by Rod Nickel and Karl Plume (Reuters) The biggest global agriculture companies are competing on a new front: enticing farmers to join programs that keep atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide in the soil. Fertilizer producers Nutrien Ltd (NTR.TO) and Yara (YAR.OL), agribusiness giant Cargill Inc (CARG.UL), and
climate smart/conservation agriculture
Back TO HOMEADM Further Expands Microbial Science and Technology Innovation Capabilities with Investment in Precision Fermentation Leader Acies Bio
(ADM) Partnership will help build on ADM’s world-class R&D capabilities and broad portfolio of innovative, responsibly-produced products and solutions -- ADM (NYSE: ADM), a global leader in nutrition and agricultural origination and processing, announced today that it is making a leading
October 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Three Bio-Based Innovations Edge Closer to Market With Private–Public Funding
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A more sustainable farming sector, lower industrial emissions, more efficient biochemical production—National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) scientists and industry partners expect sizable benefits from three new projects to commercialize bioinsecticides, enzymatic carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization, and
October 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Biocontrols as the Pivot Point in the Push for Sustainable Ag Practices
by Patrice Sellès (Biotalys/Biofuels Digest) ... Delivering the “sustainability trifecta” – i.e., a lower emissions footprint, equal or better efficacy rates than conventional crop protection solutions, and overall financial value – the integration of biocontrol solutions into sustainable ag efforts will
October 19, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Requests Public Input on New Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative DEADLINE November 1, 2021
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it is seeking public comments on a new initiative designed to create revenue streams for agricultural producers through market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. “Through extreme
October 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Governor Walz Announces Pathway to Reduce Impact of Transportation on Climate
(Office of Governor of Minnesota) Governor Tim Walz directed state agencies to explore ways to reduce climate change impacts from transportation fuels. Led by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Transportation, the process will engage a broad cross-section
October 08, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Announces More Than $146M Investment in Sustainable Agricultural Research
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. This investment is made under
October 07, 2021 Read Full Article
The Voice of Conservatives Is Important in Renewable Energy Policy Discussions
(Solutions from the Land) ... Those who advocate for no- and low-carbon fuels and other energy solutions come from across political parties – Democrats and Republicans – and from all along the spectrum of partisan views – from liberals to conservatives. The
October 02, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Aims at Ag Woes in $3B Package: USDA Announces Funds for African Swine Fever, Drought, Climate Program
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) ... The agency announced on Wednesday plans to tap funds from the Commodity Credit Corp. as part of what USDA calls a "comprehensive investment package." The $3 billion package is aimed at supporting drought resilience and
September 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Nebraska Senator Promotes Precision Ag Loan Bill
(AgNewsWire) U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced bipartisan legislation to create a program within USDA to provide loan financing to farmers and ranchers interested in purchasing precision agriculture equipment. Sen. Fischer spoke on the Senate floor Monday about the
September 29, 2021 Read Full Article
The Importance of Communicating Your Sustainability Story
by Emily Smith (Trust in Food) During Farm Journal’s 2021 Sustainable Produce Summit that took place earlier this month, a key theme of effectively communicating sustainable food and agriculture stories to consumers came through again and again. As specialty crop growers
September 28, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Investing $75 million in Partner-Led Projects with Focus on Climate-Smart Ag, Equity in Program Delivery
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. This year, projects funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements
September 27, 2021 Read Full Article
No Better Time than Now
by Anna Simet (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... While “accelerate” was the theme of the American Coalition for Ethanol’s 34th annual conference—market growth being vital—the myriad policy, investment and operational issues explored at the event orbited largely around the industry’s overarching
September 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Drax and NFU to Partner Boost UK Energy Crop Market
(NFU Online) World leader in sustainable bioenergy Drax Group has teamed up with the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), to identify opportunities to scale up perennial energy crop production and help the UK meet its ambitious climate goals. The
September 21, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. Farm & Biofuel Leaders Seek Immediate Aviation Fuel Fix to Budget Bill
(Renewable Fuels Association) America’s top biofuel and farm advocates called on Democratic leaders to fix a major flaw in the House Ways & Means Committee text released Friday night for tax provisions of the budget reconciliation, which is set for consideration Tuesday. As
September 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Advances the Future of Sustainable Fuels in American Aviation
(White House) New Actions Aim to Produce Three Billion Gallons of Sustainable Fuel, Reduce Aviation Emissions by 20% by 2030, and Grow Good-Paying, Union Jobs -- Today (September 9, 2021), President Biden is taking steps to coordinate leadership and innovation across
September 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge Schumer, Pelosi to Support Homegrown Renewable Fuels in Reconciliation Package
(Office of Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)) U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) sent a letter
September 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Carbon Markets: Farmers Want More to Hang Their Hat On
by Jenny Shaffstall (AgWeb) The carbon market will grow over the next three years -- Farm Journal’s August 2021 Carbon Survey found that 3.32% of respondents were participating in an non-governmental carbon market, up from an Ag Barometer last spring
August 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Lawmakers from Both Parties Call for Investment in Ag as a Climate Solution
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Thirty lawmakers from both houses of Congress have written a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support an historic, long-term investment in farmers, ranchers and rural communities as a part of upcoming infrastructure and
August 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producers Must Start Now to Support RFA’s Net-Zero Commitment
Donna Funk (KCoe Isom) How the Attainment of Net-Zero will Pay Off for Ethanol Plants in the Short- and Long-term -- The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has announced its commitment: Ethanol will achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (or sooner), and
