1、Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionGlobal Insight Series 2024Climate Smart FarmingClick here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionThanks to Our SponsorsThank you to our sponsorsClick here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionSmart Farmi

2、ng toCombat a ShiftingClimateExtreme weather is.no longer all that extreme.Stay with me.“Extreme”is indicative that an event is an outlier,but more and more often,were seeing patternsemerge in which intense weather events arebecoming the norm,not the exception.This iswhat were referring to as climat

3、e change or ashifting climate.Were seeing less predictableseasons,droughts,wildfires,floods,hurricanes,and tornadoes at a pace and a level that,frankly,were not used to.The term“Climate Smart Farming”refers toagricultural practices and systems that areresilient to these intense weather conditions,mi

4、tigate greenhouse gas emissions,and aim forfood security and sustainable development.Itinvolves implementing strategies that not onlyadapt to changing conditions,but also lessenthe impact of agriculture on the climate andslow down the increase in severe weather.Harnessing innovative technologies,fun

5、ding,and research advancements play a crucial rolein Climate Smart Farming.This includes among other efforts utilizing precisionagriculture tools for efficient resourcemanagement,adopting remote sensingtechniques for monitoring and early warningsystems,and developing climate-resilient cropvarieties

6、through breeding and biotechnology.In this report,we dive into the ways thattechnology is advancing the agriculture industryin regard to Climate Smart Farming.The Global Insight SeriesReports are designed to giveyou the best possibleexperience on any device.See the video below to learnhow to navigat

7、e throughstories.Continue reading on next page Smart Farmingto Combat aShiftingClimateBy Heather Tunstall,Corporate ContentDirector,Brand Media&Engagement,Meister Media WorldwideSpecifically,youll learn about:Thanks to the digital nature of this interactiveplatform,you can read analysis and informat

8、ionprovided by our expert contributors and alsohear directly from them through video insights.Not sure where to go from here?Weve got youcovered with a quick guide to help you navigatethis digital report.Simply watch the brief Howto Use this Report video at the beginning of thisHow Taylor Farms appr

9、oachessustainability with intention,science,and a mix of traditional and innovativetechniquesA multifaceted strategy helpingCalifornias wine-grape growers adaptto extreme weatherThe role of retailers(and suppliers)inregenerative agricultureCurrent incentives and efforts involvedin sustainable cotton

10、 farmingHow Climate Smart growing can be awin-win in the greenhouse with costsavings tied to sustainable effortsto Use this Report video at the beginning of thisarticle.This report is our first of 2024.We also inviteyou to catch up on our previous Global InsightSeries Reports on Labor,Soil Health,Bi

11、ologicalCrop Protection,Water,Technology&Sustainability,and Plant Health.We appreciate your feedback on these reportsand your suggestions on future topics youd liketo see covered.We look forward to hearing fromyou!Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionTaylor Farms MakesSen

12、se of SustainabilityHigh-intensity cropping systems like those youfind on Californias Central Coast require precisetiming,highly coordinated labor schedules,andstrong management.For the cool-climatevegetable ranches that populate this area,introducing new systems,no matter howdesirable,has ripple ef

13、fects.Taylor Farms,headquartered in Salinas,CA,takes sustainability seriously,however,and isdevoting itself to fully understanding all aspectsof conservation farming.With that insight,it willbe able to meet its dual goals of good business(and yields)and improving the industrysTaylor FarmsMakes Sense

14、ofSustainabilityBy Carol Miller,Editor,American VegetableGrower(and yields)and improving the industrysenvironmental footprint.How?One good example can be found in how itis handling cover crops.Central Coast fields can certainly benefit fromthe break cover crops offer.But its not assimple as it seems

15、.For one,it takes a while fora cover crop to establish before it offers itsbeneficial qualities,says Kim Horton,AgronomyManager at Taylor Farms.Then you have tosqueeze it into the normal long season theregion allows.“We can have three crops in a field during oneseason,”Horton says.“Managers are worr

16、iedabout their planting schedules getting disruptedabout their planting schedules getting disruptedby adding a cover crop,or trying to think throughthe incorporation process,how to turn it in.”Operations also need to shift years of practicesto accommodate for labor and machinery.Mostfarms on the Cen

17、tral Coast are large,andtapping into the resources needed is no smalltask.“We have to function as a successful businessoperation.There has to be a simplicity to howwe handle cover crops,”Horton says.Thats just what Horton and her colleagues atTaylor Farms are figuring out.Today,almost15%of Taylor Fa

18、rms fields make use of lushcover crops.That figure was less than 5%justthree years ago.To make cover cropping work,Taylor Farms ispooling its considerable talent to betterToday,almost 15%of TaylorFarms fields make use of lushcover crops.That figure was lessthan 5%just three years ago.pooling its con

19、siderable talent to betterunderstand exactly how cover crops help them.A three-person team is leading the charge.Taylor brought in Horton,an agronomistrenowned for her practical and scientificapproach to assessing new methods andproducts,in July of 2022.John McKeon,Director of Organic Integrity and

20、Compliance,iscurrently investigating regenerative farmpractices and certifications.Wyatt Maysey,Director of Sustainability,sees a need forquantifying sustainable methods and haslaunched a years-long quest to collect data oncover crops and other methods that can beexpertly analyzed.The first step to

21、a successful cover cropprogram?Getting started.Conservation Is the Future“The future is to conserve and be moresustainable,”Horton says.“Thats whats reallyimportant.To improve our soils and to improvesoil health over time by employing cover crops.”Ag Order 4.0,a strict conservationruling by the loca

22、l water board,limits agricultural operators use ofnitrogen fertilizers.Growers want that future whether or not theyredealing with stringent local and stateregulations.Those regulations and increaseddemands certainly accelerate adopting newmethods,however.“Ag Order 4.0 had a very strict approach toni

23、trogen reduction,and that got a lot of peoplesattention,”McKeon says.“At a 40,000-foot level,SPM sustainable pest management,covercropping,nitrogen reduction,and conservationare all heading us in the right way.”Ag Order 4.0,a strict conservation ruling by thelocal water board,limits agricultural ope

24、ratorsuse of nitrogen fertilizers.The Order wasappealed to the State,and the States decisionon the appeal requires certain amendments tothe Order,although the goal of reducing nitrogenfertilizer inputs and outputs remain the same.Assessing What WorksEven as Maysey takes the long view forunderstandin

25、g how the operations sustainablemethods impact soil,yields,disease,etc.,theteam is already finding great results.The Salinas Valley saw flooding rains in thespring of 2023,creating havoc in the region.“Ranch managers saw the difference last yearbetween non-cover cropped versus covercropped lots.Thos

