January 11, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Agri Investor covers three key trends in impact investing. Read about it, here.

Spotlight 2 – Food Business News continues the discussion on how the boom in GLP-1 drugs will auger food industry disruption. Check out the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Western Producer says that peer groups may be the key pathway for farmers improving their soil health. Check it out, here.

Industry Updates

Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a groundbreaking way to re-engineer plants to withstand extreme heat, offering a glimmer of hope for agriculture in the face of a warming planet. In the Plant Biotechnology Journal study, the reengineering process involved altering a key plant enzyme called glycerate 3-kinase, or GLYK. This enzyme plays a crucial role in photorespiration, a process plants rely on to recycle waste products from photosynthesis. Under moderate weather conditions, photorespiration helps plants grow. But when temperatures rise, the enzyme struggles to keep up, weakening the plant. The Walker lab at Michigan State University is tackling this issue by making plants better equipped to survive in high temperatures. To do so, researchers studied enzymes that can tolerate high heat in photosynthetic organisms like Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a type of algae that thrives in acidic volcanic hot springs. Looking at the algae's enzymes, researchers identified unique structural features, or "loops," that allow these enzymes to work under extreme temperatures. From there, the team used advanced tools like artificial intelligence and molecular dynamics simulations to transfer the loops into the GLYK enzyme. [link]

An executive order signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom instructs state agencies to recommend potential actions to limit the harms associated with ultra-processed foods and food ingredients that pose health risks to consumers. One specific action mentioned in the executive order is the placement of warning labels on products identified as ultra processed and sold in the state. In addition to requesting recommendations to limit the harms associated with ultra-processed foods, the executive order said the state will continue investigating the adverse health impact of synthetic food dyes; recommend actions to reduce the purchase of soda, candy, other ultra-processed foods and/or foods with synthetic food dyes or other additives; and identify how California may adopt higher school meal standards. The California Department of Public Health is expected to provide its recommendations by April 1 while the California Department of Education has until Oct. 1 to make its recommendations for higher school meal standards. [link]

Regenera Ventures has secured $9.3 million in funding to expand regenerative agriculture practices in Mexico. It aims to raise $25 million to work with a dozen agriculture companies while supporting 18,000 farmers with financing and technical assistance. Regenera inked commitments of $5.3 million from the InterAmerican Development Bank, through its IDB Lab program, and the Green Climate Fund. The US International Development Finance Corp. committed $4 million to the fund. Regenera Ventures makes equity investments in regenerative land projects using “trust-based finance” – investment terms that it co-creates with its investees. The goal is to help farmers shift to regenerative practices that will restore biodiversity and improve the health of their land, while also building new income streams, including new farm products and carbon credits. [link]

An innovative program to enable supply chains to reward farmers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is now open to British farmers. Developed by Soil Association Exchange, the new Exchange Market will operate as an insetting fund without any sales of carbon credits. Instead, it will pool funds from a range of companies with shared supply chains to pay farmers to reduce emissions. Support to develop the scheme has been given by Lloyds who have helped to convene key retailers and landowners including the Co-Op, Lidl, Tesco and the Church Commissioners for England to contribute to the fund. The fund has been co-developed with technical experts Finance Earth. Farmers participating in the scheme can earn £60 per ton of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) reduced annually, with half of payments provided upfront to help fund their transitions. [link]

Farmers and ranchers wanting to gain training in regenerative whole-farm planning, business management, grazing systems, and ecosystem services will have the opportunity to attend a Holistic Management intensive course Feb 4-9 at Sharon Springs, Kansas. Attendees may apply for a $1,000 scholarship through event partner Kiss the Ground, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that supports regenerative agriculture. The course will provide the full Holistic Management accreditation curriculum in affiliation with the Savory Institute, Boulder. Offered by The Provenance Co., a regenerative ranch management company, the course will be taught by working land and livestock managers who lead the company’s pilot project at Wallace, Kansas. The project is trialing a real-world financial model for transition from dryland crops back to grassland, in the heart of declining aquifer country. [link]

Farmers are feeling the pinch of fertilizer prices, especially with high phosphorus costs. AGVISE Soil scientist John Breker says farmers are asking how much they can cut back on their phosphorus use without hurting yields. Breker advises testing soils and then focusing cuts on fields with high phosphorus levels while maintaining applications on low-testing fields. [link]

The Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture at Virginia Tech enrolled over 1,300 farms representing more than 202,000 acres in the first year of a landmark project that incentivizes agricultural producers in four states to adopt climate-smart practices. The project, led by Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and funded by a historic $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a three-year national pilot program that aims to enroll 4,500 producers representing over 470,000 acres of farmland in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Virginia. At least 40 percent of the program’s participants – or more than 1,800 – will be historically underserved producers. Producers on farms of all sizes and commodities receive $100 an acre or animal unit to implement sustainable practices that can boost crop yields, build climate resilience, and protect soil, water, and air quality. [link]