August 05, 2021 Read Full Article
CALL FOR SPEAKERS Sustainable Agriculture Summit --- November 15-18, 2021 --- Las Vegas, NV DEADLINE: August 16, 2021
The Sustainable Agriculture Summit is the premier sustainability event for agriculture and by agriculture, convening the collective food and agriculture value chain to learn, develop and advance a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient U.S. food system. Bringing together farmers, suppliers, processors, brands,
August 04, 2021 Read Full Article
President Biden’s Climate Plan and iIts Role in Agriculture & Renewable Biofuels
by Oliver Peoples (Yield10 Bioscience/Biofuels Digest) During President Biden’s April 22nd climate plan speech at the Virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate, he announced his goal of cutting 50 percent of U.S. carbon-emissions levels by 2030. This is no simple task, and consumers,
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Establishing a Fair Ag Carbon Market Will Be Complicated, but Worth the Effort
(Solutions from the Land) The talk among policy makers in Washington to promote a market in which farmers, ranchers and forestland owners can be fiscally rewarded for their efforts to retain carbon in their soil has excited many. The prospect for
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Harder Introduces Landmark Legislation to Help Farmers Lead on Climate Change
(Office of Representative Josh Harder (R-CA 10th) Bill will establish billions in new initiatives to support the efforts of the agriculture industry in leading the way on climate -- Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) reintroduced his Future of Agricultural Resiliency and Modernization (FARM)
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA Pledge to President: Ethanol to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050 or Sooner
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter sent today to President Joe Biden, Renewable Fuels Association members from across the country memorialized their commitment to ensuring ethanol achieves a net-zero carbon footprint, on average, by 2050 or sooner. Ethanol is already cutting greenhouse gas
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Why All Agriculture Carbon Credits Aren’t the Same
by Helena Bottemiller Evich (Politico) Green groups are calling for USDA to set standards so there’s more clarity in the rapidly changing market. -- Agricultural carbon credit programs are cropping up left and right, but the standards they adhere to are
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Alternative Fuels and Chemicals Coalition Conference and Expo --- November 14-16, 2021 --- National Harbor, MD Recorded Presentations Published
This is the FIRST AFCC Global Biobased Economy Conference! The conference will focus on promoting the USDA's BioPreferred® Program* throughout this two-day conference and exhibition. To kick off the event there will be a reception on Sunday evening, November 14,
July 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Manta Wins MEIA 2021 Pitch Finale; MD Clean Energy Startups Shine
(Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator) MEIA 's 2021 Pitch Competition was a smashing success. Congratulations to Grand Prize winner Manta Biofuel, and Audience Choice co-winners InventWood and Manta Biofuel. Did you miss the event? Watch the video and pitches here. Owings Mills-based Manta
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
First Generation Biofuels: Angel or Demon?
by Oliver Mace (Broadmanor Consulting) ... In fact, when it comes to biofuels, sustainability specialists working for the likes of RSB or ISCC have spent countless hours attempting to define what it actually depends ON, in great detail and across many
May 30, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA to Invest $15 Million in the Future of Conservation Through Innovation Grants Program
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $15 million to support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through
May 25, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Releases 90-Day Progress Report on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published the 90-Day Progress Report on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (PDF, 561 KB). The report represents an important step toward in President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and
May 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Applications Open for 2021 AgLaunch Bootcamp --- DEADLINE June 4, 2021
(Knoxville Entrepreneur Center) The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, AgLaunch, Sync Space and The Biz Foundry are partnering to offer a 3-week virtual bootcamp to develop promising agtech startups. Applicants should be innovators who are interested in growing their agricultural startups and working directly with farmers or
May 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Plant BioProTech --- June 28 - July 1, 2022 --- Reims, France
The European Green Deal is a growth strategy aspiring to transform the EU into a succesful, resource-efficient and competitive economy, with no net or less emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and 0 pollution. A central element of the Green Deal is
May 17, 2021 Read Full Article
House Ag Panel Hearing Boosts Role of Agriculture in Addressing Climate Change
(Solutions from the Land) The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held its first hearing of the 117th Congress this week, drawing attention to the enormous potential in farm productivity and profitability offered by conservation agriculture. The panel also highlighted
May 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Sequestration: A Systems Perspective --- May 18, 2021 --- ONLINE
Modern science is in agreement with thousands of years of indigenous farming to state that carbon is a critical component of healthy soil, supporting all of life. In fact there is 2 to 3 times more carbon in the soil
May 03, 2021 Read Full Article
American Coalition for Ethanol: USDA Must Reward Farmers, Biofuel Facilities For Carbon-Cutting Contributions
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Grainnet) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) encouraged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help establish a protocol for biofuel producers and farmers to easily document the carbon intensity benefits of changes in agricultural practices in comments submitted April 29 regarding USDA’s climate strategy for President
May 01, 2021 Read Full Article
RFA to USDA: Ethanol Fuels Climate-Smart Agriculture, Energizes Rural Communities
(Renewable Fuels Association) In separate comment letters submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Renewable Fuels Association explained how expanded ethanol production and use can support the administration’s “climate-smart” agriculture goals and encouraged USDA to use the Rural Energy Pilot
April 30, 2021 Read Full Article
EU to Launch Carbon Farming Framework by End-2021 Following Two-Year Study
by Jack Ellis (Ag Funder News) The European Commission – the executive branch of the EU administration which is responsible for proposing bloc-wide legislation – has published the findings of its two-year study into creating a “carbon farming” framework for the EU. The
April 30, 2021 Read Full Article
SfL Lauds Biden’s Recognition of Ag’s Role in Stemming Climate Change
(Solutions from the Land) In his speech to a joint session of Congress tonight, President Biden acknowledged the role of farmers, ranchers and forestland owners in the effort to stem climate change. Among the many steps he said various interests
April 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Are Microbes the Next Carbon Crop for Farmers?
