Here we go! In a move that’s been anticipated for months, USDA Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced the next step in the Administration’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture. There have been broad hints that the agency was looking to tap the Commodity Credit Corporation’s mandate to build and expand markets for U.S. agriculture as a tool for financing climate-smart agriculture. The new initiative – The Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative – is currently short on detail. But the Administration’s announcement noted that the Partnership could support a set of pilot projects that incentivize, quantify and monitor the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart conservation practices on working lands. This comes against a backdrop of wrangling on Capitol Hill as Democrats try to navigate passage of a broad “Build Back Better” agenda that includes historic levels of investment for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Add to that recent announcements from Cargill and Rabobank launching voluntary carbon programs for farmers, and the feeling of momentum being built is palpable. The most encouraging sign for me, though, is producer sentiment. At Trust In Food™, we’re tracking producer awareness, sentiment, and triggers for participating in carbon programming and are seeing cautious optimism and interest. Clearly, there’s a lot a work ahead before the potential of climate-smart ag carbon markets is realized. But it is an exciting time to be in the space. Do you have experience and an interest in being on the front lines of supporting the uptake of climate-smart ag practices and programs? We’re hiring – check out the new opportunities here! Yours in regenerative ag, Amy Skoczlas Cole
Executive Vice President
Trust In Food™, a Farm Journal initiative
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