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and the ARS’s Partnership for Data Innovations (PDI) have launched a new web-based application to facilitate digital soil mapping and optimize soil sampling. Effective soil management relies on understanding the various factors that drive soil productivity, including pH levels, nutrient variability and organic soil carbon. Soil sampling has emerged as a valuable tool in advancing precision farming, particularly in today's changing climate and the growing need to monitor carbon footprint in agriculture. The Soil Sample Planning Organizer Tool (SSPOT) is a user-friendly tool with integrated algorithms to help users determine the optimal placement of samples needed to comprehensively understand soil activity in various soil types over time. The integrated algorithms simplify the process for non-experts and ultimately saves land managers, producers, and soil researchers both time and money. [link]

Neste and Bayer have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a winter canola ecosystem in the U.S, including identifying partners and developing the value chain together, and scaling winter canola production as a raw material for renewable products. Winter canola, used as a rotational crop in combination with regenerative agriculture practices, can improve soil health and sequester carbon, contributing to more sustainable farming. The resulting lower carbon intensity raw material can then be used to produce renewable fuels like sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle compared to fossil fuels. [link]

A nasty dose of winter weather has pummeled much of the U.S. from Kansas to the East Coast, leaving many Americans to dig out of the blizzard — including farmers. Biting wind and big drifts from almost a whole year’s average snowfall in a single storm are hitting farmers in some parts of Kansas, creating concerns for ranchers that manage grazing herds. Chip Redmond, a meteorologist at Kansas State University, has developed an animal comfort tool which includes an index of heat and cold that a farmer can use — along with their knowledge of their animals’ age, coat, overall health and so forth — to watch for situations when they may need to get animals out of dangerous areas. The storm missed some states further north like Iowa and Minnesota that are generally more accustomed to snow. Without snow cover, the ground is more likely to freeze and thaw in a way that could benefit soils. Two years of drought followed by torrential rains last spring created tire ruts and compaction from farm machinery in some places. Without as much snow, the freeze-thaw cycle could loosen up the soil and farmers may get the added bonus of some pests dying off before the spring. [link]

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced 27 grants totaling $14.7 million to support the implementation of voluntary conservation practices on farms and ranches across 21 states from the Midwest to western grasslands. The grants will leverage approximately $7 million in matching contributions from grantees, generating a total impact of $21.7 million. This marks the largest grant slate from the Conservation Partners Program, fueled by continued, historic investments from program partners. The Conservation Partners Program is a partnership between NFWF and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The J.M. Smucker Co., and additional support from a collaboration among General Mills, Walmart and Sam’s Club. Grant recipients will hire or support field professionals to directly collaborate with agricultural producers to implement economically sound management practices and increase delivery of Farm Bill conservation programs. Projects will also facilitate peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing centered on regenerative agriculture systems. [link]

According to a 2024 survey from McKinsey, Brazilian farmers expect extreme weather events to be their biggest threat going forward, relative to rising input costs that were a chief concern two years ago. The result is greater caution, with two-thirds of Brazilian producers expecting profits to remain stable or decrease in 2024, according to the survey. To navigate the challenges they face, Brazilian farmers are focusing on what can be controlled within farm gates: increasing productivity. Indeed, 60 percent of farmers surveyed say they see productivity as the key to a more profitable future. [link]

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited, has inaugurated a cutting-edge tree nursery at the Kakajan Tea Estate in Jorhat, Assam, India. The nursery will support local and national climate change mitigation goals by increasing plant production to sequester carbon, while utilizing the latest agroforestry tools to enhance the resilience of Assam’s farming systems. Kakajan Tea Estate, owned by Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited, a part of the Tata Group, is India's second-largest tea producer. Set to become a central hub in the state for the large-scale propagation of indigenous tree species, the nursery has the capacity to produce one million healthy plants annually, significantly contributing to the state’s carbon sink. [link]

Flowers Foods announced that it will acquire Simple Mills for $795 million in cash. The addition of Simple Mills expands Flowers' exposure to better-for-you and attractive snacking segments and enhances the company's growth and margin prospects. Founded in 2012 by Katlin Smith, Simple Mills is a market-leading natural brand offering premium better-for-you crackers, cookies, snack bars, and baking mixes. Simple Mills products are available nationwide across more than 30,000 natural and conventional stores. Simple Mills is estimated to have generated 2024 net sales of $240 million, representing 14% growth compared to the prior year. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-December, the University of Minnesota Extension partnered with the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project to build a regional dataset of cover crop performance across Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. See more, here.

December 21, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

December 14, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

December 7, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

November 30, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

November 23, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

November 16, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

November 9, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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

November 2, 2024

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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