by Mindy Ward (Farm Progress) Pluton Biosciences partners with Bayer for a carbon sequestration project. -- Barry Goldman has one goal — to find the next Bt-like row crop breakthrough but for carbon sequestration. “There are a trillion species of microbes, and the
April 28, 2021 Read Full Article
How Much Can Farming Address Climate Change?
by Kinsie Rayburn (Trust in Food) During Day 1 of our 2021 Trust In Food Symposium: Regenerative Reset event held in February, Trust In Food posed the question, “How much can farming address climate change?” In this 90-minute session, moderated by Trust In
April 27, 2021 Read Full Article
UH Hilo Researches Whether Sugarcane Can Make Jet Fuel
(University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo) A groundbreaking study investigating the growth of selected varieties of sugarcane to convert into high-performance jet fuel is underway at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM). Utilizing advanced technologies
April 21, 2021 Read Full Article
U.S. Farmers and UN SDGs: A Market Access Opportunity – Part 1
by Jay Vroom (Trust In Food/America’s Conservation Ag Movement) ... Today’s farm and food sustainability is different—and it is real and lasting this time. It might be hard to see because almost every agribusiness and food company–along with a massive cross-section
April 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Three Big Trends in the Carbon Marketplace
by Rhonda Brooks (Farm Journal AgWeb) Agriculture has the potential to play a big role in carbon sequestration. -- As U.S. farmers evaluate carbon market opportunities available today, most have more questions than answers. “Farmers aren’t ready to jump in, because it’s
April 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Showcase Bioeconomy: Industrial Plants Make Unproductive Arable Land Profitable
(University of Hohenheim (Google translation)) European project with the participation of the University of Hohenheim researches how unprofitable fields with renewable raw materials can be used sustainably and with added value -- Unused potential: Around 65 million hectares of agricultural land
April 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Data Collection Project to Help Farmers Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by Leslie Reed (University of Nebraska–Lincoln/Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute/Nebraska Today) University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers affiliated with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute have received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to better quantify
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
3 Strategies to Accelerate Regenerative Product and Service Adoption
by Rebecca Bartels (Trust in Food) ... 1) They’re Meeting Producers Where They Are ... 2) They Speak Each Prospect’s Language ... For example, Trust In Food’s proprietary data show that farmers with a high affinity for carbon markets gravitate toward informational content
April 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Ag Wary of Biden's Carbon Bank
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) The Biden administration is facing skepticism on one of its most ambitious climate change initiatives: A multibillion-dollar bank to pay farmers to capture carbon. While some environmentalists view it as a positive sign of
March 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Feedstock Development, Production, Management: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Feedstock Innovations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From switchgrass, sorghum or sugarcane, feedstock development, genomics, and crops improvement abound with USDA’s help at the Biomass Research Center. Rob Mitchell, Research Leader and Research Agronomist at USDA ARS, shares all about the latest
March 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Managing On-Farm Plastic Waste and Growing the Bioeconomy
(Government of Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) ... Today (March 22, 2021) the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced funding of more than $4.5 million for five new projects that will improve plastic waste management and
March 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Vilsack: US Carbon Market Needs a Focus on Farmers
by Bill Tomson (Agri-Pulse) A priority for the USDA in the coming years will be judging the feasibility of setting up, executing and paying for a federal carbon bank to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reward them for their
March 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Checking Your Environmentals: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Wildlife & Natural Resource Considerations in Bioeconomy Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How to evaluate the economic and biological effects of bioenergy production and potential impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat? Certified Wildlife Biologist Dr. Susan Rupp shares how to look at the environmental impact of projects,
March 19, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Seeks Public Input on Climate-Smart Ag and Forestry Strategy DEADLINE April 30, 2021
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA on March 15 announced it is opening a 45-day public comment period to gather input on its climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, including several topics focused specifically on biofuels, bioproducts and renewable energy. The
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels Can Contribute Now to a Cleaner Energy Future
by Tom Daschle (Roll Call/The Daschle Group) Smart agriculture policy that has a role for ethanol can help advance Biden’s agenda on all fronts -- Growing up in South Dakota, agriculture has always been in my blood. For nearly three decades, I
February 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Hearing on Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry Sectors
(U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee) House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott delivered the following statement at today's hearing on Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry Sectors: ... Our farmers, ranchers, and forest managers understand these risks, and they
February 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Researchers Challenge the CRP Status Quo to Mitigate Fossil Fuels
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment/Phys.Org) ... (A)llocating CRP land for high-yielding energy biomass might eliminate the need for bioenergy crops and food crops to vie for space. A team led by CABBI Sustainability Theme Leader
February 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Illinois Soybean Growers Are Concerned about a New State Budget Proposal that Would Eliminate the Fuel Sales Tax Exemption for Biodiesel,
