the journal, Nature, showing that human diets rich in plant-based alternatives substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions (30%-52%), land use (20%-45%), and freshwater use (14%-27%), with vegan diets showing the highest reduction potential. Daily food expenditures for plant-based diets increased by 3%-5%. The study took place in Sweden. [link]

Farmer protests have exploded across the EU in countries like France, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, and Germany as new green rules across the bloc have led to higher taxes and rising costs. Farmers are also upset about the opening of the domestic market to cheap Ukrainian imports to help Kyiv's war effort against Russia. Frustrations came to a head in Brussels late this week, where farmers threw eggs and stones at the European Parliament, and started fires and set off fireworks as they demanded EU leaders at a summit nearby do more to help them. [link]

A new partnership in Michigan between the Plant Coalition (Michigan plant agriculture organizations), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and Michigan State University has been put in place to help the local agriculture industry mitigate and adapt to climate change, while promoting environmental sustainability alongside the protection and efficient use of the state's water resources. The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program — which operates through MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension — was established through the MDARD budget with $1 million in recurring funds to support faculty and Extension positions. A one-time investment of $5 million will go toward a competitive grants program, in which MSU researchers and Extension specialists can apply for three-year grants of up to $1.25 million. Proposals for the first set of projects are due March 1 and will be evaluated by a panel of experts from MSU, MDARD and the plant coalition. [link]

A partnership has been created in Arizona to turn trash into soil. The Arizona Green Guys and Abby Lee Farms have been taking food waste, tree cuttings, and drywall, and processing them into soil products. The entities have been removing 300 tons of garbage per week, with plans to double this rate in the future. Each day, workers tend to nearly 30,000 yards of soil, with the waste taking 9 months to become nutrient-rich soil for fertilizing crops. The ultimate goal is to provide a product that is local, organic, and sustainable to area farmers and gardeners. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early January, it was reported that King Arthur Flour Company had recently rolled out a new “Climate Blend” whole wheat flour, using wheat from two farms that employ regenerative agriculture techniques. Read more, here.

January 27, 2024

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Good Men Project writes about how extreme drought in Brazil is pushing farmers into agroforestry. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Civil Eats reports on how state lawmakers are collaborating on policies to support regenerative agriculture. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Financial Times looks at venture capital’s interest in regenerative agriculture. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

For the first time since 2001, interest rates are rising faster than farmland values, creating a potential obstacle to land purchasers, said assistant economist Ty Kreitman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. “With interest costs now above average land value appreciation, farm operating profits will determine the magnitude of returns for financed land,” he said. Meanwhile, ag bankers said in a Federal Reserve survey that the volume of new non-real estate loans was 15% lower during the final quarter of 2023 than during the same period in 2022. [link]

A new high-tech soil lab called the Center for Excellence in Land-Based Research and Knowledge Transfer is being implemented into the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK in order to help spur sustainable and productive land and soil management in the country. The lab will be at the cutting-edge of the analysis of soils, plants and feedstock, supporting the shift towards more environmentally friendly farming, and helping businesses become more productive, competitive, and eligible for future environment-based funding streams. The center comes at a time when the Government begins phasing out direct support payments for the agricultural industry, replacing them with new incentives for environmental land management and sustainable farming. [link]

Researchers from the University of Michigan evaluated farming operations at 73 sites across five countries in North America and Europe and found that urban agriculture is six times more carbon intensive than conventional agriculture per serving of fruit or vegetable. The team ignored traditional urban agriculture operations like vertical farms and instead focused on open-air urban farms. Additionally, the researchers evaluated farm comparisons on a full lifecycle emissions basis as opposed to standard farming activities themselves. The study showed that infrastructure for urban farms leads to outsized carbon emissions relative to conventional farms, however some urban farms in New York, London, and Paris had lower emissions than conventional farms, due to use of recycled materials, types of crops grown, and long-term stability of the operation itself. [link]

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has established a Regenerative Agriculture Work Group to assist the State Board of Food and Agriculture in defining “Regenerative Agriculture” for State Policies and Programs. The 13-member group represents a diversity of agricultural stakeholders. The Regenerative Agriculture Definition Work Group will consider input from the public and CDFA’s Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel proposed framework to draft a recommendation for a definition of regenerative agriculture. The draft definition is anticipated to be submitted to the State Board for consideration in June 2024. [link]

A new smartphone application is helping smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa become more resilient to the impacts of climate change while improving income and nutritional security. Released by The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the app informs farmers on how to incorporate fruit trees into landscapes best to increase overall farming resistance to the impacts of climate change. The app was developed as part of ongoing ACIAR-funded research to enhance farm-level climate adaptation for smallholders in Kenya and Rwanda by increasing the stocking and strategic siting of fruit trees. [link]

Nearly a century after the mass agricultural disaster known as the Dirty ’30s, drought conditions on the Canadian Prairies are once again raising the risk that farmers’ valuable topsoil will go blowing in the wind. Across southern Alberta, severe erosion events have been increasing in frequency and severity in recent years. In Lethbridge County, dry and windy conditions have been known to stir up dust clouds, obscuring the vision of drivers on local roads and filling irrigation canals to the brim with dirt. The drifting soil also reduces agricultural productivity, both by removing nutrients from the field where it blows from, and by spreading weeds and damaging crops where it lands. Currently, 81 per cent of Canada’s agricultural landscape is classified as either abnormally dry or in moderate-to-severe drought conditions, according to federal government mapping. [link]

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce the availability of approximately $12 million in grant funding for Healthy Soils Program Incentive Grants. The objectives of the program are to increase statewide implementation of conservation management practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases. California farmers, ranchers, business entities, California Native American tribes, and non-profit organizations can apply for awards. Applicants may request up to $100,000 per project. Priority will be given to applicants who are considered Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. [link]

Boulder County, Colorado has launched the Soil Health Initiative, a new grant program that will provide $1.1 million to local food producers for projects that foster soil health and advance sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers and ranchers who operate on leased Boulder County Parks & Open Space land, private land, or both, can apply for funding until the February 12, 2024 deadline. Grants will be awarded in March. Examples of eligible practices include no- or reduced-tillage, cover crop usage, rotational grazing, and crop rotation. [link]

A Massachusetts state commission tasked with investigating climate challenges and solutions for the agricultural sector is considering tax relief to impacted farmers along with incentives that push for cover crops and improved soil health. The commission has been holding meetings to learn about existing federal and state programs designed to protect farms from the impacts of climate change. It will eventually submit a final report and recommendations to the legislature by the end of the year. [link]

The Antibiotic Resistance Action Center announced that Fischer Farms in Saint Anthony, Indiana will be the first farm in the country to receive its Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use (CRAU) standard for beef. Fischer Farms switched to reduced antibiotics in its cattle feed in 2004, followed by regenerative agriculture practices and the addition of kelp to its feeds, reducing cattle emissions by up to 82%. Under the CRAU standard, farmers can give antibiotics to their cattle if they get sick, but their use will be closely monitored. The standard was developed in 2014 for the poultry sector. [link]

McCain Foods has managed to onboard more than half of its global potato acreage onto its regenerative agriculture framework, with 28% said to be moving up the agenda towards a more comprehensive adoption of such practices. The frozen potato company has set its intentions to implement regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of its potato partner operations by the end of the decade. [link]

A bill making its way through the Illinois legislature would ban the manufacture, sale or distribution of products formulated with brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate or red dye 3. The legislation is similar to a bill that was signed into law in California in October. Illinois Senate Bill SB2637 was proposed on Nov. 7, 2023, and assigned to the state’s Public Health committee for consideration on Jan. 24. It would amend the state’s Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, if it is signed into law. [link]

An effort by Republican U.S. lawmakers to reallocate $18 billion in climate-friendly agriculture funding under President Joe Biden's signature climate law would shift money away from programs that primarily benefit farmers in Republican-leaning states, a Reuters analysis found. The Inflation Reduction Act money, earmarked for U.S. Department of Agriculture-designated "climate-smart" farm practices, is intended to support Biden's agriculture climate agenda, which relies heavily on storing carbon in the soil and lowering emissions through sustainable farming techniques. About 65% of the new money due to be spent under the law on those climate-friendly practices would go to farmers in states that backed Republican former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election, and about 70% would go to states with a Republican member on the House or Senate farm committees. Republican House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson and the Senate Agriculture Committee's top Republican, John Boozman, want to reallocate the Inflation Reduction Act money to all conservation programs without the climate-related requirements. Under Thompson's plan, some money also would be moved to crop supports and other farm programs, a committee aide said. The dispute over the Inflation Reduction Act money could further delay progress on the farm bill. [link]

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act, bipartisan legislation to improve soil health on farms and support sustainable alternatives to annual agriculture by improving USDA conservation programs to ensure they are better able to support farmers who incorporate perennial systems and agroforestry into their operations. Annual crops and monoculture cropping, common in farming, require tilling which disrupts the natural soil structure and can lead to increased erosion and a reliance on harmful fertilizers and pesticides. Perennial and agroforestry systems require less soil disturbance – improving soil structure, preventing erosion, increasing ecosystem nutrient retention, and promoting carbon sequestration. The Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act would support these farmers by improving USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); increasing technical assistance for farmers installing perennial systems; and designating four national and regional agroforestry centers. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late November, the EU announced that it was providing €19 million to enhance the resilience and sustainability of food systems in the Caribbean. Read more, here.

January 20, 2024

Spotlight Story

Foodtank writes about the 20 books shaping our views on food systems right now. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

House Bill 2121 has been introduced in the Arizona legislature and would ban the sale or production of cultivated meat in the state if enacted. Those who violate the legislation would face a penalty of up to $25,000. The text of the bill offers two primary reasons for the legislation — to protect public health and to protect the state’s cattle industry. Arizona’s proposed legislation comes in the wake of similar legislation introduced in Florida. In that state, the bill would ban the manufacturing, sale, holding or distribution of cultivated meat in the state if passed. And on Sept. 1, 2023, a law went into effect in Texas that requires the labels of cultivated meat products sold in the state to say “cell-cultured,” “lab-grown” or have similar language on the packaging. [link]

At the QCCA Expo Center's Farm Show in Rock Island, IL this week, the local soil and water conservation specialist shared a new technique on how to test for soil health: cotton underwear. Farmers were encouraged to bury a pair of underwear on their land in the spring, mark it with a flag, and then check the spot in 60 days. If the soil has a healthy amount of microbes, there will be "virtually no underwear left." Healthy soils limit the need for farming chemicals like fertilizers and herbicides, while also helping to restore topsoil levels over time. [link]

Virginia Tech is helping to pilot a $2.7 million multistate project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative to introduce the faba bean as a sustainable fall and winter crop in the mid-Atlantic region. Faba beans are a cool-season legume that fit well into the winter production systems of the mid-Atlantic, creating a good cover crop that helps improve soil health while slowing erosion and controlling pests, disease, and weeds. They are also highly nutritious, with one cup of faba beans offering 13 grams of protein along with plenty of fiber, potassium and iron. [link]

A farm in Union Springs, NY will become the state’s first commercial dairy to take separated solids from digested cow manure and run it through a kiln to create environmentally friendly biochar. Biochar, which is similar to charcoal made from organic residue, including manure, can become a valuable agricultural soil amendment that retains nutrients, decreases manure storage costs, sequesters carbon and reduces odors in the surrounding area. Spruce Haven Farm, which has 2,030 cows and 1,770 heifers, and harvests about 3,800 acres of corn and alfalfa for feed, will lease the kiln from Biomass Controls, a company that provides solutions to sanitation challenges, headquartered in Woodstock, Connecticut. [link]

Propagate and Rodale Institute are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership to promote agroforestry. The goal of the partnership is to increase the adoption of agroforestry and tree crop systems in North America. As part of the agreement, new agroforestry educational hubs will be established at the Institute’s research sites in eastern Pennsylvania. The demonstration farms serve multiple purposes: to raise awareness, provide education on regenerative agriculture practices, and provide opportunities to advance research. Planting is expected to begin in Fall 2024. [link]

ADM announced that it has loaded and shipped its first vessels of verified, fully traceable soybeans from the U.S. to Europe. In anticipation of the new EU deforestation regulations becoming effective at the end of the year, ADM now intends to expand these capabilities to other key locations across North America in the 2024 growing season. ADM’s traceable soybean program is an outgrowth of its International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) certified bean program, and utilizes cutting-edge technology – such as FBN’s Gradable digital platform – as well as ADM’s origination and transportation capabilities to verify, trace and segregate participating beans from farms to their final destination. [link]

Precision Planting’s newest product was revealed at the company’s annual Winter Conference: a fully customizable, factory-built planting system called CornerStone. The CornerStone Planting System comes fully built with everything but the planter bar and is integrated with Precision Planting’s technology. Designed as a complete row unit compatible with all standard-height 7x7 planter bars, the system is fully integrated with Precision Planting technologies. Farmers can order exactly which technologies they want and receive a factory-built system with all components already installed. The system is designed to be adaptable as future technologies come onto the market. [link]