26、e with cover crops had thisability to hold soil,”McKeon says.“Theyre like,Geez,notice how that water just zipped rightthrough that ground but seemed to hold prettywell where we had established cover crops.”The fields with cover crops dried down well,despite the excessive water.Because of thecover cr

27、op being there and having roots in thecover crop being there and having roots in theground,the infiltration was much better than anadjacent field that was bare ground,McKeonsays.The record-breaking rainfall also exposed a riskto cover cropping.When Ag Order 4.0 was inplace in 2022,it promised credit

28、s for two covercrops,Pacheco triticale and Merced rye.Once she learned the Ag Order wasin flux,Horton experimented with awider range of cover crops.“I said,okay,lets plant as many fields with thosetwo types as possible so were very comfortablewith those,”Horton says.It worked well until the flooding

29、 rains hit.“Theycouldnt get into the field in a timely manner.So,it set seed and became a weed for the next year.Even more than it being a weed,it had such ahigh carbon-to-nitrogen ratio that it wasntbreaking down.”The main culprit was the rye.The Taylor Farmsteam found Pacheco triticale breaks down

30、team found Pacheco triticale breaks downmore easily.Once she learned the Ag Order wasin flux,Horton experimented with a wider rangeof cover crops.She already had experiencecombining legumes and grasses,like vetch andtriticale,so she had various ranch managers putit in.“The grass is upright,and then

31、the legumejust climbs around it beautifully,”Horton says.Since Taylor Farms already grows peas,shedidnt want a pea cover crop(and denying thema rotating crop).Vetch is a different legumegenus,she says.The ranch managers reported good results,shesays.“We also have a ranch where we did thetriticale an

32、d vetch on the beds,then put clover inthe furrows.The idea behind that is in season,well be able to also grow our cash crops on thebeds and then have the furrows covered withclover,”Horton says.She hopes having roots in the furrows will opensome eyes about better infiltration.And perhapsfewer passes

33、 in the season,keeping the soilopen.Kim Horton anchors all her sustainable trialing in thereality of a working farm.Photo:Taylor FarmsHorton is also trialing mustards,which themanagers also gave good reports on.Onemustard they tried,Caliente Rojo,has highglucosinolates(GSL)that can suppresspathogens

34、.That particular variety is currently inthe fields,so results are still pending.“The onlydownside to it is we grow a lot of brassicacrops,so were not getting that rotation werereally striving for with mustard cover crops,”Horton says.Overall,here are the cover crop featuresHorton values:Other Sustai

35、nable EffortsCover cropping is just one tool Taylor Farmsadopted to attain a more sustainable productionAggressive root structures to break upcompacted soil or hardpan.Salt-tolerant varieties,due to the soilsalinity common in the Central Coast.Dense cover to shade out weeds.The main goal remains bio

36、mass androots in the ground.adopted to attain a more sustainable productionpractice.There are a number of optionsavailable that most growers would benefit frominvestigating.Minimum tillage practices.In fields wherebroccoli crops move onto Romaine,TaylorFarms uses a new piece of equipment thatknocked

37、 down its turns from eight to three.Itworked well enough that the manager did nothave to pre-irrigate for the next planting.Biologicals.Maysey says Taylor Farms usesbiological control products and is figuring outhow much it can help reduce synthetic controls.“Thats a big one for us,because were soin

38、tense,”Maysey says.Owl boxes.Taylor Farms purchased 50 owlboxes and uses them on various ranches thathave riparian areas where the owl boxes can beplaced,Horton says.Between those open spaces filledwith native plants and the in-fieldinsectary plants,beneficials have arefuge.Insectary Plantings.“Ive

39、incorporated insectaryplantings throughout our vegetable fields,so thebeneficial insects have islands of plants to go tothroughout the field and can really reproduceand get a life cycle and beneficial populationgoing,”Horton says.“So,when the pests comein,theyre there immediately to decrease thepest

40、 population.Natural beneficials.Taylor Farms is using thebeneficial insect drone company Parabug todrop lacewings,parasitic wasps,and otherbeneficials on the crops.Horton is also doingher best to attract naturally occurringher best to attract naturally occurringbeneficials.One way is to use open spa

41、cesmore intentionally.Between those open spaces filled with nativeplants and the in-field insectary plants,beneficials have a refuge.“When they decimate the pest population,theywill they have a place to go to and continuethriving and having pollen and nectar tocontinue their life cycle,”Horton says.

42、Thats because there can be a downside tousing beneficial insects.“You do a release,and they eat everything,”Horton says.“And then either they die,or theyeat each other,or they go to someone elsesadjacent area,which is great if they can survive.But in general,they dont.They dont have thatmuch fuel.Th

43、eyre very small to go from placeto place.”Micronutrients.Horton has seen crops improvetremendously with just a few little nutrienttweaks.“All they need are micronutrients,tweaks.“All they need are micronutrients,something really simple,”she says.She investigated different commercial productsand foun

44、d organic products had a lot moremicronutrients.“The volume of micronutrientsthat we could get into the plants using theorganic products was so much greater,”Hortonsays.“I just decided to use organic products onconventional soils.And its been wonderful.Theway I always tell if something really works

45、or notis when I have a foreman come to me and say,lets use more of the new stuff micronutrientsin that tank.”Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionConversations on Climate SmartTech Is the Key to Climate SmartSuccessFor the grower,Climate Smart Agriculture isreally a serie

46、s of business decisions.When Ithink about Climate Smart Agriculture throughthe lens of Western Growers,for a lot of ourmembers it really comes down to two key areas.Number one,how do we adjust on the growingoperation side to changes in climate?Do weneed to move acreage,change crop type,change growin

47、g patterns,or change regionalfocus from certain months to other months?Next,as a grower,what technology can help metake advantage of programs that are out thereto fund and verify some of these productionpractice changes that can be big and costly?Alot of times this comes down to,“Can I useregenerati

48、ve ag practices like cover crops andregenerative ag practices like cover crops andless tillage to store carbon in the ground?”I think there is a larger willingnesson the part of ag operators now touse insets to offset their owncarbon use than there is to sell theoffsets.They are using it as anintern

49、al accounting mechanism.With carbon,the decision generally plays out inone of two ways.The grower can sequester thecarbon and take it as an inset to offset theircarbon footprint and help their buyers up thesupply chain.Or they can sell offsets to thirdparties who then have the right to use carbon.Wh

50、at Im seeing in the marketplace isinteresting.I think there is a larger willingnesson the part of ag operators now to use insets tooffset their own carbon use than there is to sellthe offsets.They are using it as an internalaccounting mechanism.There are tools out there like Agrology tomeasure and t