(Farm Progress/Prairie Farmer) What about biodiesel? Illinois soybean growers are concerned about a new state budget proposal from Gov. J.B. Pritzker that would eliminate the fuel sales tax exemption for biodiesel, which has existed since 2003. They say the policy has
February 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Agriculture Innovation: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Increase agricultural production while decreasing environmental footprint – that’s the goal in a nuthsell, but check out this slide guide on 5 key USDA themes, USDA’s latest innovation contributions like a new sustainable diesel fuel
February 19, 2021 Read Full Article
New Report: 21st Century Agriculture Renaissance: Solutions from the Land
(Solutions from the Land) “There has never been a greater need for an Agricultural Renaissance. The many voices of farmers, echoing across centuries of scarcity and abundance, challenge us to find new ways forward, paths that produce abundance for expanding populations
February 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Growing Interest in Carbon Markets Coming from All Sides
by Rhiannon Branch (Brownfield Ag News) Interest and growth in carbon market programs is booming. A recent ecosystem markets webinar hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership had more than 1600 participants registered with more than 600 questions submitted ahead of time. Speaker Kari Hernandez,
February 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Building the Evidence on Corn Ethanol’s Greenhouse Gas Profile
by Jan Lewandrowski (US Department of Agriculture) Over the past two decades, the demand for renewable fuels — including corn-based ethanol — has helped drive a strong domestic market for corn, and supported rural America by generating jobs (PDF, 1.5 MB). New research
February 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Carbon Markets Webinar: Everything Farmers Need to Know --- February 10, 2021
Curious how carbon markets can add new revenue streams to your farm? Hear from producers who are exploring the possibilities of carbon markets and learn the ins and outs from carbon-market experts and scientists. Soon you might earn a living not
February 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Land O'Lakes Sustainability Business Truterra Launches TruCarbon™, the First Farmer-Owned Carbon Program
(Truterra/PR Newswire) TruCarbon Promises Streamlined Experience for Farmers; Novel Approach for Buyers to Incentivize Change at Scale; TruCarbon Launching With Microsoft as First Secured Buyer -- Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business and subsidiary of Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's largest farmer-owned cooperatives,
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Two Biden Priorities, Climate and Inequality, Meet on Black-Owned Farms
by Hiroko Tabuchi and Nadja Popovich (New York Times) The administration has pledged to make agriculture a cornerstone of its plan to fight warming, but also to tackle a legacy of discrimination that has pushed Black farmers off the land. --
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Solutions from the Land Set to Stage Key Side Event For World Food Security Summit Next Week
(Solutions from the Land) Solutions from the Land (SfL) has been selected by organizers of a global food security summit next week to hold a side event which will spotlight systems and practices farmers are using to deliver high value solutions
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
US Dairy Farms Could Lower Net Emissions to Zero in Next Five Years
by Natasha Lasky (Our Daily Planet) ...A new study from the World Wildlife Fund found that in the next five years, US dairy farms have the potential to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions to zero. Milk has long been heralded as a superfood
January 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Can This Unlikely Duo Revive Rural America and Help the Planet? Joe Biden and Tom Vilsack Plan to Take Swift Action on Climate Change Proposals.
by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times/New York Times) ... Few took carbon sequestration seriously during his previous tenure, a time when “resilient agriculture” had not yet entered the vernacular. But the fundamental conversation in the corridors of power and along
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden's Carbon Farming Policy Must Heed Recent Lessons
by Jeffrey T. Manuel and Thomas D. Rogers (The Hill) President Biden has placed the Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the center of his administration’s focus on climate change. “We see farmers making American agriculture first in the world to achieve
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
2021 Trust In Food Symposium: Regenerative Reset --- February 23-25, 2021 --- ONLINE
How are US farmers and ranchers responding, and what’s ahead for agriculture? Out of the disruption of 2020, can a new system emerge that helps farmers move towards more regenerative practices, and add revenue streams from carbon markets and other
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Planting Crops — and Carbon, Too
by Gabriel Popkin (Washington Post) President Biden says farmers can adopt agricultural methods that help fight climate change. Maryland farmer Trey Hill has been trying. ... As the winter cover crops grow, they will feed microbes and improve the soil’s health, which
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
FAO and IRENA Join Forces to Boost Renewables in Food and Agriculture
(Food and Agriculture Organization) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have today underscored their continued commitment to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies in agri-food, fisheries and forestry chains
January 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Gevo Announces Net-Zero Project Concept
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (“Gevo”) (NASDAQ: GEVO), announces the concept of Net-Zero Projects for the production of energy dense liquid hydrocarbons using renewable energy and Gevo’s proprietary technology. The concept of a Net-Zero Project is to convert renewable energy (photosynthetic, wind, renewable
January 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Regenerative Ag: The No. 1 Food Trend of 2020
by Tom Karst (Farm Journal Ag Web) ... More global produce marketers and retailers are taking measures to become regenerative companies. In a post on the chain’s website, Whole Foods called regenerative agriculture the number one food trend of 2020. “Farmers, producers, academics,
January 12, 2021 Read Full Article
AI for the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Artificial Intelligence