A new report from Conservation International and the UN's Green Climate Fund found that farmers implementing climate-smart practices in Madagascar five years ago are realizing greater food security today, while also keeping their land better protected from deforestation. Researchers surveyed more than 1,600 participating farmers to learn more about the quantity and type of food they eat and their ability to pay for essential needs, like housing, clothing and medications. Declines in food insecurity happened in a short time period as farmers used drought-resistant crops, mulching to prevent soil erosion, and native fruit tree plantings to provide shade and additional sources of income. [link]

Researchers from Italy and the U.S. recently published a study in Nature Food that found by replacing some of the energy-intensive crops used as animal feed, such as corn and soybeans, with agricultural by-products, such as straw and bran, they could significantly reduce the consumption of natural resources, such as land and water, and lower the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. They estimated that by substituting 11-16% of the current animal feed with by-products, they could save up to 13% of cropland area, 9% of water use, and 6% of nitrogen use globally. Moreover, they found that this substitution would also reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by 7% and methane by 18%, which are the main greenhouse gases produced by the livestock sector. The researchers also pointed out that using by-products as animal feed would not compromise the nutritional quality or safety of the meat and dairy products, as long as they are properly processed and supplemented with vitamins and minerals. [link]

Newly published research from Michigan State University (MSU) shows how evaluating historical crop yields across distinct areas of agricultural fields can provide farmers with essential information on soil health characteristics and carbon sequestration. For this project, researchers sought to determine the relationship between historical crop yields and soil health, with the hypothesis that high-performing regions of fields have higher-quality soil and vice versa. Researchers are aiming to reduce the reliance on traditional soil testing by using historical yield data and a novel analysis metric known as yield stability zones. These zones leverage both yield level and stability — the consistency of yield — over time, offering a more nuanced understanding that accounts for small-scale, in-field variability. Researchers found that yield stability zones successfully identify differences in areas of fields based on statistically distinct relative soil organic carbon and relative soil health. These findings suggest that yield stability zones can identify the feedback relationships between soil formation, soil organic carbon accumulation, soil health and yield potential, particularly in terms of increased water and nutrient holding capacity. [link]

The World Economic Forum, which is meeting in Davos, Switzerland, has released a report proposing a model for achieving sustainable agriculture worldwide. The report says, “To support the adoption of practices and sustain their implementation, a key source of financing should come from the monetization of the full value of all ecosystem services delivered by regenerative practices, including improved resilience and environmental outcomes like healthier soils, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance, reduced freshwater use and pollution, and enhanced biodiversity.” In exchange for ecosystem services, all the actors that benefit from regenerative agriculture, including value chain participants (across crop rotations), lenders and insurers, and governments should provide financing. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late December, it was announced that it is “very unlikely” that the EU will reach its target of expanding the share of organic farming to at least 25% of EU agricultural land by 2030, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Read more, here.

January 13, 2024

Spotlight Story

Civil Eats discusses the important idea of farmer cooperatives that share specialized farm equipment. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

A new report developed by the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative suggests that the planting of cover crops across the winter could significantly reduce overall nitrogen loss (23%) and soil erosion (35%) on Minnesota farms by 2050. The group highlighted the importance of live roots in the ground year-round to anchor soil and keep excess nutrients from escaping into nearby waters. Additionally, the financial upside for farmers is attractive, with the report projecting a potential 20% increase in on-farm profits come 2050 due to growing more of these crops. [link]

Argentina is poised to bring a seismic shift in its agricultural sector by modernizing its seed patent laws, a move aimed at bolstering the nation’s competitiveness in the global agricultural landscape. These laws, largely untouched since the 1970s, have been a roadblock for the country’s farmers, preventing them from leveraging patented seeds and subsequently leading to lower crop yields. President Javier Milei aims to equip Argentine farmers with the latest genetically modified seeds, in contrast to current legislation that bars seed companies from charging annual fees and thus investing in the country's agricultural sector. [link]

Electronic soil is a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to revolutionize agriculture. This innovative approach involves the integration of electronic soil, also known as eSoil, to boost crop growth by over 50%. The process allows roots to be stimulated with a low-voltage electric current, which can trigger a number of beneficial effects, including increased nutrient uptake, enhanced photosynthesis, and improved root growth. Although still under study, it is believed that the electric current triggers the release of plant hormones that promote growth. The current may also help to break down nutrients into forms that are more readily available to plants. [link]

The Indian state of Gujarat has inked three crucial Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth over $266 million of carbon credits from planting mangroves. Deals have also been signed in the area of carbon credits for agroforestry. India has revealed new climate change commitments to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030, relative to 2005. As part of this effort, the government is promoting sustainable land use practices to sequester carbon. In a parallel endeavor, beyond the MoUs, the Gujarat government is actively investigating carbon sequestration in wetlands. A study found that wetlands can store 81-216 metric tons of carbon per acre, depending on their type and location. [link]

Indigo Ag Inc., a US startup that helps farmers be more sustainable, appointed a former boss of meat powerhouse Tyson Foods Inc. as its next chief executive officer. Dean Banks will succeed Ron Hovsepian, who will remain a member of the company’s board, Boston-based Indigo said this week in a statement. Indigo sells microbes to farmers to boost crop yields and helps them generate credits for sequestering carbon in the ground using methods such as cover crops. Banks, who served at Google X prior to Tyson, joined Indigo’s board in 2022 and will take over as CEO on Feb. 1 this year. [link]

American agribusiness company, ADM, has expanded its regenerative agriculture program to the UK and Poland, in a continued effort to create a more sustainable food system. ADM's regenerative agriculture program launched in North America in 2022 and provides financial and technical support to farmers who are taking positive steps to reduce their carbon footprint, improve water quality, and promote soil health and biodiversity. [link]

Australian soil carbon specialist Loam Bio has announced its entry to the US market, bringing with it a set of unique solutions for American farmers. The company has developed a unique microbial technology, called CarbonBuilder, which enhances the amount of stable carbon found in the soil without farmers having to make abrupt practice changes to their farming approach. This technology can allow farmers to start generating and selling carbon credits via Loam Bio’s very own carbon program SecondCrop. [link]

As Congress gears up for debate over the next Farm Bill later this year, many of the subsidy programs meant to aid the agriculture industry are under fire from some of the very farmers they are designed to support. In a new policy investigation, Farm Bill Sows Dysfunction for American Agriculture, several farmers across the United States sounded off about how crop insurance subsidies and other aid programs disproportionately benefit wealthier farmers, incentivize environmentally harmful practices, distort planting decisions in ways that ultimately impact our food supply, and discourage innovation amid everchanging weather and market conditions. Subsidized crop insurance is the most expensive program under the current iteration of the Farm Bill, with a total cost of over $17 billion. The government subsidizes about 60% of the premiums for policies that farmers buy from private insurance companies and it also pays these companies about $2 billion per year to cover their administrative costs. Farmers are increasingly pursuing regenerative agriculture practices as a way to quit these subsidy programs, remove government oversight, and build natural resilience into their operations. [link]

Bayer is making changes to the Executive Leadership Team of its Crop Science Division. The new setup will support the company to shape agriculture for farmers, consumers, and the planet, and to deliver against the ambition of becoming the leader in regenerative agriculture. Brian Naber will assume the position as commercial lead for the region North America from Jackie Applegate, who will be retiring from Bayer after 31 years with the company. Amid other resulting changes, the company stated that it wants to deliver innovations to farmers while helping society to achieve food security and fight climate change at the same time. [link]

The Wake County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners has partnered with Triangle Land Conservancy to permanently conserve one of the last remaining large farms in Wendell, marking the single largest dedication of funds for farmland preservation in the county and state and one of the largest in the nation. The Bailey family has voluntarily agreed to place 125 acres of its 129-acre farm into the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District’s Farmland Preservation Program, which will permanently safeguard the property from development. This 125-acre conservation easement is valued at $2.5 million. Wake County used nearly $1.1 million in deferred taxes as part of the newly expanded Farmland Preservation program. The remaining 60% was donated by the landowners. Triangle Land Conservancy will hold and monitor the easement in perpetuity to ensure that this land is truly protected. This is the second time that Wake County worked with Triangle Land Conservancy to use the funds to preserve prime farmland through the Farmland Preservation Program. [link]

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced a collaboration to promote and implement regenerative agricultural and habitat conservation practices in strategic agricultural supply chains, as part of a shared goal to mitigate climate change from food and agricultural production and improve biodiversity and ecosystem services. The collaboration between LDC and TNC will accelerate the shift from commitment to on-the-ground implementation and impact, toward a net-zero, nature-positive role for agri-commodities that encourages practices to improve soil health, restore aquifers, promote biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The collaboration will be global and cross-commodity in nature, focusing initially on grains and oilseeds value chains, as well as coffee and cotton, across two interconnected ‘pillars’ for on-the-ground collaboration: regenerative agriculture and deforestation/conversion-free production. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-December, it was announced that Virginia farmer, David Hula, broke the world corn record with an incredible yield of 623.8 bushels per acre on his Charles City farm. Read more, here.

January 6, 2024

Spotlight Story

Spotlight – Curious about which U.S. states produce the most greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture? Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

Platinum Equity is acquiring the Horizon Organic and Wallaby businesses from Danone SA. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Danone announced in January 2023 it was exploring strategic options for both businesses. The company will retain a minority stake in them once the transaction is completed. Horizon Organic is a USDA-certified organic dairy brand with a product line that includes milk, creamers, whiteners, yogurt, cheese and butter. Wallaby is a manufacturer of Australian-inspired Greek yogurt. [link]

As lawmakers prepare to begin work on a new farm bill in 2024, farm bill priorities are being voiced by all parties, with some calling for reform to the pesticide labeling process. The EPA is responsible under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for regulating pesticides. However, Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA 4th District) says that some states have gone beyond EPA’s own stringent regulations. Newhouse supports the Agricultural Label Uniformity Act to reaffirm pesticide label uniformity, noting that uncertainty on EPA-approved science-based labels will erode access to critical pesticides. Newhouse concedes, states have authority to regulate pesticides in their jurisdictions, but should not impose labeling requirements on top of or different than the scientific findings of EPA. [link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture will accept Fiscal Year 2024 grant applications for its Healthy Soils Competitive Fund beginning January 3, 2024. This program provides financial assistance to eligible farmers and organizations to adopt conservation practices that benefit the climate, soil, and water. Practices can include agroforestry, cover crops, conservation tillage, pasture/hay planting, crop rotation, nutrient management, and more. Maryland farmers and organizations with innovative conservation ideas are encouraged to apply for these grants. Successful applicants will receive up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health practices. [link]

A second year of state funding for the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) program cleared the way for the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission to allocate another $5 million to 51 conservation projects across the state in fiscal year 2024. Overall, participating producers are working to reduce the amount of farm chemicals being applied to the soil while using alternatives to commercial fertilizer and herbicides. Biostimulants, in particular, have been making a "world of difference" as local farmers see a decrease in nutrient and sediment flows into groundwater alongside a decline of nitrogen and phosphorous being added to fields. [link]

Sinking soybean prices have been the theme to start the new year. One reason behind the price pressure is bearish news of rain returning to key growing areas in South America that had been impacted by severe drought. However, one leading ag meteorologist thinks this rain could do more harm than good at this point in the season, even impacting the planting of the safrinha corn crop. Eric Snodgrass, science fellow and principal atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions, says that the last three months have been incredibly dry in the center-West region of Brazil and that significant rainfall in coming weeks is likely to get recycled in the form of additional moisture that delays harvest and therefore pushes the safrinha corn crop into a late window of the calendar. Snodgrass says El Niño reached its peak at the end of December. Now, what’s called the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is riding on top of El Niño, which is pumping tropical moisture into Brazil and increasing farmers' chances there for heavy rainfall and continued rain events. [link]

Seven out of 10 farmers expect a U.S. inflation rate below 4% this year, a sharp turn in sentiment from the start of 2023, when half of producers expected inflation to exceed 6%, said a Purdue University poll. One-third of farmers said they expected interest rates to decline this year, and 22% said interest rates would hold steady. When asked what the farm safety net would look like after the 2024 elections, 22% said it would be weaker, 16% said it would be stronger, and 61% said it would be about the same as now. Congress failed to pass a new farm bill in 2023, and there are doubts whether lawmakers will agree on a bill this year. [link]

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is awarding a $7,657,633 grant to Kansas State University. Funding will support an expansive study across the U.S. Corn Belt and Great Plains exploring how crop, soil and water management affect the soil microbial communities that drive agroecosystem functions. Bayer Crop Science provided $4,601,244 in matching funds, and Iowa State University, K-State, LandScan, LI-COR, Mississippi State University, The Ohio State University and The University of Kansas also provided funds for a total investment of $16,362,948. Over an initial five-year period, this project will investigate how combinations of cover crops, nitrogen, crop rotation and tillage, and water management under variable soil water conditions influence soil microbial communities that drive nutrient availability and loss. [link]

The oldest flour company in the U.S., King Arthur Flour Co., recently rolled out a new "Climate Blend" whole wheat flour, using wheat from two farms that employ regenerative agriculture techniques. Some of this wheat is perennial, meaning that it doesn't have to be planted season after season. This eliminates tilling, making it easier for soil to resist erosion and soak up moisture and nutrients. King Arthur sells the new product for roughly $3/lb, more than double the price of its regular whole wheat and a shade above the organic version. The company is betting on enough early adopters to pay this premium and boost regenerative agriculture more broadly. Early returns are promising; Climate Blend was King Arthur’s top-selling whole wheat flour last month, according to the company. [link]

In a study published in the Nature journal, scientists from China, France and the United Kingdom say soil worldwide will shed, instead of absorb, billions of tons of carbon by the end of the century, even if global warming is kept low. The results mean that the world’s carbon budget for staying under 1.5°C of global warming – what experts say is a safety limit – could be 66 percent smaller than previously estimated. Some computer models in the past have found soil to be a good storage for man-made carbon emissions. But the results changed drastically when researchers incorporated data from hundreds of long-term soil studies at sites ranging from tropical forests to the deep Arctic. Many of the experiments have found soil to be getting rid of its carbon content faster than thought, especially in the polar regions where plant cover is sparse. As such, where a model would predict global soils trapping about 30 billion tons of carbon by the end of the century with mild climate change, the updated formula returned a 19 billion ton discharge instead. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early December, the European Commission adopted guidelines for designing sustainability agreements in the agriculture space, excluding restrictive covenants normally in place for anticompetitive purposes. The hope is that this will allow companies the ability to advance sustainability in their value chains without running afoul of consumer protections and antitrust laws. Read more, here.

