June 2023 ESMC Newsletter
ESMC/ESMRC Updates
Eco-Harvest Invites Proposals to Launch Projects
ESMC is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite proposals for Eco-Harvest project development for 2024. This RFP offers an opportunity for implementation partners to develop, launch, and implement regenerative agricultural projects under the Eco-Harvest program. The annual outcomes generated from these projects meet food and beverage supply chain commitments and continue to build out and scale ESMC/ESMRC programing to deliver national scale impacts across the agricultural and food and beverage sector supply chains.
Review the full RFP section on ESMC’s website
ESMC launched Eco-Harvest in May 2022 after more than three years of pilot testing and refinement with agricultural supply chain and value chain partners. Eco-Harvest is an innovative ecosystem services market program that pays farmers for beneficial environmental outcomes from regenerative agriculture. This program meets food and beverage sector annual Scope 3 reporting needs for quantified, verified soil carbon removals and reduced GHG emissions from agricultural production within their supply chains.
Resources and More Information
- Find the complete RFP here.
- Proposals must be submitted by 5pm EDT on 19 July 2023, via email to Alana Pacheco. Alana will confirm receipt of your response via email.
- Please reach out to Alana Pacheco with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
ESMC Staffing Updates
As we continue to grow our Ecosystem Services Market Research Consortium (ESMRC) program, our team continues to grow as well! We are pleased to welcome to our team Chris Smallwood as ESMRC’s Chief Scientist. ESMRC is ESMC’s innovation and R&D program that improves Eco-Harvest program operations and ensures our program remains grounded in the best available science.
As the Chief Scientist, Chris guides the strategic development and growth of ESMRC’s science, innovation and R&D programs, projects, partnerships, and fundraising. Prior to joining ESMC, Chris worked in a variety of agricultural research and leadership roles in the public and private sectors. His unique perspective is fueled by diverse experiences in crop improvement, sustainable agriculture, forest health, and conservation. Chris holds a PhD in Plants, Soils, and Insects with a concentration in Plant Breeding from the University of Tennessee. He lives with his family in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he enjoys spending time outside, traveling, and learning new things.
To further implement product-driven growth strategies to scale Eco-Harvest market program offerings, Jack Jeworski has been promoted to Chief Product and Business Officer. As the lead for the Eco-Harvest market program and marketplace, Jack advances our business plan, product strategy, growth, and other essential program elements. He also provides cross-functional and market-driven leadership and oversight to further ESMC’s business objectives.
Finally, to bolster our team, we are also seeking a Policy and Engagement Manager. This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic and growing program and team. Read more and apply.
Recommendations for Modernizing Technical Assistance by CERES
The CERES Environmental and Climate Justice Working Group has drafted a letter calling for the USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to expand efforts to improve access to technical assistance that better supports successful farmer and rancher participation in NRCS conservation programs. Low conservation program participation success rates among disadvantaged and underserved producers are underscored as key issues to address. The letter serves the working groups’ broader core efforts to discuss the environmental justice and climate justice movements, the needs of impacted communities, frontline workers and their organizations, and their varied policy positions and approaches. See the CERES sign-on-letter.
Look for ESMC At…..
Global Environmental Markets and Finance Summit (GEMFS)
July 19 – 21, Denver, CO
GEMFS is the first and only global hybrid event that makes the intersect across carbon, water and biodiversity and the voluntary, regulatory, and resiliency/program-driven approaches across industry sectors. Designed to rotate around the world on an annual basis offering applied and emerging solutions, GEMFS is for those involved in designing and implementing solutions and policies with accountable, transparent, and measurable environmental outcomes – offering impactful dialogue, networking and insight into successful models and challenges, advances in technology, emerging trends in policy and practice, and funding opportunities. ESMC’s Debbie Reed will be speaking on the Connecting Environmental Markets panel. Learn more about GEMFS.
Soil and Water Conservation Society 2023 Annual Conference
August 6 – 9, Des Moines, IA
The annual conference will assemble a diverse, multigenerational conservation community of researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, farmers, and students from around the world in Des Moines, Iowa, where the Soil and Water Conservation Society was founded 78 years ago and is still headquartered today. The agenda will feature the latest ideas, technologies, and practices, and foster a dialogue around their adoption. ESMC is hosting a symposium entitled: Opportunities for Climate-Smart Agriculture to Produce Scope 3 Impact Units with Jack Jeworski (Chief Product and Business Officer), Jake Deutmeyer (Senior Project Manager) and Ashley Hammac (Soil Scientist) presenting. Read more and register.
VERGE23
Oct. 24 – 26, San Jose, CA
VERGE23 is the leading climate tech event accelerating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. It is the center of gravity for the climate community — leaders from business, government, solution providers and startups — working together to address the climate crisis across the six key programs that comprise the event: Buildings, Carbon, Energy, Food, Startups and Transport. ESMC is proud to be a Community Partner of this event; as part of this partnership, registrants can use the code V23ESMC for 10% off All-Access Pass registration. Additionally, Jack Jeworski, ESMC’s Chief Product and Business Officer will attend. Learn more about the event and register.
ESMC in the News
Data Specifics: How to Track Sustainability in Food – Panel 2: The Verifiability of Carbon Markets
On June 8th, CityAge launched the first episode in their 2023 Food’s Future series to look at how data can substantiate sustainability claims. The speakers explored the cutting-edge technologies and strategies that drive data-driven sustainability in the food industry. Speaking on a panel discussing the verifiability of carbon markets, ESMC’s Jack Jeworski highlighted ESMC’s rigorous measurement, reporting and verification platform, and how accurate data is essential to provide confidence that any ecosystem service credit represents what it claims to. View the session.
ESMC Member and Funder News
USDA Announces Historic Investment in Wildlife Conservation, Expands Partnership to Include Additional Programs
USDA (June 27)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an ESMC funder, is announcing that it will expand its work on wildlife conservation by investing at least $500 million over the next five years and by leveraging all available conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), through its Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) effort. These commitments will ramp up the conservation assistance for farmers, ranchers, private forest owners and tribes with a focus on working lands in key geographies across the country as well as hiring for key conservation positions. Read the full announcement.
Field to Market Awarded Walton Family Foundation Grant to Improve the Environmental Performance of Row Crop Agriculture
Field to Market (June 20)
Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture™, an ESMC Legacy Partner member, has been awarded a two-year grant, totaling $800,000, by the Walton Family Foundation to improve the environmental performance of row crop agriculture. Read the full announcement.
Other News of Note
EU Will Regret Making Farmers Scapegoats for Climate Change
Politico (June 19)
In an opinion article, the author notes that by focusing climate blame on agricultural producers, Brussels is well on the way to losing rural Europe — and it only has itself to blame. Read the full article.
Rice Gets Reimagined, From the Mississippi to the Mekong
New York Times (May 20)
Rice is in trouble as the Earth heats up, threatening the food and livelihood of billions of people. Sometimes there’s not enough rain when seedlings need water, or too much when the plants need to keep their heads above water. As the sea intrudes, salt ruins the crop. As nights warm, yields go down. These hazards are forcing the world to find new ways to grow one of its most important crops. Read the full article.
Cultivating Farmer Prosperity: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (May 2023)
A new report by the WBCSD highlights how although the environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture are widely touted, the economics that support the transition and sustained operation of regenerative farming systems still cast doubt. This report brings forward the farmer perspective on transitioning to regenerative agriculture and explores economics through the lens of an “average” Kansas wheat farmer. It presents a methodology that can be translated and applied to other geographies and commodities. Read and download the full report.