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) UC Berkeley’s Dr. James Bentley Brown shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC Digital on pattern discovery, the multi-scale analytical requirements of the bioeconomy, examples from a biotic field trial in corn, how artificial intelligence
January 06, 2021 Read Full Article
12 Key Technologies to Watch in 2021: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Lux Research’s Foresight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Now is the time to look to the future and see what 2021 might hold for us and here to help with that is Lux Research’s top 12 emerging technologies to watch in 2021
January 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Stop Arguing over GMO Crops
by Sarah Garland (Scientific American) The vast majority of the scientific community agrees on both their safety and their potential to help feed the world sustainably -- ... In order for global agriculture to rapidly become more sustainable and climate resilient,
December 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Future of Farming: Chase to Capture Carbon as Another Revenue Stream
by Tyne Morgan (Farm Journal AgWeb) As a possible policy shift may put sustainable farming practices in the spotlight, companies are already paying farmers to shift to more "climate smart farming" like utilizing no-till as a production method. -- ... “Tom
December 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Shutdown Stopped, but Funding Fight Continues
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) However, the emerging package has drawn the ire of progressive and environmental justice groups who are urging Democrats to walk away and try again next Congress. "We have serious concerns about the prospects of the Senate
December 14, 2020 Read Full Article
FarmLab Thinks It Can Get 1m Farmers to Sequester 1bn Tonnes of CO2 by 2025. Here’s How
by Jack Ellis (Ag Funder News) ... He (FarmLab co-founder and CEO Sam Duncan) started FarmLab with co-founder and chief technology officer Shahriar Jamshidi in 2016 with the aim of making sampling on farms more efficient and wallet-friendly. Back then, it was
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- P.J. Griekspoor
"The time is right for ethanol advocates to make sure the right message gets to the right ears. What ethanol can provide is a high-octane additive that reduces the carbon footprint of not just the fuel burned in automobiles, but at
December 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Yara Announces World-Scale Green Ammonia Project
by Mary Page Bailey (Chemical Engineering) Yara International ASA (Oslo, Norway) has announced plans for 500,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of green ammonia production in Norway, powering emission-free shipping fuels and decarbonized food solutions. “Ammonia is the most promising hydrogen carrier and
December 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Solutions from the Land Unveils Video Showing the Solutions Farmers Can Offer to Meet Global Challenges
(Solutions from the Land) A 20-minute video presentation in which Solutions from the Land farmer leaders offer a vision of solutions that farming operations can deliver to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoted by UN member nations is now available
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Outlines 2021 Biofuel Policy Priorities
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor today outlined the biofuels industry’s top federal priorities for 2021, highlighting key measures that elected leaders must take to protect the climate, revitalize rural communities, and offer more consumers clean, affordable options
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis
(Office of Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR) U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. “In 2020 alone,
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Poll Shows Americans' Unwavering Trust in Farmers and Approval of Sustainability Practices
(AgriMarketing/American Farm Bureau Federation) A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers' sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Sets Agency Transition Teams
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) — The Biden transition named members of the teams that will guide the transfer of power inside federal agencies. — World leaders piled on the congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden this week, with many pledging to
November 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Combining Agricultural Emissions Reduction Policies to Balance Biodiversity Conservation and Food Security
(CIRAD) Sharing efforts between biofuel production, the transition to reduced-meat diets and the reforestation of pastures would be a far better option for tomorrow’s agriculture than focusing on just one of these strategies. This mix would simultaneously address the goals of
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Catalytic Capital and Agriculture Opportunities to Invest in Healthy Soils, Resilient Farms and a Stable Climate
(Environmental Defense Fund and Climate and Forest Capital) ... The purpose of the report is to highlight opportunities for catalytic capital to advance agricultural conservation, resilience and sustainability. In this report we define catalytic capital as capital intentionally deployed to
October 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Submission by Solutions from the Land on Behalf of the North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance In Response to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture
(Solutions from the Land) NACSAA 'Capstone Submission' Stresses CSA Is 'Foundational' to Global Agreement -- North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance has handed over its capstone submission into the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, the global platform for ag policy
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Plants Rule! Harnessing the Sun for a Negative-Carbon Bio-economy
(Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association) ... Among the Carbon-negative (and climate positive) solutions, those based on photosynthesis are by far the cheapest and most scalable options now, and likely for many decades to come. Properly implemented, these solutions can also provide
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Reducing Carbon Emissions in Agriculture: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Commodity Plus Carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Digital this summer, there was lots of talk about carbon. In this slide guide, GIC takes us on a learning journey about commodity plus carbon and how it monetizes carbon. What is CPC?