December 30, 2023

Spotlight Story

Spotlight – The World Economic Forum discusses seven innovative solutions for fighting food waste. Check out the story, here.

Industry Updates

David Hula broke the world corn record with a yield of 623.8 bushels per acre on his Charles City, Virginia, farm. This beat the previous record of 616 bushels per acre he set in 2019. The 2023 record was set with Pioneer's P14830VYHR hybrid. This new hybrid is from a freshman class of corn products from the company. [link]

Russia has no interest in extending the Black Sea grain deal, the RIA news agency reported, citing Russia's agriculture minister Dmitry Patrushev. Russia withdrew in July from the deal which had allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its ports. Russia says it quit the deal because the arrangement was not delivering grain to the poorest countries, and because it still faces barriers to its own exports of grain and fertilizer. [link]

A research team at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has developed a breakthrough technology that effectively eliminates pests without the use of pesticides and protects farms from soil diseases by using microwave heating, the core mechanism of microwave ovens. Traveling down into the ground, microwaves selectively heat the moisture to 60-100 °C. Given that moisture makes up 10-30% of the soil, and that most pests live near the roots of crops and are heat-vulnerable (60 °C or more), KERI’s technology is expected to be highly effective in sterilization. [link]

The number of U.S. farm acres owned by foreign entities grew more than 8% in 2022, though the 43.4 million acres of foreign-owned forest and farmland is just 3.4% of the country's agricultural land, according to a U.S. government report. Foreign entities bought 3.4 million acres of U.S. farmland in 2022, with the biggest increases in Colorado, Alabama and Michigan. Canada remains the largest foreign investor, accounting for 32% of the acres, much of which are forest in Maine. China's holdings, a primary concern of lawmakers who want to restrict foreign ownership of farms, account for less than 1% of foreign-owned acres at 350,000, a slight decrease from 2021. [link]

Whole Foods Market announced a new pollinator health policy aimed at reducing the use of toxic pesticides in its fruit and vegetable supply chain. The policy seeks to help protect bees and other pollinators that are essential to one in three bites of food. Whole Foods has joined a growing trend in the grocery retail industry addressing threats to biodiversity by becoming the thirteenth company on Friends of the Earth’s Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard to establish a pollinator policy addressing toxic pesticides in its supply chain. Whole Foods’ policy requires fresh produce and floral suppliers to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices by 2025. Suppliers may work with designated third-party certifications with meaningful IPM criteria or submit a legal attestation confirming that they adhere to the requirements of the policy. [link]

The Food Systems Countdown to 2030 Initiative (FSCI) has published new research that provides the first science-based monitoring to guide decision makers as they seek wholesale transformation of the global agriculture and food system. The research aims to fill data gaps inherent in the UN's Food Systems Summit by identifying an indicator framework composed of 50 metrics that monitor agriculture and food systems at a global level. Following this first global baseline, the FSCI will track agriculture and food systems annually until 2030, updating the framework as needed where new indicators or better data emerge. The overarching objective is that all people – especially the most vulnerable – have equitable access to healthy diets through sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems. [link]

A new study tests whether hemp is an effective plant for intercropping between wine grapes to increase soil health and potentially add another cash crop to vineyards. Vintners planted hemp with other cover crops on a vineyard in New Zealand, and found that while hemp was a robust grower, it didn’t compete with grape vines for water, even in dry conditions. Surprisingly, the wine made from grapes grown near hemp had a delicious, complex flavor profile, but researchers say more tests are needed to see if hemp was the driving factor. [link]

The California Department of Food and Agriculture's Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) has announced $9.2 million in grant funding to six research projects under the Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Research Program (LEMER-RP). These funds, allocated by the Budget Act of 2022, support research that evaluates additives and dietary modifications shown to reduce enteric methane emissions in the dairy and livestock sectors. In 2020, dairy and livestock enteric methane emissions accounted for more than 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) emissions per year in California, representing 35 percent of the state’s agriculture and forestry sector greenhouse gases. Enteric methane production is a natural part of the digestive process for ruminant animals like cattle, goats, and sheep, and it is belched into the atmosphere. [link]

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has announced nine land trusts, seven counties or townships, and 25 Soil and Water Conservation Districts will receive funding to help preserve farmland across the state. These organizations will receive allocations from the Clean Ohio Fund to select, close and monitor easements under the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). Ohio landowners interested in selling an agricultural easement on their farms can fill out an application with their LAEPP sponsor organization. A total of $6 million will be made available in this round of funding. [link]

After weeks of hot and dry weather in Mato Grosso, Brazil, analysts are starting to significantly curb soybean yield outlooks. December monsoon rains were to be crucial in replenishing soil moisture but have thus far failed to materialize in any impactful way. Week-over-week, Center-West Brazil has seen temperatures significantly above normal and rainfall significantly below normal. December will end up being one of the hottest and driest Decembers in 30-plus years for Center-West Brazil, including important soybean-growing Mato Grosso. [link]

It is “very unlikely” that the EU will reach its target of expanding the share of organic farming to at least 25% of EU agricultural land by 2030, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The share of EU agricultural land that is farmed organically has been continuously increasing since 2012 and currently stands at 9.9% or 16 million ha. The current policy measures and short and medium-term decrease in demand for organics, due to unfavorable economic conditions, point to a share below 25% in 2030, the EEA said. [link]

A new study released by The Breakthrough Institute on beef operations from 16 countries shows that pasture-finished operations produce 20% more carbon than cattle finished on grain. The findings challenge the prevailing narrative that grass-fed operations are inherently more environmentally friendly. When accounting for soil carbon sequestration and carbon opportunity cost, the total carbon footprint of grass-fed operations is a staggering 42% higher. [link]

A new app created by Farm Journal's Trust in Food and AgWeb helps growers wade through the USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program and find the right grant projects for their farms and ranches. The new app pilot, the Climate-Smart Opportunity Navigator, seeks to remove the paperwork clutter and match farms and ranches with the right Climate-Smart Commodity grant project in minutes. Harnessing USDA data, producers can input their operation basics — such as location, commodities produced, and production practices and interests — and be matched with one or more of the Climate-Smart Commodities projects that fit their individual specs. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Broadly, it was a tough year for food and agribusiness stocks in the U.S. Some of the largest packaged food manufacturers were down 20%-30%, on average, in 2023. Fertilizer companies were down across the board, with declines of 15%-40%, on average. Agribusiness and ingredient companies were a mixed bag; ADM declined 22% in 2023 while The Andersons increased by 65% for the year. Commodity prices were a mixed bag as well; lean hogs declined by 28% in 2023 while cocoa prices increased by over 60% this year.

December 16, 2023

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The New York Times writes that the UN’s annual climate gathering has finally started to focus on greenhouse gas emissions from the global food sector. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The FAO’s new food security roadmap to keep 1.5C alive. Check it out, in full, here.

Industry Updates

Missouri livestock producers may be eligible for new financial incentives for incorporating climate-smart grazing practices. Enrollment for currently available climate-smart grazing incentives runs through Jan. 31, 2024, according to the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Farmers enrolled in the regenerative grazing program receive $50 per acre for implementing a management-intensive grazing plan on the enrolled pastures. The plan needs to be in writing and can be done in conjunction with attending an MU grazing school or from having participated in one in recent years. [link]

A new roadmap has been developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in an attempt to attain global food security by 2050 without breaching the global warming temperature target of 1.5C. The roadmap identifies “ten pivotal domains” which call for immediate “mobilized climate finance.” These include, food loss and waste, forest and wetlands, soil and water, fisheries and aquaculture, crops, clean energy, livestock, and enabling healthy diets for all, as well as “systemic enablers” such as data and inclusive policies. The FAO has set a list of targets for each of these areas which address food security and climate change. [link]

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) announced the release of a free phone application, Slakes, to empower and engage citizens around the world to measure aggregate stability: one of the most common indicators of soil health. Soils with greater aggregate stability are more resistant to wind and water erosion, and are linked to improved water capture, infiltration, and storage, contributing to improved water management and agricultural productivity. The Slakes app uses a smartphone camera to take a picture of three dry soil aggregates before and after exposing them to water for 10 minutes. The app then automatically calculates an aggregate stability value. Weaker aggregates will slake (or break apart) more easily, while stronger aggregates will slake less, indicating better soil aggregation and healthier soil. [link]

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), formalizing a partnership to promote the common goals of strengthening the future competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. agriculture industry by preparing more young people for careers in agriculture. USDA and AFA will continue to collaborate on leadership development efforts and link these young leaders with career opportunities in food, agricultural science, natural resources, and related fields. Under the MOU, USDA commits to advancing opportunities for AFA delegates to participate in USDA programs, including internships. AFA will provide occasions for USDA to meet with AFA delegates to share information about these opportunities. [link]

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it is making minority investments through its $50 million Cultivate Next venture fund into Greenfield Robotics and Nitricity. Greenfield Robotics aims to make regenerative farming more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable by leveraging the latest advances in AI, robotics, and sensing technologies, while Nitricity is creating fertilizer products that are better for fields, farmers, and the environment. Cultivate Next makes early stage investments into strategically aligned companies that further Chipotle’s mission to Cultivate a Better World and help accelerate the company’s aggressive growth plans. [link]

Yara announced that it is acquiring the organic-based fertilizer business of Agribios Italiana, the company’s second bolt-on acquisition supporting its organic strategy in Europe. The company noted that it is committed to further expanding its offering in this sector as a complement to its mineral fertilizers to help promote regenerative agriculture and improve soil health. Agribios produced 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer in 2022, giving it a market share of 10% of the organic-based fertilizer market in Italy. The organic fertilizer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% in Europe from 2023 to 2030. [link]

A new report by FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) suggests that soil health should act as the key performance indicator measuring the EU’s successful transition to sustainable agriculture. Soil health acts as a common and measurable theme across agriculture, with the FDE report noting that soil is directly or indirectly responsible for 95% of the food produced in the EU. The study found that it will cost around €30 billion [US$32.3 billion] to transition to more sustainable agriculture in the EU, however this pales in significance to the consideration that soil degradation in Europe costs €50 billion [US$53.9 billion] a year due to its impact on things like food production, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and water retention. [link]

Oklahoma farmers are now encouraged to apply to a special program to help improve the health of their soil. The state is heading an initiative through the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to look for people wanting to change their farming practices from traditional methods to those that are more focused on soil health. Through the Soil Health Implementation Program, the Commission plans to collect baseline soil health data while also offering a 3-year mentorship program to help find solutions for interested farmers. Farmers selected will be given funding of up to $40,000 to help them with their new practices. The full program totals $1 million. [link]

An ancient soil amendment – biochar – could be a promising tool for future soil health enhancement and maintenance, according to a study by the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences. The research showed biochar improved the soil microbiome and plant root interactions with a spectrum of beneficial microorganisms found there. [link]

A new study in the journal Nature has found that tree size diversity is the major driver of aboveground carbon storage in dryland agroforestry parklands. The research team assessed the direct and indirect influence of human management, abiotic factors, and species diversity on aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks in 51 parklands in drylands of Benin and found that structural diversity (tree size diversity) had the strongest relationship with AGC stocks, followed by community-weighted mean of maximum height. [link]

The Savanna Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have joined forces to establish a statewide agroforestry demonstration farm network in Wisconsin. This initiative aims to educate farmers and landowners on the benefits of integrating trees into their agricultural practices for both conservation and economic gains. Through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a $1.4 million investment will be made to develop demonstration sites and educational resources across Wisconsin. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late November, scientists from Cornell University and Purdue University announced that they have identified a previously undiscovered mechanism triggered by calcium when it’s added to soil, positively benefitting microbial communities underground. Check out the story, here.

