March & April 2025 ESMC Newsletter

Staying the Course through Climate Smart Commodities Grant Cancellations

We, like many in our community, are impacted by the USDA cancelling most all Climate Smart Commodity projects. Projects have been terminated, but we are assessing next steps with our partners to potentially reapply in June under new guidelines and continue the work that we have started. We are also pursuing alternatives through philanthropies and direct corporate investment to fund programs and deliver long term benefits and support to producers who were engaged in CSC grants. However, even with these distressing cancellations, we designed ESMC and Eco-Harvest to ensure our programs and projects can weather shifting markets and new business operations. We will continue developing and implementing Eco-Harvest projects with the level of technical support and innovation we are known for. We continue to see ecosystem services markets as a significant opportunity for agriculture and our corporate partners remain committed to their investments in our programs that increase economic opportunities for producers and resiliency of operations. We thank you for your continued support of ESMC and our mission through the years.

Below are some of the projects we participated in and look to continue through either grant reapplications or alternate funding.

Join Us for a Webinar on the State of Soil Sampling

The ESMC Research team is excited to announce its first webinar of 2025: ‘The State of Soil Sampling: Exploring Soil Organic Carbon Models & Measurement Tools ‘ on Friday, June 13th from 1pm-2pm EST. Registration is open. This webinar is designed to help researchers, practitioners, and partners in the ecosystem services space better understand which tools to use, when, and why – and will feature a panel of leading experts who will explore the strengths and limitations of various soil organic carbon (SOC) models and measurement tools, and how these approaches are best suited to different agricultural and environmental contexts.

Our panelists include Dr. Francesca Cotrufo, Colorado State University; Lars Dyrud, CEO, EarthOptics; Dr. Ritvik Sahajpal, University of Maryland/Climate Risk Co-Lead, NASA HARVEST; and Dr. Yao Zhang, Colorado State University/Research Scientist for the MEMS model.

Learn More About HabiTerre’s Modeling Services for Eco-Harvest

On April 3, the HabiTerre team provided ESMC members and stakeholders with a webinar on HabiTerre’s capabilities and inventory accounting to increase Eco-Harvest outcome efficiency and accuracy. Thank you to HabiTerre’s team, including Nick Reinke (CEO), Jamie Ridgely (COO) & Jeff Seale (AG Climate Standards Lead), for co-leading a robust conversation with ESMC President Alana Pacheco during the event. Presentation materials and a webinar recording are available now:

Meeting Presentation Deck
Meeting Recording (Password: g#TvnS92)

ESMC Welcomes Matthew Starr as an Eco-Harvest Program Advisor

To continue to grow our Eco-Harvest market program and support producers, ESMC is pleased to have Matthew Starr joining our team. He is a dedicated Trial and Research Manager with extensive experience leading field and laboratory trials on agronomically important crops. He specializes in the application of biostimulants and biologicals to enhance yield, improve production systems, and preserve the agroecosystem. His work supports the development of innovative crop and seed solutions that drive a positive triple bottom line for farmers.

A strong advocate for regenerative agriculture, Matthew integrates practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and build long-term resilience on the farm. With a background in research, grant writing, trial design, and stakeholder engagement, he brings a holistic approach to agricultural innovation. He is currently getting his PhD in crop science. His leadership—shaped by service in the United States Army and North Carolina Army National Guard—enables him to manage complex projects with agility and purpose.

ESMC Seeks a Product Owner – Agriculture and Carbon Outcomes

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Full-Time Product Owner to lead the development and management of software solutions that support our ecosystem services market program, including ESMC’s Monitoring, Measurement, Reporting & Verification (MMRV) platform. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in agriculture, particularly in carbon markets or ecosystem services, coupled with at least three years of experience in software product management. This role requires overseeing a small, contracted development team, conducting market analysis, and shaping the strategic product roadmap to align with ESMC’s mission. Read more about this position including application information.

Recent Member and Funder News

Exploring the Use of Inventory Accounting in the Context of Interventions in Complex Agricultural Systems
Value Change Initiative (March 2025)
As companies look for ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions and improve sustainability, understanding the complexities of accounting for interventions is essential. This case study, developed through a collaboration between General Mills (an ESMC member), PepsiCo, Regrow (an ESMC technical contractor), Sustainable Food Lab, and Indigo Ag, delves into how inventory accounting can be used to reflect the impacts of interventions in complex agricultural systems within corporate inventories. Read the synopsis and download the report.

How ‘Insetting’ Helps Food Companies Cut Scope 3 Emissions Red Tape
Trellis Impact 25 (March 13)
An emerging approach for funding and taking credit for cuts to supply-chain emissions is gaining momentum in the food and agriculture sector. “Insetting” enables companies to claim Scope 3 reductions by investing in projects that help suppliers cut emissions. Accounting challenges have slowed the spread of the idea, which has been explored by industry groups for several years. But multiple organizations are issuing Scope 3 credits to projects backed by General Mills, Mars and other food giants (multiple ESMC members are included in this article). Read the full article.