51、rack the carbon thats beingsequestered in the ground.The challenge isalways one thing:How verifiable is it when youmeasure the baseline,track the stored carbonincrementally from these practices,and then goout and sell this or use it as an accountingvehicle?At some point there will be audits.When tha

52、t time comes,you need to be rocksolid like any audit and thats where I see alot of work.But were still very early days on this.I thinkthere is good progress on both getting carbonstored and making the growing practicechanges.There is less progress on whether Ican actually feel 100%confident that its

53、verifiable,and that the audit will stand up to 10,15,or 20 years from now.Were not there yet.Conversations on Climate SmartTech Is the Key to Climate SmartSuccessWalt Duflock,Senior Vice President,Western GrowersSpecialty crop ag tech is another area relatedto Climate Smart that Western Growers is v

54、eryinvolved in for producers.Our Innovation Teamis focused on two areas:labor and increasedregulations around chemistry.Automation solutions are coming fast,buttheyre not here yet.Biological solutions arecoming soon,but theyre not here yet,either.So,to help move things forward,Western Growersworks w

55、ith a lot of startups.The reality is that not only does theproduct need to work for thegrower,it also needs to do it in away that works for the growerseconomics.We have identified over 700 startups in theautomation space,doing everything fromweeding,to thinning,to planting,to harvesting,to harvest a

56、ssist,to spraying.In a couple of keyareas weeding,spraying,and harvest assist I feel like were getting critical mass.We haveBurro out there with 350 robots doing harvestassist.Weve got Carbon Robotics with 50-plusrobots in market doing great stuff with theLaserWeeder.Weve got Stout IndustrialTechnol

57、ogy doing weeding.We have companieslike GUSS and Ecorobotix and Robotics Plus.But the reality is that not only does the productneed to work for the grower it needs to weed,or spray,or do the stuff they are doing with laborcrews but it also needs to do it in a way thatworks for the growers economics.

58、Thats where,for example,harvest is still struggling.It turnsout its really hard to pick fruits and vegetableswith a robot.Its so delicate,the robots are justhaving a hard time getting that last mile of“pickand put in the bin”correctly so that theeconomics work.But for weeding,spraying,and harvest as

59、sist,the math works for the growers.Theyre able tothe math works for the growers.Theyre able toreduce that gap between the labor they haveand labor they need with automation.Stay tunedon other areas like harvest.On the biologicals front,we identified and vetted1,200 startups and put 400 of them into

60、 an AgBiologicals Landscape with the Mixing Bowlteam last year.We recognized there are severalkey biologicals segments but the two thatmatter most for us are biocontrols thechemical pesticide alternatives,andbiostimulants the yield enhancers.Werefocusing first on biocontrols,because we seemassive re

61、gulatory pressure from WesternEurope,the US,and the State of California beingplaced on the chemical set of solutions.Western Growers decided to focus on 10 to 15of these biocontrol startups,push them outthrough field trials,and write up the casestudies under the Western Growers brand.Wewant to be th

62、at third-party and help the startups.We need that biological portfolio to be ready.From a Climate Smart perspective,biologicalscan help make healthier soil,make better use ofcan help make healthier soil,make better use ofthe soil,and make more efficient productionoperations.On the equipment side,thi

63、ngs likeEV(electric vehicle)tractors or using less waterwill make climate resilience more real.So,werewill make climate resilience more real.So,wereworking with those startups as well.Over the last 10 years Western Growers hasbecome a lot more engaged in areas likethese.One of our big focuses behind

64、automation and biologicals is developing a next-gen workforce to be ready for all those fancyrobots and biological solutions.To make that possible weve rolled out aCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture(CDFA)Grant to help make community college(CDFA)Grant to help make community collegestudent

65、s ag-tech enabled.We are identifying theskills gap from the growers,designingcurriculum to fill those gaps through communitycolleges,and then marketing to get thosecurriculum components spread out widelyacross the state.We worked with 500 students last semester andare hoping to get to 800 to 1,000 t

66、aking ourmodules at local schools in spring of 2024.Then the last mile is really the key:getting theminto an ag tech job with a large grower,anequipment manufacturer,an input provider,or astartup.Were focused on getting 3,000 ag-techenabled students through the program over 4years.We are focusing on

67、 the next generation ofstartups,as well.Our partners at University ofCalifornia Agriculture and Natural Resources(UCANR)rolled out a farm robotics challengewith farm-ng.We want to get students in bothcommunity college and four-year universitiesplugged into robots,building robotic solutions.Maybe som

68、e startups come out of that.Weresupporting these challenge events and want tosupporting these challenge events and want tosee more of them.Western Growers is building tools to helpstartups get to what I call“Product 1.0”fasterand cheaper.We have a startup Agtech Toolkitthat gives you all the data yo

69、u need tounderstand the crop you are working with,aswell as subject matter like how to fundraise,how to work with growers,and how to protectintellectual property.In partnership with Axis Agwe are also building a library for startups withhigh-resolution images in key crops like lettuce,tomatoes,apple

70、s,and strawberries.These tools save time and money.Thats thewhole objective.If we can keep startups fromgoing down the wrong path,thats a greatoutcome for the whole space.These tools save time and money.Thats the whole objective.If wecan keep startups from goingdown the wrong path,thats a greatoutco

71、me for the whole space.Finally,Western Growers is focusing on eventsthat help further Climate Smart initiatives.Weare a co-organizer of FIRA USA in a three-waypartnership with UCANR and the GOFAR teamfrom France,the Global Association of AgRobotics.Last year we brought 2,000 people toSalinas to talk

72、 ag tech robotics in specialtycrops.This year were going to the Yolo CountyFairgrounds October 22-24.We will have demospace on the fairgrounds and every grower cancome for free.We also launched the SalinasBiological Summit last year in June.That was asuccess,and we are going to host that eventagain

73、June 25-26,2024.The more we can continue to push thesediscussions forward and help growers andsuppliers develop and adopt new solutions,thebetter off we will all be for the long run.Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionRegenerativeAgricultureand the Role of the RetailerRe

74、generative agriculture might be a trendy term,but the principles it comprises have been usedfor hundreds of years.According to Natural Resources DefenseCouncil(NRDC)Senior Policy Analyst,ArohiSharma,regenerative agriculture“is rooted inIndigenous wisdom.Black,Indigenous,andPeople of Color(BIPOC)farm

75、ing communitieshave used the principles of regenerativeagriculture for centuries.“Since the mid-1900s,farm policy has putagriculture on a path that degrades soil health,RegenerativeAgricultureand the Role ofthe RetailerBy Dan Jacobs,Senior Editor,CropLifeMagazineagriculture on a path that degrades s