December 9, 2023

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – GreenBiz summarizes all of the food-related agreements coming from COP28. Check out the story, here.

 Spotlight 2 – Forbes writes two articles on 1) how soil, nature, and climate change are all interconnected, and 2) how conventional farming is slowly killing us and our planet. Check them out, here and here.

Industry Updates

The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Task Force has announced the launch of a new blended finance framework that could unlock trillions of dollars for regenerative agriculture. A Task Force of companies including Mars, McCain Foods, McDonald’s, Mondelez International, PepsiCo and Waitrose, unveiled a plan to make regenerative farming financially viable and scalable; explore implementation projects in India, the UK and the US; welcome Lloyds Banking Group to boost cross-industry support, and call for policy changes to help support its implementation. The Task Force outlined a four-lever framework to accelerate regenerative farming, which includes new funding and sourcing models, the introduction of common metrics, suggested government policy changes, and a plan to create new revenue streams for farmers. It believes that 10 suggested government policy changes could help unlock $1.2 trillion in funding for regenerative agriculture. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jointly published for public comment the Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, a strategy that outlines targeted actions by the agencies to prevent food loss and waste in order to mitigate the environmental repercussions of wasted food, including its impact on climate. The announcement was made at COP28 and sets four objectives: 1) prevent the loss of food where possible, 2) prevent the waste of food where possible, 3) increase the recycling rate for all organic waste, 4) support policies that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling. [link]

Farmers in the UK can now benefit from the country's most comprehensive and first independent guide to selecting, establishing and terminating cover crops, co-designed by farmers with the help of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Farmer Scientist Network. The Cover Crops Guide is a free online tool (www.covercropsguide.co.uk) and is scientifically supported to give farmers the most up-to-date information and advice on cover crop varieties and their management. Cover crops are non-cash crops that add soil organic matter and nutrients, reduce soil erosion and leaching, promote moisture management, benefit biodiversity and mitigate pest and disease outbreaks, when planted between two cash crops. [link]

The Cook Government in Australia is providing more than half a million dollars in funding to farmers across Western Australia to help transform their businesses through carbon farming. Carbon farming refers to activities that help offset emissions by storing carbon in trees and soil. Carbon for Farmers Vouchers of up to $15,000 each will be provided to 43 landowners, including three properties operated by Aboriginal enterprises, to seek expert advice and develop carbon farming plans. This includes soil monitoring, implementing revegetation strategies, and undertaking a farm business analysis. [link]

Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm, announced a collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Amini, a leading innovator in space technology and artificial intelligence (AI), in an effort to increase crop insurance capacity across Africa, support smallholder farmers’ resilience and accelerate the use of nature positive practices. The collaboration intends to leverage farm-level data produced by Amini to enable Aon’s support of the African Development Bank’s Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation to develop innovative de-risking solutions and build capacity to assess and monitor the changing risk environment across the continent. Farmers would then use the data to make better-informed decisions leading to greater resiliency and yield improvements. Further, the collaboration is aimed at helping Aon clients with extensive supply chains or balance sheet exposure to the agricultural sector to better manage the multi-faceted impacts of climate risk. [link]

European drug major AstraZeneca has announced a $71 million funding effort to plant and maintain an estimated 64 million plants and trees in India, primarily in the ecologically fragile state of Meghalaya. The funding is part of its global forest program, under which it has committed to plant 200 million trees across six continents by 2030. About 200,000 trees have already been planted in India and with the official project launch, soil and water conservation work is underway to enable further planting of millions of trees in 2024. The project aims to help Meghalayan farmers restore 22,670 hectares in the state, supporting biodiversity and soil conservation, as well as climate and catchment health co-benefits. [link]

At COP28 in Dubai, more than 25 leading agriculture and food players have joined forces to collectively scale regenerative agriculture through the COP 28 Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes. This initiative is led by the COP28 Presidency, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and supported by the UN Climate Change High Level Champions and brings together organizations across the value chain to translate commitments into tangible and inclusive action by 2030. The group will work to transition large-scale landscapes to regenerative agriculture by connecting farmers, value chain players, financiers and the public sector. It has committed $2.2 billion in funding with a goal of transitioning over 160 million hectares to regenerative landscapes by 2030. [link]

Six of the world's largest dairy companies will soon begin disclosing their methane emissions as part of a new global alliance launched at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai this week. The six members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance - Danone, Bel Group, General Mills, Lactalis USA, Kraft Heinz and Nestle - will begin reporting their methane emissions by mid-2024 and will write methane action plans by the end of that year. Methane is nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, making it a major focus of attempts to curb global warming. [link]

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $6.3 million in new grants to help agricultural producers implement voluntary conservation practices on farms and ranches across 14 U.S. states. The grants will generate $4.95 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $11.25 million. The grants were awarded through the Conservation Partners Program, a partnership between NFWF and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cargill, The J.M. Smucker Co. and Nestlé, with additional support from a recently announced collaboration between General Mills, Walmart and Sam’s Club. The program supports efforts to accelerate the adoption of voluntary conservation practices and regenerative agriculture principles on private working lands through the delivery of financial support and technical assistance. [link]

Cooks Venture, an American poultry processor that marketed the environmental sustainability of the products it produced, has ceased operations and closed facilities in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Since September, the company has been engaged in discussions to raise additional financing for its operations, however it was unable to reach an agreement. Founded in 2019, Cooks Venture combined regenerative agriculture with transparency and had the goal of improving the agricultural supply chain. [link]

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced important updates to the definition of Good Farming Practices (GFPs), removing a longstanding obstacle to the adoption of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-approved conservation practices and enhancements for insured producers. Previously, the Good Farming Practices Handbook recognized NRCS conservation practices as GFPs “provided” that practices did not negatively impact a crop’s ability to make normal progress toward maturity or affect yields in any way. It is, however, customary that farmers experience temporary yield drags when adopting a new conservation practice. The updated handbook removes this condition, affirming the appropriate use of USDA-approved conservation practices as Good Farming Practices for crop insurance. [link]

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 133, now Wisconsin Act 42, relating to expanding farmland preservation agreements and increasing farmland preservation tax credits. Act 42 decreases the minimum required length of a farmland preservation agreement between the Wisconsin department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and a farmland owner from 15 years to 10 years. It also increases the amount of credit that may be claimed per eligible acre and creates a new category of eligible farmland. [link]

The European Commission has adopted guidelines on how to design sustainability agreements in the field of agriculture using a novel exclusion from EU competition rules in place to protect consumers. Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union generally prohibits agreements between companies that restrict competition, such as those between competitors that lead to higher prices or lower quantities. However, Article 210a of Regulation 1308/2013 establishing a common organization of the markets in agricultural products excludes certain restrictive agreements in the agricultural sector from that prohibition, when those agreements are indispensable to achieve sustainability standards going beyond the mandatory EU or national rules. [link]

Agroforestry is a key climate solution with huge potential to simultaneously improve food security and nutrition and alleviate poverty, while halting deforestation, conserving biodiversity, building resilience, and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In opening remarks at a "Scaling Up Agroforestry" event on the sidelines of the 174th Session of the FAO Council, Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the need for scaling up agroforestry while emphasizing its vital importance for millions of smallholder farmers. According to the FAO's State of the World's Forests report in 2022, agroforestry can help restore over one billion hectares of degraded agricultural land, to increase soil fertility and agricultural productivity, while enriching ecosystem services and livelihoods. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early November, grain storage company Bartlett announced that it has launched a sustainability project with Campbell Soup Co. to support the implementation of regenerative farming practices. Check out the story, here.

December 2, 2023

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Poverty is killing the Amazon rainforest. Treating soil and farmers better can help save what’s left. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article from Civil Eats looks at the potential for virtual fences to expand regenerative grazing practices. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Food waste reduction pilot projects in Wisconsin could get a boost through state grants under a plan proposed by Democratic lawmakers. Senate Assistant Minority Leader Jeff Smith, D- Brunswick, and State Rep. Francesca Hong, D- Madison, are looking for co-sponsors on a bill that would give $200,000 over the next two years to organizations that are preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations or composting food waste. According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, about 854,000 tons of food were thrown away in Wisconsin in 2020, the majority of it still edible. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources aims to reduce food waste in landfills by 50 percent by 2030. [link]

Scientists are increasingly concerned about how to keep the grass and other plants that livestock eat in pastures from wilting under extreme heat and drought. Researchers from around the world are working to develop new varieties of pasture plants that can tolerate high temperatures, less rain and more variability in the weather that is expected from climate change. At stake is how much food prices might rise as the planet warms. Less grass growing in pastures would mean that farmers either have to spend more on buying feed for their herds or reduce the number of animals on their farms. [link]

Amidst water scarcity and diminishing arable land, some individuals in Egypt are transitioning to soilless farming. However, experts caution that the high initial costs and certain crop limitations may impede widespread adoption in the African nation. Soilless agriculture, also known as hydroponics, involves cultivating plants using nutrient-rich water outside the traditional soil, typically within controlled greenhouses. A 2020 WWF report revealed that hydroponics utilizes only 10% of the resources required for traditional cultivation, contributing to reduced deforestation and minimized pesticide use. Arable land constitutes less than 5% of Egypt, and the country is expected to be classified as "water scarce" by 2025 due to climate change and the construction of a dam by Ethiopia on a major tributary of the Nile River. Although startup costs for hydroponics are high, profitability of these systems can offer a quick return on investment for a country that needs greater food security ahead. [link]

Seasonal weather patterns are changing in Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region of the U.S., creating new challenges for farmers on how to handle their water management and irrigation practices. Rain events in the spring and fall are becoming heavier, while drought conditions are increasingly present during the summer. Farmers are adding traditional conservation measures like tile drainage to their fields, but this many times isn't enough. An increase in precipitation can be detrimental for fields as it can cause heavy erosion and a lack of soil nutrients. Increased soil runoff into streams and lakes also harms water quality. The local Farm Bureau is creating technical and financial support programs and looking to find new methods of water management, as a result. [link]

FoodChain ID, a pioneer in global sustainability certification, and ReSeed, the first provider of full lifecycle carbon credit traceability, have announced a partnership to increase transparency in measurement and verification of sustainable practices in the agri-food supply chain. ReSeed will collect and process data for carbon credit measurement protocols to allow monetization and incentivization for farmers deploying sustainable practices in the field, while also leveraging their legal and technical knowledge to validate carbon estimates under international standards and provide field technical assistance to sort eligible farmers based on sustainability standards for farming activities. FoodChain ID will serve as the exclusive verifier for the carbon credit partnership under ISO 14065 accreditation. FoodChain ID's independent technical experts will perform yearly audits of farm practices under international sustainability standards, adding third-party credibility to the measurement of carbon sequestration in soil. [link]

American Airlines is joining the race to remove carbon from the atmosphere, tapping a novel agricultural waste method that is much cheaper than many existing approaches and could boost the fledgling industry. The airline company is purchasing credits from a startup called Graphyte, which creates bricks of plant material like sawdust or tree bark that seal in their sequestered carbon dioxide before burying them in the ground for long term carbon storage. Graphyte charges a fraction of the price ($100/metric ton) companies pay for direct air capture ($675/metric ton), the most heavily funded carbon removal technology. Graphyte’s first project in Pine Bluff, Ark., collects waste from two timber mills and a rice-milling operation. The company aims to start manufacturing its biomass bricks in January and burying them in July. By then, it hopes to be making roughly 140 pallets of blocks a day, enough to store 50,000 metric tons of carbon annually. [link]

McCain Foods has announced the launch of Presia Ag Insights, a newly formed business unit to develop digital technologies that support farmers in building resiliency within their operations. With Presia, farmers and crop-sourcing partners can better evaluate and predict crop yields, optimize harvest timing and enhance on-farm sustainability practices. Specializing in satellite-based, data-driven intelligence that can transform the way we understand crop growth, Presia will accelerate the future of farming and foster the monitoring and adoption of regenerative agricultural practices by stakeholders across the agriculture sector. [link]

As a lead in to COP28 climate talks in Dubai, World Animal Protection said that the restriction of factory farming should play a key role in efforts to cut climate-warming greenhouse gases. Factory farming is responsible for at least 11% of global emissions, according to World Animal Protection. It said around 70% of the 80 billion animals reared every year for food were held in factory farm systems, contributing 6.2 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The COP28 presidency of the United Arab Emirates has urged countries to sign a "leaders' declaration" committing them to align food production with broader emissions goals. It is also spearheading initiatives to promote agricultural innovation. [link]

A new research report published in Nature finds that roughly 47% of the world is suitable for profitable diversified farming systems, with a large area present in the Global North. When the findings were combined with knowledge about biophysical potential for cropland expansion and intensification, the team found that different areas could benefit from diversification to achieve sustainable intensification through cropland expansion (e.g., Europe), intensification (e.g., sub-tropics and tropics), or both (e.g., West Africa). [link]

The World Economic Forum, with support from the Government of the United Arab Emirates, along with more than 20 corporate and research partners in the food sector, has launched the First Movers Coalition for Food. The initiative uses the combined procurement power of industry for sustainably produced farming products to speed up the adoption of sustainable farming, innovations and transitional funding. The coalition comprises corporate champions from multinational and regional companies with significant purchasing power, value chain partners, farmer organizations and research partners alongside governments to improve existing food systems. Corporate partners account for a combined revenue of $2.1 trillion and a combined procurement value of $10-$20 billion. [link]

The Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action was launched this week at COP28 in Dubai, reaffirming existing international commitments to halt climate change and nature loss while building overall resilience. The Declaration covers issues including: food systems adaptation, the maintenance of smallholder farmer and indigenous group livelihoods, the enhancement of early warning systems, improved water management, the protection of soils, reduced food loss and waste, the promotion of more sustainable aquaculture, beneficial changes in consumption (with a focus on the Global North), and improved access to nutrition (with a focus on the Global South). [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October, it was reported that Smithfield Foods is looking to go public again. Check out the story, here.