October 20, 2020 Read Full Article
What Ag Needs: Accelerating Technology to Secure The Future
by Jim Collins (Corteva Agriscience) ... “How can we increase investment in technology and innovation for high-impact, evidence-based solutions?” It made me think about the farmers we serve and how they – as stewards of the land – have a long history
October 20, 2020 Read Full Article
New Star-Studded Netflix Doc Suggests Regenerative Agriculture Will Solve the Climate Crisis — Exclusive
by Sophie Hirsch (Green Matters) To significantly mitigate the climate crisis, there are a lot of problems humans need to solve — and as the new Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground suggests, one of the biggest problems is right under your feet:
October 15, 2020 Read Full Article
From Farm to Product: How Agricultural Improvements Have Cross Sectoral Benefits
(BioChannel TV) This panel will discuss how a national clean fuel standard can directly incentivize innovative agricultural practices like biostimulants, alternative fertilizers, and crop enhancements to create a more sustainable supply chain not only for fuels, but also the wide
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A: How Regenerative Ag Benefits Farmers in General Mills’ Key Sourcing Regions
by Nate Birt (Farm Journal Ag Web) Over the past year, a wave of global food companies have transitioned their focus from sustainable to regenerative agriculture. General Mills—maker of Cheerios cereal, Yoplait yogurt, Nature Valley granola bars and Pillsbury desserts, among
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Action in U.S. Agriculture: A Compendium of Field to Market Member Climate Commitments
(Field to Market) ... Farmers find themselves at the center of the action—as a source of greenhouse gas emissions, a solution for carbon sequestration and the sector most at risk from increasingly volatile weather. It is more apparent than ever before
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
The Protection Election, in a Year of Choices: Trump v Biden, Law-and-Order v Defund-the-Police, Border Walls v Bridges, and Even Crop Protection Care of FMC, Zymergen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of biotechnology, it’s the same, which is to say that everyone wants protection, but no one agrees on ‘protection against what?’ Some people want to be protected against famine, disease, resource depletion
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA Seeks Input on ‘Ready-to-Go’ Tech and Practices for Agriculture Innovation Agenda DEADLINE: November 9, 2020
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) United States Department of Agriculture is on a quest for public- and private-sector input on the most innovative technologies and practices that can be readily deployed across U.S. agriculture, making this a very broad opportunity
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
12 Emerging Technologies: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to WBCSD’s Innovations to Transform 2020-2030
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The World Business Council for Sustainable Development just published an issue brief as part of a series of interim outputs linked to WBCSD’s current refresh of its Vision 2050. Here are highlights from the report, highlighting 5
September 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Proactively Leveraging Ethanol’s Low-Carbon Value
by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Merely playing defense on the RFS does not constitute a plan to expand ethanol demand. We need to go on offense because it is a matter of when, not if, Congress
September 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Farmers Business Network to Spin Out New Venture to Track Carbon Footprints of Crops And Help Farmers Make More for Low-Carbon Ones
by Amy Feldman (Forbes) Agtech unicorn Farmers Business Network is spinning out a new sustainable farming company, called GRO Network, that will track and score the carbon footprint of specific crops down to the bushel and allow farmers to make more
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Expert Q&A: Negative Emissions & Environmental Assessment Could Help Save the Planet
by Anthony J. Campanella (State University College at Buffalo/Planet Forward) George Washington University recently hosted a daylong workshop for NGOs on carbon dioxide removal and negative emissions. ... One of the experts presenting at the event, Stanford University senior research scientist
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Announces $16.5 Million for Technologies Supporting the Biofuels Supply Chain
(U.S. Department of Energy/ARPA-E) Today, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy announced $16.5 million in funding for six projects as part of the Systems for Monitoring and Analytics for Renewable Transportation Fuels from Agricultural Resources and Management (SMARTFARM) program. These projects will
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
WIU School of Agriculture Part of Second Pennycress Research Grant
(Western Illinois University) Just 12 months after Western Illinois University Agriculture Professor Win Phippen announced the award of a $10 million federal grant to investigate the use of Pennycress as a commercial cash crop, a second grant has been awarded
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Phenotyping and Trait Predictions: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sorghum as Energy Crop
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Take genotype + environment + management practices and you’ve got phenotyping, a measurable characteristic or trait of a plant. In this case, we look at sorghum from Purdue University’s Dr. Melba Crawford and how they are
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Regenerative Farming: Let’s Look Forward, Not Backward
by John Fargher (AgFunderNews/AgriWebb) Regenerative farming has often been a controversial topic – largely due to confusion regarding its true definition. Some believe that it involves a return to pre-industrial farming techniques, and fear it’s about pursuing sustainability instead of profits. This
August 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Climate Crisis Committee Report Supports Biofuels in New Report
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) ... The new report – which comes after dozens of hearings, meetings, and input from experts, labor unions, mayors, environmental justice leaders, and native communities, among others – details how bold climate action from Congress can
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Till, Baby, Till – $13M DOE Grant Advances New High-Value Feedstock, Pennycress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a five-year, $13 million grant to a nationwide research project to genetically strengthen Thlaspi arvense, commonly known as pennycress, for use in sustainable energy efforts. CoverCress is an
August 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Project Drawdown: Carbon Sequestration and the Role of Sustainable Agriculture in a Carbon-Negative Future --- September 29, 2020 --- Online free
Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association's Upcoming Events. All welcome! Tuesday, September 29 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Presented Online in Zoom Meeting -- Free & Open to the Public (registration required) To register, click here Click Here After registering, you will receive a confirmation
August 24, 2020 Read Full Article
New Soil Models May Ease Atmospheric CO2, Climate Change
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) ... In an article published in Nature Geoscience, Cornell University's Johannes Lehmann and others wrote that scientists should develop new models that more accurately reflect the carbon-storage processes beneath our feet in order to effectively
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
IEA Plan Looks to Biofuels to Help Rebuild Post-COVID World
(Solutions from the Land) As dire as the COVID-19 pandemic appears today, there are many who are looking beyond the crisis, exploring ways not only to recover from this tragedy, but to rebuild our capabilities to an even higher level beyond