76、oil health,pollutes waterways,and harms biodiversity,”shecontinues.“Farm policy must be reformed toinvest in regenerative agriculture,instead.”Jeff Van Pevenage,President&CEO ofColumbia Grain,says the concepts comprisingregenerative agriculture have evolved into theapproach we are seeing more common

77、ly today.“We believe regenerative agriculture is anevolution of traditional agriculture with a focuson reducing the use of water and other inputs,while enhancing soil health,biodiversity,andclimate resilience.These practices can beclimate resilience.These practices can becustomized to each producer,

78、crop,andgeographical region to prioritize ecologicaloutcomes,”Van Pevenage says.“Thatreformation must take place all along the valuechain,and ag retailers can play a critical role inhelping their grower-customers transition to theapproach.”The Retailer Can Help“Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-

79、all approach,and retailers are committed to supportingfarmers with customized tools,insights,andpathways to plan,make,and maintainregenerative practices on their operations forthe long-term,”says Nitzan Haklai,CIBO VP ofBusiness Development and Marketing.“Retailers take a key role as trusted advisor

80、s togrowers by looking to consistently scalegrowers by looking to consistently scalesustainability programs for carbon,Scope 3,andsustainability initiatives across their network.”Technology platforms,she says,help retailersprovide a cost-effective,streamlined approachthat makes tracking,reporting,an

81、d financialincentives a one-stop shop for all growers.Photo:Arohi Sharma NRDC Senior PolicyAnalystSince the mid-1900s,farm policyhas put agriculture on a path thatdegrades soil health,polluteswaterways,and harmsbiodiversity,”she continues.“Farmpolicy must be reformed to investin regenerative agricul

82、ture,instead.Windbreaks on a farm in Nebraska.Windbreaksare a regenerative agroforestry practice thatadds diversity to the land,increases carbonsequestration,and reduces nutrient runoff intoprecious waterways.“These allow them to bring to the growersawareness the opportunities they have in privatese

83、ctor(Scope 3)programs,or governmentincentives,such as the EQIP program,”she says.De-risking the transition toregenerative practice adoptionthrough financing and agronomy,delivered through regenerativeprograms is the most importantrole that suppliers and retailerscan provide for growersThere are a nu

84、mber of incentives that help drivegrowers to adopt regenerative agricultureconcepts.“De-risking the transition to regenerativepractice adoption through financing andagronomy,delivered through regenerativeprograms is the most important role thatsuppliers and retailers can provide for growers,”Haklai

85、says.“Retailers and suppliers shouldalign their own Scope 3,carbon,and climatecommitments with the growers in their supplychain by making regenerative programsavailable to those growers.”available to those growers.”NRDCs Sharma agrees that for regenerativeagriculture to succeed,it must be a team eff

86、ort.“Regenerative agriculture is a managementphilosophy that requires time,money,patience,and changes throughout the supply chain,whichmeans everyone has a role to play in helping thetransition to regenerative agriculture,especiallyretailers,”she says.“Farmers told us they needmore technical and mar

87、ket support and retailersand suppliers can help with this.”For example,retailers can offset the costs ofpurchasing roller crimpers which help farmersterminate their cover crops;they can work withfarmers to create markets for cover crops;andfarmers to create markets for cover crops;andthey can help t

88、heir growers become certifiedorganic,she says.“Farmers tell us that they cant make thetransition to regenerative agriculture alone they need consumers demanding food andgoods made from diverse crops,retailers andsuppliers creating markets and buildinginfrastructure,financiers investing in long-terme

89、cological projects,academia focusing onregenerative research for the public good,andpoliticians passing regenerative policy,”Sharmacontinues.“We know regenerative agriculturewill pay off over time.While others along thefood supply chain learn from farmers aboutwhat they can do,NRDCs response is to h

90、elpfarmers reduce their risk of transitioning toregenerative agriculture by advocating forpolicies like the COVER Act that help offset thecosts of farmers initial investments.”The environmental returns of regenerativeagriculture are certainly one of the moreprominent benefits,but it takes more than

91、abelief in green to convince most farmers toengage in the practice.engage in the practice.“Farmers are small business owners,and anyregenerative practice change needs to makebusiness sense for their operations,”CIBOsHaklai says.“The transition from conventionalfarming practice to regenerative practi

92、cerequires both financial and agronomic support.Programs must be tailored to the regions andcropping decisions of the farmer.A programthat is designed for farmers in the northeast willnot work for growers in the Mississippi Riverdelta.CIBO makes it easy for companies withagriculture in their supply

93、chain to deployprograms to acres and growers that are tailoredto their specific geography and soil types.”The concepts comprising regenerativeagriculture and Climate Smart Farming are vastand varied.Knowing where to get started can beoverwhelming.This is another place ag retailerscan step in with gu

94、idance.“Retailers and suppliers should look above andbeyond and suggest tools that enhance aproducers existing technology,”Van Pevenagesays.“They should help farmers to implementsays.“They should help farmers to implementtechnologies that simulate different scenariosspecific to their geography and c

95、rop dependingon different practices and methodologiesdeployed.”Aerial imaging,moisture sensors,and soiltesting can be used to measure and validateregenerative outcomes,he says.Instead of trying to sell largevolumes of inputs,retailers andsuppliers should look at the farmslifecycle and use this data

96、forcareful planning purposes with aneye towards conservation.Its ingathering this data that we canfind additional revenue sources forthe farmer.“For instance,if the framework incentivizes theproducer for reduced pesticide usage,aerialimagery can assist in early pest detection andinform an efficient

97、application strategy.Differenttechnologies should be prioritized if theframework calls for measured soil carbonsequestration or improved microbial diversity.Itsequestration or improved microbial diversity.Itis important that the technology matches theframework,”he says.Van Pevenage suggests that the

98、se decisionsshould not all come from“on-high;”This needsto be an ongoing conversation betweengrowers,retailers,and manufacturers.“We hope that suppliers and retailers will teachproducers to use production data in new ways,”he says.“Instead of trying to sell large volumesof inputs,retailers and suppl

99、iers should look atthe farms lifecycle and use this data for carefulplanning purposes with an eye towardsconservation.Its in gathering this data that wecan find additional revenue sources for thefarmer.”Regulatory ActionDespite the continuous push to makeagriculture even more ecologically friendly,N

100、RDCs Sharma doesnt expect to see directivesat the federal level.“This is unlikely,”she says.“At the state levelthere have been some requirements for on-farmthere have been some requirements for on-farminterventions to reduce nutrient runoff and meetTotal Maximum Daily Load requirements.TheMinnesota

101、Buffer Law and Lake Champlainsrequired agricultural practices are a couple ofexamples.Its possible that we will see moreexamples of those types of targeted regulationsthat aim to reduce specific pollutants in specificareas.“However,it seems unlikely that there will be anational law requiring farmers

102、 to use certainpractices,and since regenerative agriculture,bynature,looks very different in different regions,itwould be hard to design a regulation,”Sharmacontinues.“More likely,we will see morevoluntary incentive-based approaches that offerfarmers options and support.”farmers options and support.