November 25, 2023

Spotlight Story

An article from CNN looks at how the CEO of Land O’Lakes is changing the rules of American farming. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

UK landowners in Norfolk are showing how farms could be paid by developers for growing nature as well as food, using private investment to make biodiversity a "cash crop". The Wendling Beck Environment Project is a habitat creation, nature restoration and regenerative farming initiative, spanning almost 2,000 acres near Dereham. It is also a national pilot for a funding model under new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules which will become mandatory from January 2024. Once a developer has identified a plot of housing or industrial land, a survey will assess the amount of biodiversity and the quality of habitats lost, which must then be replaced with equivalent habitats, plus a net gain of at least 10%, in order to gain planning permission. If that cannot be provided on site, they can pay nearby landowners to create these habitats for them, ideally through a local BNG partnership, or by buying statutory credits from the government. [link]

More than 55 speakers from 35 countries took part in the first International Forum and Exhibition for Sustainable Agriculture, which opened this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event aimed to improve knowledge sharing between researchers and experts in the field, aid the development of closer relationships and professional networks, and nurture innovation. The broad agenda focused on maximizing the use of natural resources in agricultural production, the idea of digital agriculture, and the marketing and creation of sustainable food value chains. [link]

Global subsidies for agriculture have reached record levels as governments try to shield consumers and producers from high inflation and international crises. A new OECD report calculates that the organization’s 54 members paid $851 billion in agricultural subsidies each year from 2020-22, a 2.5-fold increase compared to two decades ago. That support is concentrated in a few large economies, with China responsible for 36%, India 15%, the United States 14% and the European Union 13% of the total support provided. The report calculated that just under half of the support was in measures that had the greatest potential for market distortions, such as border tariffs and subsidy payments based on output. [link]

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has developed a new standard for sustainable cotton that helps cotton farmers be more resilient in the face of climate change while helping companies withstand future climate challenges. Called the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS), it combines the successful AbTF cotton standards with new approaches to regenerative agriculture and engaging with rural communities. In addition to providing small farming communities with optimal market access, the RCS helps support opportunities for collective, educational agricultural projects. Farmers managing fields according to the RCS guidelines learn to rotate crops, optimize the use of biomass and use cover crops in addition to learning about agroforestry. This regenerates depleted soil, increases fertility and enhances climate resilience. [link]

ADM has announced an expansion of its global regenerative agriculture efforts with the launch of its program in Brazil. The Brazil program aims to promote and support sustainable agricultural production with a focus on soil health, biodiversity protection, improved soil fertility and resilience, and increased farm productivity. Initially, the program in Brazil will focus on fertilizer use efficiency + increased use of biological inputs, no-till farming, and cover crops across 20,000 hectares (almost 50,000 acres). Ultimately, ADM and its partners will target 120,000 regenerative hectares in Brazil by 2027. [link]

PepsiCo has announced the third year of its global agriculture program, the Positive Agriculture Outcomes (PAO) Accelerator, by backing eight new innovation projects across nine countries. PepsiCo's PAO Accelerator offers local farming communities co-investment to accelerate diverse and results-driven Positive Agriculture projects, as well as funding for ag-tech start-ups that offer proven products or technology with the potential to scale. This year's innovations will build resiliency through climate related analysis, improve soil health, and strengthen farms' climate resilience – engaging farmers in Australia, Colombia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. [link]

Scientists from Cornell University and Purdue University have identified a previously undiscovered mechanism triggered by calcium when it’s added to soil, which could lead to more strategic use of the mineral in agriculture. Researchers found that by adding calcium to soil, they could change the community of microbes in the soil and the way that these microbes process organic matter, ultimately retaining more carbon in the ground. Soils that contain more carbon are generally healthier and more resistant to erosion, better able to hold on to water in drought conditions, and better able to deliver nutrients more efficiently to plants and promote plant growth. [link]

As volatile weather has increasingly led to drought conditions, local farmers in the Carolinas have been finding ways to help their seasonal crops survive, including using irrigation systems to keep water flowing to the soil. Members of the western North Carolina-based nonprofit Utopian Seed Project are hoping to find a more long-term solution, experimenting with crops they hope will withstand the changing weather. [link]

Cropland values rose by 7.2% in the northern Plains this summer, according to agricultural bankers in a quarterly survey by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. Land values rose even as farm income declined from last summer, due to high production costs and lower commodity prices, with a decline expected for this fall, too. While the value of unirrigated cropland rose by 7.2%, irrigated cropland surged by 12.8%. Ranch and pastureland values grew by 2.1%. The Minneapolis Federal Reserve district covers Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, northern Wisconsin, and the upper peninsula of Michigan. [link]

Irish farmers have committed to planting over 400,000 trees under the Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (ACRES) tree planting measure, according to the Irish Agroforestry Forum. Roughly 3,200 farmers have chosen to plant 409,800 trees. Some 2,053,789 meters of new hedgerows are to be planted, 100,387 trees will be planted in riparian buffer zones, and 121 farmers committed to planting 36.7 hectares as a tree-belt for ammonia capture. [link]

The womenswear label ba&sh has partnered with Nativa for its Regenerative Agriculture Program in Uruguay, further strengthening its commitment to developing and financing regenerative agriculture projects. As part of this collaboration, ba&sh will continue to provide funding to farms in Uruguay that are transitioning to a regenerative approach and introduce regenerative wool into its collections. The ba&sh-funded program has helped three farms transition to a regenerative approach, with around 8,000 hectares of land currently undergoing regeneration. Ba&sh has set a goal for 30% of its wool to be regenerative, or transitioning to regenerative, by the end of 2025. [link]

The European Union (EU) is providing €19 million to enhance the resilience and sustainability of food systems in the Caribbean, promoting food and nutrition security, particularly for groups in vulnerable situations. This is part of the EU’s larger €600 million effort to step up support to the most vulnerable African, Caribbean and Pacific countries hit by the global food crisis. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, Beyond Meat announced that it would conduct a strategic review of its global operations. Check out the story, here.

November 18, 2023

Spotlight Story

A new report from Bain & Company asks if food and agriculture companies will be able to “raise their game” on societal health consequences and environmental issues. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Northern Ireland is facing its most serious environmental crisis in years after fake planning evidence was used in applications for new farm animal sheds, campaigners have said. Councils and the Audit Office have launched a series of probes after it was discovered that more than 100 applications for pig, poultry and cattle sheds and biogas plants submitted false soil sample results in a bid to bypass environmental legislation. The applications were submitted between 2015 and 2022, investigative website The Detail reported. It is understood that around three-quarters were approved. [link]

Vertical tillage provides moderate benefits but may not deliver all that farmers expect of it, a new study finds. Vertical tillage is a sort of compromise with no-till, attempting to keep the soil health benefits while cutting through and incorporating a little of the crop residue. Researchers at Penn State studied vertical tillage in 2021 and 2022 on farms in southeastern Pennsylvania where fields were being rotated from corn to full-season soybeans and found that it reduced residue covering the soil by an average of 16%, while also reducing winter annual weeds by an average of 14%. A number of farmers use vertical tillage to combat slugs but researchers found that the practice only cut pest damage by 9%. [link]

Concern is rising about the amount of ultra-processed foods in American diets, and the effect eating so many of those foods has on our health. Ultra-processed foods now make up about 58% of the calories consumed by adults and children aged 1 year or older. Recent studies have linked diets high in ultra-processed foods like breakfast cereals, soups, and yogurts to increased risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and depression. For the first time, the U.S. government is asking its scientific advisory committee to consider how diets consisting of varying amounts of ultra-processed foods influence body composition and obesity risk. Food companies dispute the idea that their products are unhealthy and say that packaged food gives people a convenient, affordable way to get nutrients. [link]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced nearly $16 million is being awarded through Round 7 of the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program to help 116 farms across the state address the impacts of climate change. The Climate Resilient Farming Program is a part of the State’s Agricultural Environmental Management framework that is locally led by county Soil and Water Conservation Districts and participating farmers. The selected projects will reduce greenhouse gases by an estimated 64,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, increase environmental sustainability, and boost resiliency to extreme weather events related to climate change. Funding for the program was doubled in the New York State FY 2023 Enacted Budget as part of the State’s aggressive climate agenda. The state has now awarded a total of $36 million to 386 farms as part of its climate grant program. [link]

Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has announced the launch of a new Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge, whereby up to $12 million will be awarded to innovators advancing low-cost and scalable practices, processes, and technologies designed to reduce methane emissions produced by cattle. An independent and voluntary external review panel composed of subject matter experts (e.g., producers, ranchers, representatives of private sector, stakeholder groups, academia) will assist in the assessment of applications. The Challenge will use a phased approach to move innovators through the process of developing and deploying their solutions, with up to 20 applicants receiving $250,000 each in stage 1 and two finalists awarded a grand prize of $1 million each in the last stage. [link]

Bakersfield College Delano Campus hosted a ribbon-cutting this week to unveil its new, state-of-the-art Regenerative Agriculture Education Center focused on agrivoltaics, a combination of agriculture and solar energy. This approach - which involves placing solar panels above crops, providing dual use of the same land - is intended to generate renewable energy from the sun while allowing crops to grow beneath. In partnership with the California Renewable Energy laboratory, the new agricultural center aims to bring a new source of job creation and study to Kern County. [link]

MIT chemists hope to reduce the environmental footprint of chemical fertilizers by creating a new bacteria product that helps convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, providing nutrients for plants in the process. Existing bacteria already perform this function, but they are sensitive to heat and humidity, making it difficult to scale up their manufacture and delivery to farms. To overcome that obstacle, MIT chemical engineers have devised a metal-organic coating that protects bacterial cells from damage without impeding their growth or function. In a new study, they found that these coated bacteria improved the germination rate of a variety of seeds, including vegetables such as corn and bok choy. [link]

The Nature Conservancy and its partners are inviting eligible producers in the U.S. to apply for the "Expanding Agroforestry Incentive Payment Program" beginning on November 15, 2023. Over the course of five years, $36 million will be paid out to producers in direct incentive payments to transform 30,000 acres spanning 30 states into agroforestry systems. The Expanding Agroforestry Project is one of 141 projects funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. This particular project is focused on the use of three agroforestry practices: alley cropping, silvopasture and windbreaks. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an investment of $27.9 million across 45 organizations that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers, including programs for U.S. veterans who are entering into agricultural careers and starting new farming businesses. This investment is part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which supports a wide range of professional development activities and topics, such as managing capital, acquiring and managing land, and learning effective business and farming practices. [link]

An electronic nose to sniff out soil health that will deliver results to a farmer’s phone in five minutes is being developed by PES Technologies. The company says it is able to create an aroma fingerprint from gas released by microbes in the soil. Current biological lab tests are expensive and can take ten weeks to provide results. PES says that its new product - to be commercially launched in 2024 - will be cost-efficient and will deliver results on microbe content in the soil on-site. [link]

Brazil has unveiled a plan for the recovery and sustainable use of the country's forests, including developing forest production chains and public policies to promote a forest economy. The Forest + Sustainable Plan will take effect on Dec. 1 and will include the planting of commercial forests for non-timber products and rehabilitating degraded areas by creating agroforestry systems, which make the most of the soil by planting both trees and agricultural products. The plan also provides for actions to support environmental regularization in agricultural production units, through measures that allow agricultural-livestock and forestry integration, in addition to supporting the development of seed banks and nurseries. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the national standard that describes which plants can grow in different regions of the country. The map received its first update in more than a decade and shows that roughly half the country has shifted into a new zone whereby growers can plant new types of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and plants in their region. Broadly, the 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 2012 map across the contiguous U.S. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late October, scientists in Australia said that the country’s soil carbon targets were flawed and that farmers could end up facing a big financial bill, as a result. Check out the story, here.