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Historic $900 Million Offtake Deal with Trafigura Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Gevo entered into a long term, take or pay Renewable Hydrocarbons Purchase and Sale Agreement with Trafigura Group, the largest contract in Gevo’s history. Trafigura is one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Turn to Rural Issues: Rural, Midwest Democrats Promote Infrastructure and Divergent Strategy From Trump Years
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Parsing the Climate Message
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention featured a lengthy 11-minute take on Joe Biden's climate and clean energy strategy that hammered home some of his big themes rather than the wonky details (which you
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Biogenic Emissions: Credit Where It’s Due
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The push to alter biogenic emissions regulations could boost corn farming and ethanol production while cementing the role of biobased solutions in the fight against climate change. Political inertia, however, remains the primary barrier
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Durbin Introduces Bill To Fund A Clean Climate Future
(Office of Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)) Today (August 7, 2020), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of America’s Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy, achieve critical reductions in
August 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Building a Biobased Economy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BIO in a Post-COVID-19 World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Digital in July, Stephanie Batchelor, Vice President of the Industrial & Environmental Section at Biotechnology Innovation Organization shared this illuminating slide guide on how BIO is advocating for a resilient future, promoting LCFS
August 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Carbon-Optimized Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ARPA-E’s Carbon Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Carbon is the talk of the town, but what’s the difference between a low-carbon economy and a renewable “new” carbon economy? What’s the role of carbon management in the bioeconomy? What is carbon optimized bioconversion? David Babson,
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
How to Tackle Climate Change, Food Security and Land Degradation
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance News) Some lesser-known options, such as integrated water management and increasing the organic content of soil, have fewer trade-offs than many well-known options, such as planting trees, according to a Rutgers-led study in the journal Global
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Pivotal Research Discovers Practices, Technologies Key to Sustainable Farming
by Anna Marie Tomczyk (Argonne National Laboratory/Phys.Org) ... The practices that grain farmers use to produce their crops—managing fertility, tillage practice and crop rotations—influence the overall carbon footprint of U.S. agriculture. By using sustainable practices, farmers could substantially reduce their
July 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Bayer Takes Steps to Make Carbon Sequestration a Farmer’s Newest Crop Opportunity
(Bayer) Bayer to reward growers to generate carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices and creating a new revenue stream on-farm / The initiative makes Bayer the first company to develop a transparent, science-based and collaborative approach to a carbon market
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
New Nature Economy Report: The Future of Nature and Business
( World Economic Forum New Nature Economy Report) ... The World Economic Forum’s NNER series set out to highlight the materiality of nature loss for businesses, what transitions are needed to move towards a nature-positive economy and how businesses can
July 20, 2020 Read Full Article
The NEGEM Project – Assessing the Realistic Potential of Carbon Dioxide Removal and Its Contribution to Achieving Climate Neutrality
(NEGEM) ● Reducing GHG emissions continues to be the main priority in climate change mitigation, but carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere (CDR) is increasingly seen as a necessary supplement to traditional emission cuts. ● The NEGEM project will quantify the
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Polling Shows Importance of Engaging Ag Leaders In Discussions on Climate Change
(Solutions from the Land) Using the findings from focus groups and national polling data, researchers have found that while climate change attitudes are polarized across this nation's urban/rural divide, there are more broadly popular policies that incentivize the contribution that agriculture
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
eEUBCE (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) Highlights; Videos Available until September
5 July 2020 Opening Highlights The first ever entirely virtual edition of the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition started today with the opening session streamed online. This year’s theme of the EUBCE is the role of the bioeconomy in the post-pandemic
July 15, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Ways to Reduce Costs in Integrated Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Enabling Lower-Cost Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released a new report that outlines five specific, yet broadly applicable, areas of focus to reduce costs in an integrated biorefinery. This analysis builds upon ongoing R&D strategies to lower
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
California Dairy Sustainability Summit --- November 5-6, 2020 --- ONLINE
California’s dairy families are leading the way in developing sustainable, planet-smart farming practices. Join us to gain insight into the policies, strategies and technologies that are driving innovation and helping dairy farmers in California and across the globe as they
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America Majority Staff Report: Is It Worth Supporting?
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA/Atlantic Biomass, LLC) Today the US House of Representatives Democratic Select Committee on Climate Change released their ideas for a “Clean Energy Economy.” Interestingly, this document is not proposed legislation. Instead, it is simply a
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Select Committee Democrats Releases 'Solving The Climate Crisis', A Congressional Roadmap For Ambitious Climate Action
(House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis) Plan Would Put Americans Back To Work, Save Lives, And Help the United States Reach Net Zero By 2050 -- On Tuesday, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL), members of the House Select Committee
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
NACSAA Submits Policy Recommendations to Senate Climate Crisis Panel
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) submitted last week a detailed set of policy and program recommendations to the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The submission, which was made in response
June 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Smart Farms of the Future: Making Bioenergy Crops More Environmentally Friendly
by Julie Chao (Joint BioEnergy Institute) Farmers have enough worries – between bad weather, rising costs, and shifting market demands – without having to stress about the carbon footprint of their operations. But now a new set of projects by scientists at
June 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Solutions from the Land's Letter to Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis
(Solutions from the Land) In response to a call for input from the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis for input on tools, programs, and support useful to address the impacts of severe weather and climate change on
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Mitigation Potential of Agricultural Conservation Practices Is Significant!