103、”Instead,it seems governments at all levels aretaking the incentive approach.“USDA and state and local governments financeabout$8 billion annually to growers forsustainable practices,”Haklai says.“2023 sawrecord funding for USDA programs,includingthat made available by the Inflation ReductionAct.”Th

104、e Inflation Reduction Act made nearly$20billion available over five years for USDAsNatural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS)to address continuous high demand for popularconservation programs.“CIBO believes that a combination of public andprivate funding for sustainability programs willhelp compan

105、ies meet evolving Scope 3 andvoluntary greenhouse gas accountingstandards,”Haklai says.The regenerative agriculture movementcontinues to expand.Successful ag retailersneed to embrace the practice and work withneed to embrace the practice and work withtheir grower-customers on finding ways toimplemen

106、t the concepts on their farms.“We must increase support for farmers andranchers during their beginning years andcultivate new generations of producers tomanage our lands regeneratively,”NRDCsSharma says.“Resources for regenerativefarmers and ranchers must be substantiallyimproved to meet their needs

107、.”Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionEnergy Rebates OfferReal Savings in theGreenhouseGreenhouse growers are constantly looking formore opportunities for Climate Smart Farming.The benefits of this are twofold environmentalprotection and cost savings.Electricity and gasf

108、or a greenhouse can be a major chunk of theoperating expenses,which is why energyrebates are a huge opportunity to reduce costs.Energy rebates typically come from utilityproviders when a grower selects technology orequipment that is energy efficient.Utilityproviders vary greatly across North America

109、,however,so unfortunately,the process ofapplying for energy rebates quickly becomesapplying for energy rebates quickly becomescomplex.Despite this obstacle,industry expertsrecommend installing energy-efficienttechnology and working with your local utilityprovider to reap the rewards.Work With an Exp

110、ertIn many cases,energy rebates may be anuntapped resource.Growers who access theseincentives may receive a significantreimbursement for their new technology,but ifgrowers are not aware of their options,theycould miss out.“Energy management is an afterthought at best,”says Melanie Yelton,Founder and

111、 CEO of GrowBig Consultants.However,there are programsthat are encouraging the industry to bring theseEnergy Rebates OfferReal Savingsin theGreenhouseBy Julie Hullett,Senior Editor ofGreenhouse GrowerFinn&Roots,a woman-owned Vermont greenhouseoperation,recently received both rebates and grants forit

112、s lighting upgrade project.Photo:GretchenSchimelpfenigthat are encouraging the industry to bring theseconsiderations to the forefront.For example,with the creation of GreenhouseLighting and Systems Engineering(GLASE)apublic-private consortium merging leading-edgeacademic research with the marketplac

113、eexpertise of industry practitioners Yelton saysthere was a bigger emphasis on switching fromHPS to LED lights.Many utilities providedincentives for that switch,and growers installednew lighting.Since then,energy rebateprograms have become more complex andnuanced.For every new build,there shouldbe a

114、n energy modeling exercise.Its not that difficult and can saveyou millions of dollars.Principal Neil Coppinger at Grow BigConsultants says the reliability of newequipment is critical.Utility providers arelooking for technology with a long lifetime.Atop-quality lighting fixture,for example,will savem

115、ore energy in the long run.“Work with someone who will put an energy plantogether,”he says.“Greenhouses spend millionsof dollars.For every new build,there should bean energy modeling exercise.Its not thatdifficult and can save you millions of dollars.”Choose the Right Program forYour NeedsThe utilit

116、y providers have three goals,accordingto Ron DeKok,Chief Commercial Officer at GrowRebates.First,there is an increasing trendacross the country of rolling brownouts andblackouts,so utilities are looking to reduceenergy consumption.Next,utilities are looking to improve theirenvironmental impact.Provi

117、ders would like tomake their environmental footprint as green-friendly as possible.Finally,utility providers are looking to minimizetheir infrastructure build.By offering incentivesto growers,they can accomplish these goalsand help the entire system use energy in themost efficient way possible.“Thes

118、e are incentive programs,”says Rob Ezell,Chief Operating Officer of Grow Rebates.“Theyre trying to steer behavior and induce anaction,that action being energy efficiency andequipment upgrades.”Several reports within the last sixmonths cite that incentives are farunderutilized.its not a scaryprocess

119、and it can be veryeconomical for the growers.He says utilities are working to balance theincentive programs so they work well foreveryone.For example,engineers at the utilityprovider are looking for as much detail aspossible when growers submit energy efficiencydata.However,more complexity in the in

120、centivedata.However,more complexity in the incentiveprogram means the program gains less tractionamong growers.When growers enlistassistance from industry experts,they cannavigate the process more easily.“Several reports within the last six months citethat incentives are far underutilized by growers

121、,”DeKok says.“We want them to be aware of itand know that its not a scary process.It can bevery economical for the growers.”Gretchen Schimelpfenig,Senior Energy Engineerat Energy Resources Integration,says growersshould investigate the longevity of an energyrebate program that they are interested in

122、.Oncea rebate becomes popular or the utility reachestheir savings goal,the utility provider maytheir savings goal,the utility provider mayreduce or eliminate a rebate.If enough growersswitch over to more energy efficient equipment,the utility provider may not need to offer afinancial incentive anymo

123、re.The structure ofrebate programs also changes every year,sogrowers should research what electric and gasutility programs look like for the upcoming 12month period.Utilities will likely request data tovalidate the anticipated energysavings.Growers do not have torelease proprietary data,and utilityp

124、roviders will protect their data.Sharing data will help growers,nothurt them.“On the electric side,LED lighting rebates willstill be a strong offering for the next coupleyears.But at some point,the utilities will saythat LEDs are no longer an emerging technology,so they dont need to give as big of a

125、 rebate forthem anymore,or they may offer no rebate atall,”Schimelpfenig says.“Take advantage ofutility programs while theyre around.”Schimelpfenig adds that utilities will likelyrequest data to validate the anticipated energysavings.Growers do not have to releaseproprietary data,and utility provide