November 11, 2023

Spotlight Story

A new article from McKinsey discusses how to strike a balance and catalyze a sustainable land-use transition. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Farm machinery manufacturers Agco, CNH Industrial, and Deere have been expanding their lines of retrofit products to turn equipment already in service into smart machines that can plant seeds, spray crops and perform other tasks with more precision and automation. Equipment makers’ emphasis on lower-cost retrofits comes as farmers’ incomes are under pressure from sliding commodity markets. Prices for corn and wheat futures are down 29% since the start of the year, while soybean prices have fallen 14%. [link]

Although results from the combine are positive, the pace of the northern Indiana corn harvest has been slow at just 40% harvested, according to one estimate. Enough corn remains on fields such that harvest operations could take the entire month of November. Delays have been caused by high intermittent rains, high moisture levels, and a slow dry down. The northern Indiana bean harvest is roughly 90% complete, with yields "respectable" this year. [link]

Consumer distrust of large food manufacturers will be a challenge for the industry moving forward, according to a Corbion global survey. The survey found a loss of trust in large food manufacturers, especially among North American respondents. Food recalls, a perceived lack of transparency and a distrust of artificial ingredients all have contributed to the sentiment, Corbion found. In North America, products perceived as clean label with ingredients consumers can understand are trending and help alleviate the distrust. More consumers are seeking natural products made without artificial ingredients, chemicals or other unknowns. European consumers shared a need for quality nutrition that’s affordable, noting that while vegetarian and healthy diets are the ethical choice, they remain cost prohibitive. In Asia, consumers express a desire for “quality food” with “natural ingredients” they can taste, while South American respondents wanted foods that provide pleasure and indulgence, while still being healthy. Across all regions of the globe, Corbion’s survey found consumers additionally share a strong desire to better society and the planet. More consumers, especially younger generations, are seeking brands with a greater commitment to sustainability. [link] 

Nutrien Ltd. has released a new study detailing and quantifying the perception gaps between farmers and consumers in North America on issues like sustainability, technology and land usage. The findings revealed the largest perception gaps between farmers and consumers are around topics related to environmental stewardship and industry advancement. For example, farmers were significantly more likely than consumers to agree with statements related to the responsible use of crop inputs, chemical use, environmental progress, farming careers, and soil quality. Topics related to societal support for farmers reveal much closer agreement between the two groups. The study also found that younger consumers have the lowest interest and trust in agriculture. [link]

Commercializing the production of synthetic dietary fats could relieve pressure on a global agricultural sector that is struggling to decarbonize, a new study has found, replacing dominant oil crops like soy and oil palm. The widespread manufacture of farm-free food could yield numerous environmental and societal benefits — enabling people to “eat our way” out of a burgeoning climate crisis, according to the study published this week in Nature Sustainability. Some benefits would include reductions in water use and pollution, greater local control over food production and decreases in weather-related shortage risks, reduced need for low-paying and physically taxing labor, and a return of land to its natural state. Although synthetically produced ingredients may be unappealing to consumers, they may be less concerned with fats produced in this manner relative to carbohydrates or proteins. Agriculturally derived fats generate about 1 to 3 grams of emitted carbon dioxide per thousand calories, the authors determined. [link]

Major chemical companies and grassroots agriculture groups are locked in a dispute over the use of next-generation genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in farming, as lawmakers debate the European Commission’s controversial proposal to widely deregulate new genomic techniques (NGTs). The proposal was discussed by European Parliament (EP) members of the Agriculture and Environment committees on October 26 and was addressed again on November 7. Slow Food and Friends of the Earth Europe have urged MEPs to reject the proposal and keep new GMOs regulated under the current EU GMO rules. They warn that deregulation would threaten nature and the rights of consumers, farmers and breeders to transparency. However, KWS, BASF and Bayer note that NGTs can actually boost environmental sustainability in farming and alleviate food security fears while the transparency concerns can be overcome. The far-reaching deregulation proposal suggests excluding new GMO plants, such as products from CRISPR-Cas9, from the current legal framework, which Slow Food suggests would exempt these NGTs from labeling requirements, safety checks and traceability processes. [link]

Social media users believe reducing and eliminating meat intake is ineffective in addressing climate change and reported low willingness to engage in either action, according to a new study from La Trobe University. The study, published in Sustainability, asked more than 700 Facebook account users, between the ages of 18 to 84, about their beliefs on climate change, the impact of meat consumption on the environment and meat intake. It's estimated that 80 billion animals a year are raised and killed for food worldwide and, according to the World Economic Forum, Australians are among the highest meat eaters in the world. [link]

Organizations led by Carbon180 and the Savanna Institute released a set of recommendations for policymakers this week, focused on agroforestry as a solution for resilient agriculture in the upcoming farm bill. Coalition leaders say agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and other perennial crops into farms and ranches, have immense potential to transform US agriculture – boosting farm economies, biodiversity, and resilience to extreme weather while sinking and storing more carbon from the atmosphere. The policy paper provides recommendations for each farm bill title that could support more farmers and ranchers in integrating trees into their agricultural systems, plus includes stories from practitioners in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin. [link]

New research shows that if acreage locations of the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) were selected at random, the program would store more carbon in the soil relative to CRP acres in their current locations. As of 2020, the locations of CRP acres likely store 9 percent less carbon in soil than they would if located at random. The reason why the CRP is storing less carbon in soil than if the acres were placed randomly has to do with where program acres are concentrated. The Southern Great Plains have a disproportionately high amount of CRP acres, compared to the rest of the country, and the “coarse-textured soils” in this area store carbon poorly. The research suggests that, to store the most carbon in soil, CRP acres should be concentrated in North Central states like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio, and land along the Mississippi River. [link]

The Small Producer Initiative (SPI) at Texas State University has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2501 Program along with a $400,000 cooperative agreement with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in support of regenerative agriculture outreach initiatives. The awards will allow SPI to continue to provide small, urban, minority and veteran farmers and ranchers with regenerative ranching and soil health demonstrations on farms and ranches throughout Texas. The grants will also enable SPI to provide beekeeping training, financial literacy training and assist NRCS with engaging new and small farmers. [link]

McCain Foods USA was awarded $6.9 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which will be used as part of an "Improving Soil Health in Potato Supply Chains" project. Under that project, McCain Foods USA and its partners, Campbell Soup Company and the Soil Health Institute (SHI), will help potato farmers implement soil health and climate-smart agriculture practices and systems on more than 6,000 acres in Wisconsin and Maine. The project will use the USDA funding to scale up an existing soil health technical assistance partnership, supporting sustainable farming that prioritizes soil health through residue and tillage management, cover cropping, nutrient management, soil carbon amendment, and pest management. Growers participating in the program will form peer coaching cohorts to build their conservation plans with support from SHI. [link]

Seventeen major food manufacturers earned an average grade of F for their lack of progress in reducing pesticides in the products they sell, according to a new analysis by As You Sow. General Mills, which earned a B in 2021, was in this year’s top spot with a C rating. Archer Daniels Midland Co., also known as ADM, and PepsiCo Inc. received a C minus; Conagra Brands Inc. and Campbell Soup Company received a D score, while Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. and Nestle received a D minus. The rest of the companies received an F: B&G Foods Inc., Cargill, Danone S.A., Del Monte Pacific Ltd., General Mills Inc., Kellanova, The Kraft Heinz Company, Mars Incorporated, Mondelez International Inc., Post Holdings Inc., and The J. M. Smucker Co. [link]

China’s state-run food group COFCO International and Modern Farming Group, which makes milk products, have signed an agreement “to supply and accept soybeans” coming from sustainable areas of production in Brazil, the world’s top supplier of the oilseed. According to a statement from the World Economic Forum’s Tropical Forest Alliance, the deal is valued at more than $30 million and marks the first soybean order in China under a “clear deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) clause.” The agreement is part of efforts to curb commodity export-driven deforestation in global soybeans, beef, palm oil and pulp and paper markets. [link]

Perdue believes it has a clever way to combat criticism about chicken production: sell humans practically the same food it feeds its chickens. The company has created “Chix Mix,” a new snack that is “made from most of the same ingredients” that’s in the company’s chicken feed. The stunt promotes Perdue’s vegetarian and antibiotic-free chicken feed, based on consumers becoming “increasingly interested in the health and quality of the foods they eat,” according to the company. The snack contains corn, wheat puffs and edamame, but with a dash of barbecue spices “just for humans.” [link]

New Zealand’s Fonterra Co-Operative Group wants its nearly 8,500 farms to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030, the world’s largest dairy exporter said this week. New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep and nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. Fonterra said that through improving farm practices, novel technologies and offsetting emissions by planting it expected to reduce emissions by about 22%. A further 8% reduction from a 2018 baseline is expected to come from not having to take into account, by 2030, emissions created by land being converted into dairy farms early this century. [link]

Adopting regenerative agriculture practices may boost consumer perception, strengthen trust and increase purchase consideration for sustainability-minded consumers, according to a new ADM report. “Farming for the Future: The State of Regenerative Agriculture Program Adoption,” is based on survey data from both consumers and consumer product and retail decision-makers obtained through ADM’s proprietary consumer insights platform. After learning more about regenerative agriculture, 73% of consumers agreed they would be more likely to trust retailers and brands that implement regenerative agriculture programs, and 72% agreed that they would be more likely to purchase from them. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October, General Mills announced that it was collaborating with Walmart and Sam’s Club to advance the adoption of regenerative agriculture on 600,000 acres in the United States by 2030. Check out the announcement, here.

November 4, 2023

Spotlight Story

Civil Eats writes about how Walmart and its founding family could affect the “regenerative foodscape.” Read the story, here.

Industry Updates

Scientists say Australia’s soil carbon targets are flawed and farmers could face a big bill, with the nation’s emissions reductions being overestimated. Under the offset scheme, producers receive credits for storing carbon in the soil that companies or the federal government can then buy from them. But there is a growing chorus of discontent among experts over how credits are awarded and the research behind the idea. In a recent paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management, 18 scientists examined the impact of grazing management on soil carbon across 30 projects, concluding that there is lack of evidence in Australia that grazing management directly increases soil carbon. This leads to some possibility that farmers may have to ultimately pay back credits. The federal government is currently reviewing feedback from public submissions on the credits scheme. [link]

A new research paper finds that existing ways of increasing soil organic carbon in agricultural fields would only boost global crop production by 0.7%. However, newer technologies and/or approaches like biochar and agroforestry could increase global production by 4.3%, enough to feed an additional 640 million people. Improved yields have been championed as an incentive for farmers to adopt strategies to sequester organic carbon in soils, which store 4-6 times the carbon found as CO2 in the atmosphere. The researchers found that soil organic carbon can improve yields for each crop only up to a certain point, beyond which there is no additional effect. [link]

During a visit to Northfield, MN this week, President Biden announced over $5 billion in new investments to advance rural prosperity, economic development, competition, and sustainability. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing nearly $1.7 billion in funding to support the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices. The funding includes a $1.1 billion investment across 81 projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which takes a voluntary approach to expand the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. It also includes fiscal year 2023 investments from the Inflation Reduction Act that include $100 million through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), $250 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and $250 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). [link]

A majority (54%) of consumers are willing to help the environment through their food purchases, according to packaging giant TetraPak’s 2023 Nutrition Index. This could include tradeoffs like switching to plant-based foods and alternative proteins, the report said. While nearly 49% of respondents said they are financially struggling, only 17% indicated a desire to sacrifice food and beverages that are environmentally friendly, organic or healthier based on their higher cost. Consumers are also increasingly associating healthy eating with sustainability. Half of respondents indicated that nutritious food is also more sustainable for the planet, and 65% believe that environmental factors cause negative health impacts. [link]

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of registration for the 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. This landmark event, titled “Cultivating the Future,” will be held in person at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., on February 15-16, 2024. The 2024 Forum program will feature a keynote address by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a presentation on the outlook for agricultural markets and trade by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer, a plenary panel of distinguished guest speakers, and 30 breakout sessions covering a wide range of timely agricultural, food market, and environmental issues. More than a hundred experts from government, industry, and academia will share insights on topics such as commodity and food price outlooks, U.S. and global agricultural trade developments, agricultural innovations, climate change, and the bioeconomy. [link]

Iowa corn yields are "ridiculously good" this year, with farmers harvesting more than 200 bushels per acre in many instances, despite widespread drought as the harvest reaches its conclusion. Agronomists say that current corn hybrids are much better adapted to dry conditions now compared to 20 years ago. About 77% of the state’s corn has been harvested for grain, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 93% of soybeans have been harvested. [link]

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, helped to successfully restore $8.5 million in funding for the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production through an amendment in the Senate-passed Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill. The Office assists urban, small-scale, and innovative producers with technical and financial assistance that supports community farms and gardens, rooftop, indoor, and vertical farms, and other innovative production. The appropriations package that included Stabenow’s amendment passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 82 to 15 and must now be conferenced with the House before being signed into law. [link]