Grant to Increase Agriculture Data Sharing Among Farmers, Partners
Global Ag Tech Initiative (March 11)
United States farmers and ranchers often struggle to access the data they need to justify and implement science-driven practices that enhance the productivity and health of their land. To support broader access to this data, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Tech Matters and the Skoll Foundation are providing a $1,503,964 grant to Tech Matter’s Better Deal for Data project that enables data sharing across a variety of stakeholders for greater impact and research. FFAR is an ESMC funder. Read the full announcement.

National Sorghum Producers, Ducks Unlimited, DFA Announce Landmark Water Partnership
National Sorghum Producers (March 3)
A new industry collaboration announced at Commodity Classic is set to drive large-scale water conservation efforts across the agricultural landscape. The National Sorghum Producers, Ducks Unlimited (an ESMC member) and Dairy Farmers of America have partnered to create an initiative aimed at improving resource efficiency while ensuring economic viability for producers. Read the full announcement.

Sustaining Our Locally Led Conservation Delivery System
National Association of Conservation Districts (February 28)
On February 18, 2025, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) issued a survey to its members asking for their input on how producers, communities, and local staff are being impacted by recent Executive Orders and funding freezes. As of February 28, 2025, NACD received over 350 responses across 45 states and territories covering three main themes: 1. The funding freeze has widespread impacts on producers, conservation, and local economies. 2. NRCS terminations and staffing shortages will have long-term impacts on the quality and timeliness of technical assistance and overall service. 3. We must act to protect partnerships and the future of the voluntary, locally led conservation delivery system. NACD is an ESMC member and funder. Read and download the report.

Other News of Note

The Most Rigorous Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study to Date
Morning Ag Clips (April 22)
Before they can recommend practices to reduce nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases from agricultural soils, scientists first have to understand where and when they are released. Sampling soil emissions is labor intensive and expensive, so most studies haven’t done extensive sampling over space and time. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sought to change those challenges by rigorously sampling nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from commercial corn and soybean fields under practical management scenarios over multiple years. Not only can this dataset lead to mitigation recommendations, but it can also refine the climate models that predict our global future. Read the full article.

An Ancient Irrigation System May Help Farmers Face Climate Change
Civil Eats (April 22)
The arid Southwest has a proven model, the acequia, for water use that is local, democratic, and resilient to heat and drought. Read the full article.

Updated: USDA Cancels Climate-Smart Commodities Program, but Some Projects May Continue
Civil Eats (April 14)
The agency said it would review existing projects based on new criteria and continue to fund those that qualify under a new name, the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative. Read the full article.

Researchers Working to Address Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Penn State (April 1)
Nitrous oxide is an often-overlooked greenhouse gas that primarily comes from agricultural sources. On the latest episode of “Growing Impact,” a team of Penn State researchers discusses how their seed grant project aims to address the challenge by developing an innovative system for real-time emissions monitoring and reduction, a step toward more sustainable agricultural practices. Read the full article.

Scientists Shielding Farming from Climate Change Need More Public Funding. But They’re Getting Less
AP News (March 31)
The U.S. needs more publicly funded research and development on agriculture to offset the effects of climate change, according to a paper out in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last month. But instead, the U.S. has been investing less. United States Department of Agriculture data shows that as of 2019, the U.S. spent about a third less on agricultural research than its peak in 2002, a difference of about $2 billion. Read the full article.

High Awareness, Low Adoption: Bridging the Gap in Regenerative Agriculture
The Food Institute (March 20)
According to an AgFunder News analysis, consumer recognition of regenerative agriculture often stops at the surface terms like “soil health” and “carbon sequestration. Its tangible application remains elusive for most consumers. For example, degraded soils emit 5.5 billion tons of CO₂ annually – as quantified from research by Nature Sustainability. Such research shows the huge potential that regenerative agriculture could bring to the world on a macro-level, but it’s hard to resonate with individuals. Read the full article.

A New Path for Small Farmers in the Southeast?
Civil Eats (March 14)
The Southern Farmers Financial Association, years in the making, could be a lifeline for Black farmers and rural communities, but is in jeopardy now. Read the full article.

After 10,000 Years, Let’s Bury the Plow
Washington Post (February 21)
The demise of the plow and other tools that turn the soil is a rare good-news story in these depressing times for Planet Earth. Modern, mechanized tillage had become an ecological disaster, killing all that was alive in the soil while worsening erosion and runoff. But this is all changing, primarily because farmers recognize the economic benefits — less fertilizer and diesel fuel to buy, lower labor costs, higher crop yields and profits — that can come with no-till farming or reduced tillage. Read the full article.

Register for the WISE Summer Conference
The Women in Sustainability Conference (WISE) Summer Conference takes place June 24 in Indianapolis, IN. Explore cutting-edge sustainability innovations, network with top executives, and gain insights from industry leaders—all in an exclusive look at the future of global sustainability. Read more and register.