126、rs will protecttheir data.Sharing data will help growers,nothurt them,she says.Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionConversations on Climate SmartMore Cooperation,Less DistractionWhat is Climate Smart Agriculture?I thinkClimate Smart is really about soil and watermanageme

127、nt.Its interesting being here in Southern California,which right now is in the middle of anatmospheric river.That is one of thosesymptoms of our climate challenges.If we hadbeen talking earlier this year,we would havebeen bemoaning our lack of water and how arideverything was.Then the El Nio came an

128、d justnorth of us there was a foot of rain yesterday.These kinds of events really cause you to thinkharder about climate and Climate Smartharder about climate and Climate SmartAgriculture.The main tenets of that are soimpactful with these climate challenges.Forinstance,conservation tillage and cover

129、 cropsprotect the soil during heavy rain.Things likesoil and water management,irrigation,managing your grazing and other practices these arent new practices.But I think in someways,theyve gotten lost along the way.Therewere popular conservation practices that said,“This field should lay fallow.”And

130、yet what washappening was either wind would come alongand blow that topsoil away,or heavy rain wouldwash it away.Building healthy soil is part ofgood irrigation managementbecause healthy soils are able tobetter utilize the water thatsavailable or hold onto thatmoistureWith Climate Smart Agriculture

131、and focusingmore on soil and water management,its adifferent perspective.When its very dry,werethinking about the best ways to utilize the waterthats available.You are timing your irrigationthroughout the season to minimize those inputs,while still getting a good yield.Conversely,whenyou have a lot

132、of water,hopefully you have beenusing cover crops or rotations.Building healthysoil is part of good irrigation managementbecause healthy soils are able to better utilizethe water thats available or hold onto thatmoisture so its refilling the water table and notrunning down into the ocean.AquaSpy has

133、 been working with a group inEgypt,and their soil conditions were so bad theydidnt really even have dirt.It was just substrate.But they were heavily invested in rebuildingtheir soils and trying to grow better crops.ItsConversations on Climate SmartMore Cooperation,LessDistractionKathleen Glass,Vice

134、President of Marketing,AquaSpytheir soils and trying to grow better crops.Itstaken 3 years,but were able to see a change.Water used to just sit on the top layer.But nowwere actually seeing the water soaking in,because through their efforts were seeing thatimprovement.It can happen.Its really goingba

135、ck to these practices that are more likesmallholder farms more holistic,integratedkinds of growing.AquaSpy and myself,personally,are veryinvolved in groups like the Global Ag TechAlliance and Leading Harvest.Its really nearand dear to my heart,and I think these initiativescan play a role in the Clim

136、ate Smartconversation.With Climate Smart,its not asmuch about technology per se aschanging or evolving practices or stopping some practices oradopting other practices.Thosearent things that you do overnight.Ive only been in agriculture for 3 years.Mybackground is IoT and telecommunications,andI have

137、 sold those sorts of technologies intovarious industries in my past.From thatexperience,my observation is that foragriculture and ag tech adoption,it is a longcycle.Row crops are actually quite technologyfocused look at the inside of a combine butin specialty crops,agriculture is kind of a late-adop

138、ter industry.And on top of that,a buyingcycle is 1-3 years.So,it is vitally important toreally understand what technology youre goingto be adopting or how you will make changes.With Climate Smart,its not as much abouttechnology per se as changing or evolvingpractices or stopping some practices orado

139、pting other practices.Those arent thingsthat you do overnight.that you do overnight.When I came into agriculture I saw anopportunity for more collaboration among theconstituents,both collaboration with theproviders and the growers,as well as theproviders and the ag tech developersthemselves.We were

140、just at The VISIONConference,and we were talking about this ideaof coopetition.Were not enemies anymore.Wehave to be collaborators in a new industry,andits new as far as ag tech goes.We need to worktogether to help with the adoption.So,the reason we are participating withAquaSpy in the Global Ag Tec

141、h Alliance,andWomen in Ag Tech,and with Leading Harvest isthat Im seeing the opportunity to come togethervia these communities.For this idea ofcoopetition to help figure things out,we need totalk about things like standard APIs.How do wedo more effective field trials?How can we bettershare that outp

142、ut and create these?Its challenging,especially around Climate Smartbecause the variety of crops is so different.Youcant say This is the way you do it,you all havecant say This is the way you do it,you all haveto do this,because cotton versus lettuce versuscorn is all different.Regions are different.

143、Yoursoils are different.Your weather is different.So,it has to be outcomes based.But we need tofigure out how we can share these bestpractices to go through these processimprovements.And so thats why werepassionate about collaborating with these otherfolks to help move this Climate Smart initiativef

144、orward together.To make all this happen we have to havepatience.Climate Smart Agriculture is a journey.Its not going to be an instant fix.We need toshare.We need to collaborate.Im excited to seegroups of growers coming together to createenvironments where there are field trials.environments where th

145、ere are field trials.Collaboration with universities and Extension.UNL TAPS is something I talk about a lot.Wevebeen supporting different master irrigatorprograms.Theres one just starting up inMississippi coming up later this month.Theresone in Colorado.Theres one in the TexasPanhandle,and Oklahoma.

146、Know that not only is ClimateSmart Agriculture a journey,butthere is no single right answer.Itsgoing to be a lot of different thingsthat work well for differentgrowers.Whatever we can do to support more testingevaluation,sharing outcomes,sharing bestpractices,making it possible to test and totouch a

147、nd to experience that throughtestimonials and case studies.Thats reallywhat we all have to come together to do,andknow that not only is it a journey,but there is nosingle right answer.Its going to be a lot ofdifferent things that work well for differentgrowers.Climate Smart Agriculture does not nece

148、ssarilyequal carbon credits.I think we got a littledistracted.Obviously,an output of ClimateSmart is that we will keep more carbon in theground where it belongs.But at the same time getting back to the journey part carbon lookedlike a shortcut.“Lets go straight to the carboncredits.”Well,no.We need

149、to start with the soil.Unhealthy soil is never going to hold the wateror the carbon it should.So,we have to start withthe soil,get the soil healthy,get the biomehealthy,and then from there things will start toimprove.We cant be distracted.Patience,persistence.We have to keep at it.Click here or pres

150、s enter for the accessibility optimised versionWine GrapesStrategies to Adapt to ClimateChangeThe change has been slow,but steady,seemingly inexorable.Rising temperatures forwine grape growers can perhaps best be seen inthe statistics for two of the worlds premier winegrowing regions,says Kaan Kurtu

151、ral,thePresident of Kurtural Vineyard Consulting inDavis,CA.Though an ocean and a continentapart,since 1980,both Bourdeaux,France,andNapa Valley,CA,shot up from approximately2,000 F growing degree-days to nearly 4,000degree-days.“They used to be Cool Region 2,but theincreases happened very quickly,”