Enrollment for the e3 Sustainable Cotton program by BASF is now open for the 2024 growing season. From seed to bale, the e3 Sustainable Cotton program provides an entirely traceable and transparent sustainable cotton supply chain. Growers who enroll in e3 Sustainable Cotton commit to track eight on-farm environmental and social measures, including water use, pesticide management, soil conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for each bale of cotton produced. Self-enrollment is open through Dec. 31, 2023. [link]

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding toured Out of the End, a Pittsburgh-based urban farm, to announce $736,145 in grants to support projects that will increase capacity to produce fresh food and create economic opportunity in urban neighborhoods. Funded projects enable expansion or purchases of agricultural infrastructure such as greenhouses, hydroponic equipment, cold storage, and tools needed to expand the reach and impact of organizations that feed economic, community, and personal growth through agriculture. [link]

The Kenya-based dairy company, Brookside, has unveiled a program based on agroforestry projects that target dairy farms as a strategy to combat climate change and enhance livelihoods. In collaboration with its contracted dairy groups, the firm has moved to promote tree planting on dairy farms, with the goal of enabling farmers to benefit from increased tree cover on their properties. A key motivation for the firm relates to declining rates of rainfall in the country, with a hope that new trees can help absorb and filter water while then releasing this water back into the atmosphere. [link]

Beyond Meat is conducting a strategic review of its global operations as its sales situation deteriorates. In a Nov. 2 earnings pre-announcement, the company revised its full-year outlook and said it was reviewing operations and cutting its non-production workforce by 19%. The company reported that it anticipated a modest return to growth in the third quarter of 2023 that did not occur, reflecting further sector-specific and consumer headwinds. The workforce reduction will include approximately 65 employees, representing 19% of Beyond Meat’s non-production workforce and 8% of its total global workforce. [link]

Bartlett, a grain storage and merchandising company, has launched a sustainability project with Campbell Soup Co. to support the implementation of regenerative farming practices. The project is focused on improving soil health and conservation by providing technical and financial assistance to Charlotte, North Carolina, US-area producers of soft red winter wheat. It will include 10,000 acres of farmland that supply wheat to Bartlett’s flour mill in Statesville, North Carolina. Bartlett supplies flour to Campbell’s Snacks division used to make Lance Crackers at its Charlotte bakery. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late August, a report in the journal, Nature, said that most Brazilian agricultural lands are below their maximum output potential, based on new soil productivity analysis. Check it out, here.

October 28, 2023

Spotlight Story

Iowa Public Radio says that farmers have taken steps to reduce fertilizer runoff. However, experts say that voluntary measures won’t reverse Iowa’s water quality problems. Read the story, here.

Industry Updates

The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s sustainable agriculture program, ATTRA, in collaboration with the United States Botanic Garden and USDA National Agroforestry Center, has released 20 urban agroforestry resources to help city-based farmers, land-owners, and community organizations integrate trees into their agricultural operations as a way of producing more than one product from the same piece of land. The project includes videos, publications, blog posts, podcasts, and webinars. The resources were developed in partnership with the USDA National Agroforestry Center and the United States Botanic Garden to promote knowledge and awareness of how urban trees can support community and climate resilience. [link]

The Uttar Pradesh government in India has finalized an ‘agroforestry policy’ that will allow farmers to generate additional income from carbon credits obtained by the plants on their farm boundaries. The state aims to increase its green cover from 9% to 15% by 2027 by linking farming with the global carbon credit market. Farmers will get financial support for planting and maintaining new tree saplings. The policy will also ensure the quality of plants for better profit. [link]

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) released "A General Assessment of the Role of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. Carbon Markets," a comprehensive look at current market activity, barriers to participation, and opportunities to improve access to carbon markets for farmers and forest landowners. The report identifies a variety of barriers that have hindered the participation of agriculture in carbon markets, including limited returns on investment due to high transaction costs like greenhouse gas quantification, verification, and reporting. The report is the first of USDA’s deliverables under the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA), which was signed into law on December 29, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The next step in implementing the GCSA is for USDA to make a determination regarding whether to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program, which would facilitate better technical assistance to producers interested in participating in carbon markets, as well as a process to register market verifiers. [link]

An extended deadline for passing the U.S. Farm Bill could be a possibility, according to the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. Lawmakers failed to pass the bill by their end-of-September deadline and now face a much stricter end-of-year deadline. But Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said Friday he would like to consider a one-year extension on passing the bill. He said an extension doesn’t mean it would take the entire year for the measure to pass. [link]

Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) has unveiled plans to build a soybean processing plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Construction of the facility, which will have an annual soy crushing capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, will begin in early 2024, the company said. The plant will also produce soybean oil and lecithin, with annual production capacities of 320,000 and 7,500 tonnes, respectively. [link]

The world’s first coffee with a “regenerative agriculture” label is being distributed globally by the Italian brand Illy Caffè in partnership with the Cerrado Coffee Growers Federation. The grains of “Arabica Selection Brasile Cerrado Mineiro,” have regenerative certification from Regenagri. This global organization aims to guarantee the health and preservation of the soil, with accreditation from the British Control Union. The label proves there has been an increase in organic matter in the soil, improvement in biodiversity, rebalancing of the ecosystem’s natural functions, sequestration of atmospheric CO2 and an increase in the water, carbon and nutrient cycles. [link]

A team of researchers from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin has been awarded a grant from USDA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help support the use of agroforestry practices and markets by small and medium-sized farms in the region. The project is led by Dr. Emily Huff, an associate professor in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University. The project will provide opportunities for Farmer Woodland Owners (FWOs) in each state to gather in farmer learning circles and connect with agriculture and natural resource professionals to identify innovative uses of trees and forests within agricultural systems that can improve farm viability and increase environmental and social benefits. The project team will also develop agroforestry demonstration farms in each state where the ecological, social, and economic impacts of agroforestry on farmers' land, businesses, and households can be evaluated. The project began in summer 2023 and will continue until the end of 2028. [link]

Nearly 200 groups led by Food & Water Watch sent a letter to USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, urging the agency to reconsider its recent decision to include several “conservation practices” that support factory farms and the proliferation of factory farm gas in its list of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry practices that will be prioritized under the Inflation Reduction Act. The letter warns that nearly $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding intended to boost climate-smart agriculture could go to polluting factory farms. The push also comes as nearly 200,000 Friends of the Earth members have signed a petition to USDA demanding the agency end its support of the factory farm system. [link]

Growing numbers of farmers are submitting soil specimens for analysis, however agronomist Dr. Sajjad Awan of the soil testing laboratory, NRM, says that most are conducting their soil tests incorrectly. Taking soil samples will only produce useful data for a nutrient management plan if they are done consistently over time. This means sampling at the same time of year, in exactly the same place, and under the same field conditions. To establish whether soils are building up, or declining, in key nutrients over time, Sajjad points out that samples must be compared like-with-like over a period of 10-20 years to generate good-quality data. [link]

The Regenerative Fund for Nature has opened its 2024 grant applications, inviting project applications from the cotton, leather, cashmere and wool supply chains. The Regenerative Fund for Nature is a partnership between Conservation International, Kering and Inditex which supports sustainable agriculture projects in the fashion supply chain. Funding is available for projects in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, the United States, Turkey, Uganda, India, Tanzania, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Greece, Morocco, South Africa, New Zealand, Uruguay, China (Inner Mongolia) and Mongolia. Grants will range from $120,000-$620,000 and cover 3-5 years, available for businesses including micro, small and medium enterprises, farming groups, project developers and raw material aggregators committed to regenerative agriculture. [link]

A new report from ResearchAndMarkets says that the global mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers market was valued at $571 million as of 2022 and is poised for a CAGR of 7% out through 2028. Mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers are specialized organic formulations that harness the power of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, combined with essential nutrients and growth-promoting microorganisms. Key market drivers include rising demand for organic food, growing demand for sustainable food and flavors, and increasing research and innovation. Key challenges include high cost and limited shelf life. [link]

The Green Climate Fund, headquartered in South Korea, will invest $39.1 million in Rwanda's Congo Nile Divide in the pursuit of forest and landscape restoration in order to build climate resilience of vulnerable communities. The fund notes that it will develop more sustainable management of 278,000 hectares (687,000 acres) and promote sustainable agroforestry techniques in 2,000 hectares of plantations, reducing demand for fuelwood and alleviating deforestation pressures. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, a new study was published that showed regenerative agriculture practices have distinct economic benefits for farmers, in addition to their oft-cited environmental benefits. Check it out, here.

October 21, 2023

Spotlight Story

The New Yorker writes an expose on nature-based carbon offsets. Read the story, here.

Industry Updates

According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global agricultural sector has incurred losses amounting to approximately $3.8 trillion over the past three decades due to the consequences of varying world disasters. Nearly half of these costs can be attributed to droughts, while floods, storms, pests, health crises, and conflicts are also significantly contributing to this growing impact. Asia appears to be the hardest hit region, with Africa also seeing significant impacts. The report notes that increasing severity and frequency, from 100 per year in the 1970s to around 400 events per year in the past 20 years, affects agrifood systems across multiple dimensions, compromising food security and undermining the sustainability of the agriculture sector. [link]

Researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have modeled the effect of a worldwide redistribution of nitrogen fertilizer usage, simulating various nitrogen fertilizer quantities at different locations while calculating the total production of corn, wheat, and rice between 2015 and 2030 using the biochemical model, LandscapeDNDC. Around 60% of worldwide nitrogen fertilizer consumption is presently used for growing crops, however overly large quantities are used in big cultivation areas like North America, Europe, and East Asia, with a majority of applications ending up in groundwater or emitted into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide, a planet warming greenhouse gas. Research shows that worldwide consumption of nitrogen fertilizer could be reduced by 32% if a more homogenous distribution were to take place. The current level of grain production would remain unaffected. Redistribution would reduce nitrate leaching by 71% for wheat and 63% for corn, while also cultivating crops closer to their place of consumption. Increased harvests in Africa would also help the continent reach self-sufficiency. [link]

U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, visited Kankakee County in Illinois this week, discussing agriculture's struggles and what's being done to make things better. Vilsack noted that additional revenue streams for farms is key - particularly at the same time of harvest and/or government payments. Vilsack also discussed green solutions in the form of climate-smart agriculture, noting that government programs around cover crops, rotational grazing, drip irrigation, and more, are helping to improve soils, water quality, and opportunities for farmers. [link]

Phase two of Ireland's Soil Sampling and Analysis Program has opened for applications, following an initial pilot that collected over 90,000 samples from roughly 7,500 farmers. The program is aimed at putting soil health, soil fertility and soil carbon at the center of Ireland's future agricultural model, while also enabling better surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by screening for the presence of the ESBL E. coli strain. According to the Department of Agriculture, phase two has the potential to take another 90,000 samples from farms all over the country. [link]

Tyson Foods is partnering with the Netherlands-based insect ingredients company, Protix, in an effort to leverage their knowledge in the meat and insect industries to provide sustainable proteins and lipids for use in the global food system. In addition, Tyson is acquiring a minority stake in Protix to help fund its global expansion. The partnership also includes construction of an insect ingredient facility in the United States. The facility will enable the companies to upcycle food manufacturing byproducts into insect proteins and lipids for use in the pet food, aquaculture, and livestock industries, with a system to produce insect proteins including breeding, incubating, and hatching of insect larvae. [link]

General Mills, Inc. is collaborating with Walmart Inc. and Sam’s Club to advance the adoption of regenerative agriculture on 600,000 acres in the United States by 2030. The number is approximately how much land General Mills will engage to source key ingredients of its sold products through Walmart and Sam’s Club. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will administer grants to support initial projects, which seek to advance regenerative agriculture outcomes across many types of crops, including wheat, in the Northern and Southern Great Plains. The NFWF also will offer financial assistance to local grantee organizations, building out the education and coaching resources needed to help accelerate regenerative agriculture. [link]

A nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will support research on soil health and weed suppression in organic farming. Scientists will compare how single species and mixtures of perennials affect weed growth, while assessing soil health. They will also focus on corn yields based on two years of perennials versus two years of annual cash crops — soybeans and wheat — with cover crops. Rotating perennial hay crops with annual cash crops also may offer an opportunity to suppress weeds and improve soil health. [link]

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have reintroduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act, legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Critics have called for the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all biofuels, noting that this would more accurately reflect the emissions reductions achieved by ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel more recently and thereby lead to greater demand domestically and internationally. The GREET Act would require the EPA to update its modeling every five years. [link]

Colorado State University announced a Western SARE grant award that will focus on producer-led on-farm research and farmer-to-farmer learning networks to address social, economic and agronomic barriers to High Plains regenerative agriculture, with a specific focus on addressing barriers for historically underserved producers. The grant award totals $350,000, with one key project goal to create an online tool for farmers to document and analyze their own soil health experiments. The on-farm research will take place on 10 farms within the Central High Plains region. [link]

As the United States House of Representatives attempts to vote on the next Speaker of the House, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that the next Speaker will ultimately have little sway over the farm bill process this year. While Grassley sees an extension of the current farm bill as the most likely outcome, there are downsides to an extension of current farm policy, mainly in the form of lack of certainty and desired increases to reference prices from the 2018 bill. [link]

Rice University is conducting a multi-year, multi-institution research project to provide evidence that more sustainable farming practices reduce production risk while also maintaining or improving overall yields. Researchers will aim to determine the risk-mitigation benefits and related cost savings associated with practices that improve soil health in an effort to reduce federal crop insurance costs and lower loan rates from farm lenders. The work is supported by grants from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute for Food and Agriculture and from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research in partnership with the public advocacy nonprofit organization, Land Core. [link]

The Chinese parent of pork giant Smithfield Foods is working with banks to take the 87-year-old business public again in the U.S. Smithfield, the largest U.S. pork producer, could list its shares as early as next year, according to people familiar with the matter. Smithfield was acquired in 2013 by China’s top meat producer, WH Group. The $4.7 billion deal marked one of the biggest takeovers of an American business by a Chinese company at the time and resulted in the delisting of Smithfield, which used to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, a new study was published that showed regenerative agriculture practices have distinct economic benefits for farmers, in addition to their oft-cited environmental benefits. Check it out, here.