(Solutions from the Land) A blog posted on the World Resources Institute (WRI) website last month dismissed the potential for regenerative agriculture and related systems to contribute to large-scale emissions reduction and carbon dioxide (CO2) removal - cuts that will
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Solutions from the Land: Ag Solutions to Global Mega-Challenges (NACSAA Update 6/9/2020)
This webinar update explores global and national innovation and policy pathways to better enable farmers, ranchers and foresters to adopt climate smart ag systems to deliver solutions to the co-joined mega challenges of the day: climate change, food security, ecosystems
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Natural Climate Solution Policies For Rural America
(BioCycle Magazine) A new report from Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions examines effective strategies to engage America’s farmers, ranchers and forestry stakeholders who are vital to solving climate change. “Rural Investment: Building a Natural Climate Solutions Policy Agenda
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
In Rare Bipartisan Bill, U.S. Senators Tackle Climate Change via Agriculture
by Valerie Volcovici (Reuters/Yahoo!) U.S. senators on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the Agriculture Department to help farmers, ranchers and landowners use carbon dioxide-absorbing practices to generate carbon credits, a rare collaboration on climate change. The proposed Growing Climate
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Smart Farms of the Future: Making Bioenergy Crops More Environmentally Friendly
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Berkeley Lab launches three new projects to advance sustainable agricultural practices ... The three projects, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), leverage Berkeley Lab’s strengths in artificial intelligence, sensors, and ecological biology.
June 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Is No One Talking about Agriculture as a Solution to Climate Change?
by Karn Manhas (Terramera/AgFunder News) ... Far less attention has been paid to agriculture’s capacity to be a climate solution. How? Through the production and maintenance of healthy living soil. The world’s soils contain 2,500 gigatons of carbon — more than three times more
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Could We Develop Plants to Absorb Our Excess Carbon? Salk Plant Biologists Have a Bold Solution to Climate Change
(Massive Science/The Salk Institute) ... Plants — historically speaking, our most reliable friends — have evolved to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide. They use energy from the sun to convert CO2 and water into sugar and other important molecules,
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Amid Oil Price Crash, a New Hope for Biofuels
by Tina Casey (Triple Pundit) ... (T)there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of biofuels, as the field continues to evolve remarkably from where it was a decade ago. ... Rather than letting the rest of the plant go to waste, the
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Leading with Soil: Scaling Soil Carbon Storage in Agriculture
(Carbon 180) Soil carbon storage offers significant economic and environmental opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Agricultural practices that store carbon in the soil can help fight climate change at a low cost. Those same practices can also improve overall soil
May 13, 2020 Read Full Article
SfL Takes on New Role to Advance Agricultural Solutions to Global Mega-Challenges
(Solutions from the Land) Solutions from the Land (SfL), a national, farmer-led not-for-profit that works to place farmers at the forefront of resolving global challenges, announced today that it is broadly expanding its mission to combat the interconnected threats the world
May 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Webtool Created by Researchers Helps Predict Climate Change in Agriculture
(Estonian Research Council/Phys.Org) A webtool giving an overview of climate change in Europe and predicting subsequent developments was created as a joint collaboration between French, Spanish, German and Estonian researchers. Climate change is one of the main challenges facing the entire world,
May 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Cargill-Led Fund to Pay U.S. Farmers for Carbon Capture, Exchange Credits
by Karl Plume (Reuters) Global commodities trader Cargill Inc [CARG.UL] starting this spring will pay American farmers for capturing carbon in their field soils and cutting fertilizer runoff, an executive said. The Soil & Water Outcomes Fund, a partnership with
May 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Draft Soil Enrichment Protocol Incentivizes Carbon Storage Public Comment DEADLINE: May 18, 2020
by Sally Brown (University of Washington/BioCycle Magazine) The Climate Action Reserve (CAR) released a first draft of its new Soil Enrichment Protocol (SEP) on April 17th that gives carbon credits for regenerative farming practices. The purpose of the protocol — available
April 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Don’t Look to Mature Forests to Soak Up Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Results of Australian Study May Have Impact on New York State Carbon Neutrality Goals
(Suny College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Research published today in Nature suggests mature forests are limited in their ability to absorb "extra" carbon as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations increase. These findings may have implications for New York state's carbon neutrality
April 23, 2020 Read Full Article
NACSAA Submits Livestock, Food Security Policy Recommendations to Global Negotiators
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA), working in partnership with Solutions from the Land (SfL), filed today its latest Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) submissions to global climate negotiators. Farmer-led work groups formulated 35 recommendations
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Boom: ZeaKal Boosts Soybean Oil Output by 18%, Protein up 3%, No Drop in Yield
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... ZeaKal, which announced that its multiyear field trials of its PhotoSeed technology – and their soybeans increased the per acre production of oil and protein by 18 percent and three percent respectively without any penalty
April 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate-Smart Agricultural Policy Requires Reformed Incentives to Minimize Emissions
(Natural Resources Institute Finland/Phys.Org) Post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must safeguard and stimulate the preservation of carbon-rich soils through protection of peatlands. Functional peatlands are the most space efficient long-term carbon store and sink in our planet's biosphere. However, croplands on peat
April 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Great Plains Institute’s Latest Report: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to A Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The Midwestern Clean Fuels Initiative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, is a broad coalition of fuels producers and marketers, nonprofit and research organizations, scientists and engineers, and agriculture and industry stakeholders. The coalition