152、says Kurtural,who retired two years ago as an AssociateProfessor in Cooperative Extension fromUniversity of California,Davis.“In the last 40Wine GrapesStrategies to Adapt toClimate ChangeBy David Eddy,Editor,American FruitGrowerUniversity of California,Davis.“In the last 40years we have changed the

153、climatic index bytwo tiers in accumulations of growing degree-days.”These(formerly)cool-climate regions arecertainly known for producing fine wines.However,concerns about rising temperatureswere assuaged by the rising sugar content theBrix,he says.Overall,the effects on the qualityBrix,he says.Overa

154、ll,the effects on the qualitywere actually positive.At least until now.Growers in those regions continue to fare well,producing grapes for ultra-premium wines.Infact,the only category of wine sales that was upin 2023 over 2022 were bottles selling for atin 2023 over 2022 were bottles selling for atl

155、east$100,increasing 7%.But its getting tough retaining that quality as itgets warmer and warmer,says Kurtural,whoadds that its not the heat per se,its the amountof UV and Near Infrared light.“Thats what is damaging the grapes,”he says.“The leaves can moderate their temperatures,but the berries canno

156、t.Thats where the damagehappens.”In Napa and Bordeaux viticulture hassuccessfully adapted to a drastically changingclimate thus far,but fruit-based metrics raiseconcerns that we are approaching the tippingpoint.Kurtural says that point is reached whenthe grapes are no longer producing thenecessary c

157、ompounds,such as anthocyanins,to reach high quality.“Theyd be just sacks of sugar water no colorto them,”he says.“The tipping point hasnt beencrossed but its close.”It was eye-opening to use,andthen we realized we could designtrellises to protect the fruit.Thatwas a breakthrough point in ourwork.U.S

158、.growers have an advantage in that unlikemany other countries,the U.S.generally has thewater,and perhaps most importantly,the energyto deliver the water.But growers wanted to dosomething to protect their grapes,and Kurturalsays he and his fellow scientists advisedSingle high wire vs.vertically shoot

159、-positionedtrellis at harvest timesays he and his fellow scientists advisedshading them.It was a stop-gap measure,but itworked.The scientists were then able to identifysome thresholds for grapes.Light andtemperatures come hand and hand in the formof heat energy,after all.“It was eye-opening to use,a

160、nd then we realizedwe could design trellises to protect the fruit,”hesays.“That was a breakthrough point in ourwork.Trellises can be expensive,but they canprovide protection from these untoward weatherevents.”Part of the problem was that in the past,winegrape growers wanted all the sun they could ge

161、t.After all,that was what the researchers toldthem to do for the last 30 years.But astemperatures rise,researchers realized thegrapes were getting too much sun.Protecting the grapes by going back to thefuture,scientists realized the old single highwire(SH),as well as the high quadrilateral(HQ)traini

162、ng systems worked extremely well toshade the grapes but critically,not too much.A study Kurtural co-authored,“Adapting WineA study Kurtural co-authored,“Adapting WineGrape Production to Climate Change ThroughCanopy Architecture Manipulation and Irrigationin Warm Climates,”demonstrated the advantageo

163、f the SH and HQ systems over the verticalshoot positioning(VSP)systems.VSP is betterfor cooler climates and so came into favor,butin warmer regions the grapes got too much sun,producing grapes low in important components,such as total soluble solids(TSS).Dont over-irrigate to combatclimate change.Ju

164、st make surethe vines can use the watereffectively.“Our results indicated that SH and HQ trellissystems could enhance the efficiency ofsystems could enhance the efficiency ofgrapevine canopy in promoting TSSaccumulation and yield as well as highercapacity for flavonol and anthocyaninaccumulation in

165、berry skins with less chemicaldegradation compared to the traditional VSPs,”the study concluded.Mechanical shoot removal in a vertically shootpositioned vineyard in central coast of CaliforniaGrowers often ask why they cant just use morewater to cool things down,Kurtural says.Grapevines are differen

166、t than other fruit crops,in that restricting water has nice effects on winegrapes.He and his colleagues found thatcutting irrigation amounts to 50-80%of thecurrent recommended levels is a“sweet spot”for growers.“Dont over-irrigate to combat climate change,”he says.“Just make sure the vines can use t

167、hewater effectively.”For improving efficiency,Kurtural advisesgrowers to think creatively,and consider newtechnological advancements.For example,heslong been suspicious of the use ofbiostimulants.However,he has found in severaltrials that biostimulants do increase the rates ofphotosynthesis in the l

168、eaves.“I was very skeptical,”he says,before addingwith a chuckle:“but it actually works!”Another reason for growers to be optimistic isthat the HQ and SH systems whichresearchers have found to provide far better sunresearchers have found to provide far better sunprotection for the grapes than the fa

169、shionableVSP systems are much more amenable tomechanized vineyards.A longtime goal amongmany researchers is the“touchless vineyard,”inother words,entirely mechanized.A simple solution to climate change for aCalifornia grower would seem to be to startfarming at least some vineyards in northernlatitud

170、es.There have long been rumors ofGolden State growers buying land inWashington state,for example.But Kurturaldoesnt believe well see it on a widespreadbasis because of the expense and the lack of awidely available labor force.“No,growers are in the business of makingmoney,”he concludes.“They will us

171、e tech.Technology is on our side in the U.S.”Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionWorking to MaintainCottons SustainableFutureIn todays cotton industry,sustainability seemsto be just as much a part of the conversation asplanting,harvesting,and prices.With increasingintere

172、st and often,demand fromconsumers who want to know where the cottonin their clothing or household items is comingfrom,a truly transparent supply chain is anecessity.It is now,in fact,a part of doingbusiness from the field and gin to the mills tothe manufacturers to the retailers and,ultimately,to th

173、e consumer.Working toMaintainCottonsSustainableFutureBy Jim Steadman,Editor,Cotton GrowerOver the past decade,the cotton industry hasbeen blessed with multiple sustainabilityprograms to help build varying levels oftransparency.Some are managed bytransparency.Some are managed byorganizations,some by

174、retailers and clothingmanufacturers,some by marketers andmerchants,and some by companies within theindustry.Each one has its place in the market,and cotton growers often participate in multiple,yet similar,programs.Providing an UmbrellaIn 2020,the National Cotton Council launchedthe U.S.Cotton Trust

175、 Protocol(USCTP)to helpthe U.S.Cotton Trust Protocol(USCTP)to helpdevelop and set a new standard forsustainability for the U.S.cotton industry.“There was a need in the industry for a programthat represented U.S.cotton production,and theProtocol was able to take what cottonproducers had already been