October 14, 2023

Spotlight Stories

AgWeb asks if $100 an acre is enough to get farmers to sign up for regenerative agriculture practices. Read the story, here.

Reuters writes that we’ve been mispricing nature and that it is now time to “plug the value gap.” Read the story, here.

Industry Updates

The Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report, released by Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), says the world’s agricultural productivity isn’t growing fast enough to feed an estimated global population of nearly 10 billion people by 2050. New findings from the GAP Report suggest that not enough producers are able to access productivity-enhancing technologies and efficient practices. To correct course, the globe must reach a higher target productivity growth rate of 1.91 percent annually to meet global agricultural needs without relying on unsustainable practices. [link]

A new study from the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) points to 90% of food and agricultural businesses failing to act on sustainable practices, and their responsibility to provide healthy food. Of the 350 companies included in the research, just 6% have a time-bound commitment to eliminate deforestation, which climate scientists believe should stop in the next two years to meet wider net zero targets. A total of 85% did not have any clear plan or targets for net zero ecosystem conversion, and a mere 2% understood their wider impact on the environment beyond core operations. [link]

The regenerative agriculture consulting firm, Understanding Ag, announced it will be conducting an intensive, two-day workshop on livestock economics, finance and marketing in Kansas City, Missouri on November 29-30. UA’s upcoming workshop will provide producers with the tools to leverage and maximize regenerative advantages like lower costs and more flavorful, nutrient-dense foods through savvy business, resource and marketing planning and implementation. [link]

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 418 into law on Oct. 7, banning the use of Red No. 3, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate and propylparaben after Jan. 1, 2027. Governor Newsom noted that the four food additives banned by the state are already banned in other countries, however the National Confectioners Association said the law creates a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements relative to FDA rules. [link]

A new tool to test soil temperature thresholds will be developed at Purdue University so farmers better understand when to plant and treat their land. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center at Purdue will partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub to launch the soil temperature climatology tool. The tool’s data was sourced from the North American Regional Reanalysis and a model was produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. [link]

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, urged the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee to improve the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. In their letter, the senators outline eight specific recommendations to reduce bureaucratic obstacles, increase flexibility, and streamline the application process for the conservation program. [link]

An international team of researchers recently completed a study that says plastic use in agriculture must be reduced in order to mitigate pollution and prevent toxic chemicals from leaching into the soil and adversely affecting human health. Plastics play a crucial role in modern agricultural practices, serving various functions such as mulch films, nets, storage bins, weed/pest control, soil moisture preservation, plant temperature control and nutrient uptake, however their extensive use has led to significant waste. The consequences on human and environmental health are also poorly understood. [link]

Tractor Supply Company and American Farmland Trust (AFT) announced the recipients of AFT’s Brighter Future Fund grants to 110 farmers and farm families that will each receive a grant of up to $10,000 to help them improve, maintain, expand and advance their farms. AFT received 1,522 applicants from 48 states, an all-time high and nearly double the prior year’s applications. Priority was given to applicants who are starting their agricultural pursuits, veterans, socially disadvantaged, women or have limited resources. Funding was allocated for both professional services and equipment or infrastructure costs, with focus areas including improving farm viability, accessing farmland and adopting regenerative agricultural practices. [link]

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company is collaborating with ADM and BiOWiSH Technologies to help farmers achieve higher production in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. SABIC AN’s portfolio includes biologically enhanced urea fertilizer powered by BiOWiSH, which based on early peer-reviewed research, has the potential for lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional urea as well as the potential for increased sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil. Focusing on a 50,000-acre pilot project, farmers in the midwestern United States will use SABIC AN’s Bio-Enhanced Urea for the 2023 growing season and sign up for the ADM Re:Generations Program, which provides financial and technical support to producers who newly adopt or continue current regenerative agriculture practices. The pilot will collect data that will enable better understanding of the emission reductions that can be achieved with bio-enhanced urea. [link]

The Irish Agroforestry Forum is hosting an International Agroforestry Conference on Farmer-led Climate Adaptation and Mitigation on November 16th and 17th in Bantry. The conference will explore the vital role of trees on farms, on both conventional and organic farms in combating climate change and supporting farm enterprises. [link]

A nonprofit group has purchased a central Maine farm that is heavily contaminated with PFAS and is opening it up to researchers with the goal of shedding light on ways to handle "forever chemicals" on farms. Maine Farmland Trust has been working with farmers for several years in order to better understand how crops interact with these chemicals, along with how plants could potentially clean up contamination. The state of Maine is also developing plans to buy out some contaminated farms or help farmers transition to different products. [link]

Walmart Inc. is building a milk processing plant in Valdosta, Georgia. The $350 million facility is scheduled to open in 2025 and will supply products to more than 750 Walmart and Sam's Club locations in the Southeast. The new milk processing plant will be the retailer's second, after its first plant opened in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2018. Walmart also has a case-ready beef plant in Thomasville, Georgia and is building a second operation in Olathe, Kansas. The company said one reason for its investments in the processing plants is to build a more resilient supply chain. [link]

Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky, Don Julio tequila and Guinness, has announced two regenerative agriculture programs across its tequila and scotch brands in Mexico and Scotland. The programs are focused on reducing the carbon emissions of farming barley and wheat for Scotch whisky and agave for tequila, whilst driving additional benefits for the farmers. Both programs will hope to drive enhanced biodiversity, improved water stewardship, carbon reduction and better soil health management. The programs will look at locally adapted practices such as cover crops, reduced cultivations and crop rotations. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In September, it was reported that the Chesapeake Bay region will not meet its 2025 nutrient goals related to reduced farm runoff, largely because of an inability to staff enough people to help sufficiently reduce nutrient pollution from farms in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Check out the article, here.

October 7, 2023

Spotlight Story

The WSJ writes that Big Food is keeping a close eye on Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. Read the story, here.

Industry Updates

Researchers with the University of Arkansas are exploring the potential of biochar to replace synthetic fertilizers in hay production — especially when combined with poultry litter. A positive outcome could provide the forest industry with a new eco-friendly byproduct for wood mill residues and provide farmers with a cheaper alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The research team is subdividing plots of land and evaluating different rates of biochar and chicken litter, hoping to calculate the relevant amount of forage production on a per-acre basis. Biochar is a potentially attractive solution for carbon sequestration and microorganism proliferation in soils. It may also prove effective at reducing ammonia production when mixed with chicken litter. [link]

Dozens of farmers are taking part in one of Australia’s largest ever studies of sustainability in the red meat industry. Producers across 10 million hectares will investigate how they can improve farming foundations to boost sustainability while maintaining productivity and profitability. The Food for the Future study is looking at how producers can tackle emissions reduction, increase biodiversity and expand their regenerative agriculture techniques within the red meat supply chain. [link]

Rovensa Next is launching an entry into the U.S. market for biological agriculture products, starting with an appearance at the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) conference in Reno, NV on October 15-17. The company hopes to contribute to reshaping the future of U.S. agriculture as the brand brings the collective R&D from 10 acquired biological start-ups into one of the largest agricultural input markets in the world. [link]

Kellogg Co. has completed the separation of its North American cereal business. Going forward, that business will be called the WK Kellogg Co. while the company’s global snack business will be called Kellanova. The WK Kellogg Co. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "KLG," and Kellanova will continue to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "K." [link]

Nestlé has partnered with the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) to promote sustainable and responsible sourcing, as well as the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices by farmers. This is part of the global Nestlé Cocoa Plan Initiative established in 2009, with the aim of shaping a responsible cocoa supply chain. Initially, the cocoa produced through this initiative will be used for the manufacturing of KIT KAT products in Chembong, Negri Sembilan. [link]

Production of cocoa is starting to expand outside of the main growing areas in West Africa as farmers in places like Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia see potential profit in the crop alongside high prices. The rally in prices to their highest level in nearly 50 years is boosting this trend, which could alleviate the current supply tightness in the global cocoa market. It also poses a threat to the livelihood of small farmers in Africa since recently planted orchards such as the ones in South America are more productive, reducing the overall cost of production. [link]

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a state-wide program to standardize soil health practices and set clear levels of achievement for farmers engaging in best practices. The program enables IDOA to implement legislation passed this year to increase use of cover crops, strip till, no till, and erosion and sediment control practices. By leveraging $3.5 million in state dollars to capture $9.8 million in federal funds, IDOA envisions expanding support for voluntary efforts by farmers to reduce nutrient loss, build soil health, manage water resources, increase yields, profits, and climate resilience. [link]

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making more than $3 billion in additional funding available for four key conservation programs in the 2024 fiscal year. The funding includes $1.65 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), $754 million for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), $472 million for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and $189 million for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). NRCS is also increasing Climate-Smart Agricultural and Forestry Mitigation Activities eligible for funding for FY 2024 through EQIP and CSP. [link]

Fairtrasa has introduced bananas from the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® banana farm in Ecuador. This certification requires entities to already be certified as organic in addition to being certified as Fairtrade. To achieve Regenerative Organic Certified status, farms must avoid all industrial inputs, typically creating their own compost and using smart intercropping techniques where plants fix nutrients for each other and protect the soil by creating ground cover. The farms then have to conduct a series of thorough tests periodically, proving that their soil is healthy, rich in organic matter and continuously improving. [link]

In order to support coffee farmers as climate change affects the agricultural sector, Nestlé is to pilot a weather insurance program for coffee farmers in Indonesia. The company has also contributed to a guidebook for regenerative agricultural practices that will help farmers address soil health and biodiversity in the region. The weather insurance program, in collaboration with Blue Marble, will insure more than 800 smallholder coffee farms that supply for Nescafé. The guidebook for transitioning to regenerative agriculture was developed by the Alliance of Biodiversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, along with contributions from Nestlé. [link]

A Texas-based restaurant, Hopdoddy, is replacing plant-based burgers on their menu with new regenerative meat options. The new burgers include 100% grass-fed regenerative raised beef, together with Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs. The company is also offering a chicken sandwich  that includes Cooks Venture regenerative-raised chicken. [link]

Verra has announced a new Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) methodology in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. This methodology is for activities anywhere in the world that increase the density of trees or other types of woody vegetation. Verra authored the methodology and module with support from two independent consultants, TerraCarbon and Silvestrum, with contributions from Kyle S. Hemes and the ABACUS Working Group. Verra will host a webinar on October 12 at 1:00 pm ET to provide an overview of the new methodology. [link]

Fewer of America’s large-scale corn and soybean farmers are planting cover crops this year than last, and nobody says they’re doing it to lock carbon in the soil, according to a Purdue University survey. Some 52% of corn and soybean growers told the monthly Ag Economy Barometer that they currently plant cover crops, a 5-point drop from 2022 and a return to 2021’s levels. When Purdue asked what motivated them to plant cover crops, 65% of farmers checked the response “improve soil health,” 23% chose “improve erosion control,” 3% selected “improve water quality,” and zero said “carbon sequestration.” Among the reasons growers bypass cover crops are lack of compatibility with their cash crop rotations, lack of time to incorporate the crops into their operations, the cost of equipment for planting the crops, and to conserve water for income-earning crops. [link]

The Rockefeller Foundation and The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) have joined forces to catalyze regenerative agriculture practices, minimize climate change impacts, and promote sustainable food production in Southeast Asia. The collaboration aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation's US$1 billion climate strategy, focusing on scientific action to address climate change and promote human opportunity. The partnership emphasizes nature-positive solutions, characterized by regenerative, non-depleting, and non-destructive production systems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance agricultural sustainability. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-September, Brownfield Ag wrote that some farmers new to cover crops might be having second thoughts after another dry growing season. Check out the article and its audio, here.