176、doing and put thatinformation together through data or atraceability solution and make it available to endusers to provide that validation and verificationof what our producers are already doing,”saysTillman White,Program Manager for USCTPField Operations.“Since 2020,weve seen a large increase inmem

177、bership from growers all the way to thebrand level,”he adds.“This past year,we had a25%increase in acres entered into the Protocol.We had over 975 producers that enrolled,andwe were able to capture data from them.Thisyear,we have just over 2,000 mill/manufacturermembers and about 30 approved brands

178、andretailers plus merchandizers and gins working in the Protocol system.”In essence,USCTP provides a sustainabilityumbrella that can operate on its own and/or inconjunction with other programs.For the first several years of operation,USCTPfocused on building membership amonggrowers,mills/manufacture

179、rs,and retailers.InMay 2023,USTCP received a$90 millionClimate Smart Agriculture grant from USDA todevelop and implement the Climate SmartCotton program a natural next step to helpThere was a need in the industryfor a program that representedU.S.cotton production,and theProtocol was able to take wha

180、tcotton producers had already beendoing and put that informationtogether through data or atraceability solution and make itavailable to end users to providethat validation and verificationPhoto:Jim SteadmanCotton program a natural next step to helpimprove the carbon footprint of the U.S.cottonindust

181、ry.Program partners include Cotton CouncilInternational,Cotton Incorporated,the SoilHealth Institute,Texas A&M AgriLife Research,North Carolina State University,AgricenterInternational,Alabama A&M University,NorthCarolina A&T State University,veteran farmers,and the Soil and Water Outcome Fund.and t

182、he Soil and Water Outcome Fund.What Is Climate Smart Cotton?The USCTP is lead partner in The Climate SmartCotton program,a five-year initiative thatpresents an opportunity for U.S.cotton growersto enhance their profitability,operations,andto enhance their profitability,operations,andenvironmental st

183、ewardship.For brands andretailers,the program will help support efforts toreduce greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions andallow reporting against Scope 3 emissionsreductions for cotton used in products.Producers who have completed enrollment inUSCTP,which includes data entry and baleuploads,are eligible to a

184、pply for the ClimateSmart Cotton Program.The program was built around the four pillars ofClimate Smart Agriculture(CSA)practices thatsupport planting cover crops,reduced tillage,and nutrient management and help allow forimproved soil health,increased drought andflood resilience,advanced nutrient use

185、efficiency,decreased soil erosion,and reducedGHG emissions.“After receiving the CSA funding from USDA inMay 2023,we were able to start rolling out theClimate Smart Cotton program within a month,”says White.“The overarching goal of the program is toprovide financial assistance to U.S.cottonfarmers th

186、rough three different levels,”heexplains.“It helps provide different tools andknowledge for adopting new Climate Smartpractices in their farming operation such ascover crops,nutrient management plans,oreven no-till systems.Theres also an opportunityto participate in the carbon market.”The Climate Sm

187、art Cotton program has fiveprimary goals:1.Provide technical and financial assistance toU.S.cotton growers2.Advance adoption of Climate SmartAgriculture practices on 1.2 million U.S.cotton acres3.Produce 4.2 million bales of Climate SmartCotton during the five-year period4.Enroll 1,650 U.S.cotton gr

188、owers,including330 farmers from historically underservedcommunities5.Reduce CO2e emissions by 1.14 millionmetric tons.Three Program LevelsWhite notes that there are three levels to theClimate Smart Cotton program:Level One:Enroll a farming entity into theUSCTP and receive a payment of$5 per acre upt

189、o 706 acres for every farm they enroll.The shared goal of the program isto support farmers in adopting andimplementing sustainablepractices that benefit both theiroperations and the environment.“Enrolling in the Protocol is one of therequirements to participate in the Climate SmartCotton program,”sa

190、ys White.“Part of thatenrollment is having bales uploaded to oursystem where we can track and mark thosepermanent bale identifications(PBI)as being aProtocol bale.”The shared goal of the program is to supportfarmers in adopting and implementingsustainable practices that benefit both theiroperations

191、and the environment.For example:The program offers critical guidance andresources to help growers successfullyimplement CSA practices that could helpreduce input costs,allowing growers tooptimize their operations,improve soil health,achieve higher yields,and improveprofitability.Enable opportunity t

192、o create and sell carboninsets to brands and retailers who aremembers of the Trust Protocol.Increase resilience to drought and floods,enabling them to navigate climate conditionsmore effectively.Utilize CSA practices to help decrease soilerosion,preserve soil quality,and preventsediment runoff into

193、water bodies.Adopting advanced nutrient managementpractices promoted by the program can helpLevel Two:Adopt use of cover crops and otherCSA practices for three consecutive years andreceive funding at$25 per acre.One of the benefits of ClimateSmart Cotton for the brands is theopportunity to purchase

194、thecarbon insets within their supplychain from farmers who alsosupply their fiber.Level Three:Measure the carbon sequestrationfrom the practice adopted in Level Two and finda buyer for the carbon insets generated.Improving cottons carbon footprint is a keyfocus area over the next several years.U.S.c

195、otton farmers and brands and retailers play avital role in helping achieve this program goal.The program also aims to reduce CO2eemissions by 1.14 million metric tons bypromoting adoption of practices that decreasepractices promoted by the program can helpenhance nutrient use efficiency,optimizingfe

196、rtilizer inputs and minimizing environmentalimpacts.promoting adoption of practices that decreaseGHG emissions,stores more carbon and waterin the soil,and improves soil and ecosystemfunction to help create a more sustainablecotton industry and a healthier environment.“One of the benefits of Climate

197、Smart Cotton forthe brands is the opportunity to purchase thecarbon insets within their supply chain fromfarmers who also supply their fiber,”says White.“Then,working with the program under theumbrella of the Protocol,brands have the abilityto look at country of origin and know that thefiber theyre

198、sourcing is from actual Protocolgrowers in the U.S.”The opportunity to purchase verified insets fromgrowers participating as the Climate SmartCotton program matures can be used againstScope 3 emissions reductions for cotton used inproducts.Current StatusEnrollment for 2024 in the U.S.CottonTrust Pro

199、tocol and Climate Smart Cottonprogram began in January and closes atthe end of April.Click here or press enter for the accessibility optimised versionThank you for reading the2024 Global Insight SeriesClimate Smart FarmingLearn about other critical topics impacting agriculture withrecent Global Insight Series reports,including:Plant Health Soil Health Biological Crop Protection Water,Technology&Sustainability Labor&Technology Cookies Terms PrivacyP O W E R E D B Y