November 2023 ESMC Newsletter
Honoring our Colleague and Friend Glen Salo
It is with sorrow that we announce the death of our colleague and friend, Glen Salo. Glen was a visionary thinker and dedicated collaborator who worked to make the world a better and more sustainable place through technology and science.
Through his non-profit, Heartland Science and Technology, Glen worked closely with ESMC to develop and launch our digitized MMRV technology platform. His vision and leadership were instrumental in shaping the success and growth of our program. Glen’s curiosity to develop technological solutions to our most confounding challenges kept us going; he worked tirelessly but with good humor and patience. It was always a pleasure to talk to and learn from Glen.
As with ESMC, Glen worked with a number of multi-sectoral stakeholders to develop technology-based solutions for increasing agricultural sustainability. He was always focused on collaborations and providing solutions to as many as possible. Austin Arrington, ESMC’s Director for Technology and Innovation wrote a full memorial for Glen that captures the many, many facets of the projects and programs Glen both spearheaded and supported.
We send our condolences to Glen’s family and friends and the many colleagues who had the opportunity to know Glen.
ESMC Releases Reports Analyzing Ecosystem Services Supply and Demand in the Western Range
Earlier this month, ESMC released two reports analyzing supply and demand for ecosystem services in the Western Range. These highlight the immense potential of conservation practices and regenerative agriculture in this semi-arid region and estimate beneficial environmental impacts.
The Market Supply Analysis examines the potential of several conservation practices identified as the most relevant for the Western Range – including conservation cover, prescribed grazing and brush management, irrigation water management, and marginal land retirement.
The Market Demand Analysis describes demand for ecosystem services markets in this region, including regulatory and voluntary demand drivers.
Both reports in full, and with summary synopses, are available on our website. Thanks to our partners at WestWater Research for their work on these reports – we are using the findings to help guide our strategy to build ecosystem services market programming in the Western Range.
New Program to Support Native American Producers with Climate-Smart Grazing
Farm Journal Foundation and the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) are launching a new program to support climate-smart grazing practices among Native American cattle farmers and ranchers.
The program, which will work in partnership with ESMC and the Yield Lab Institute, will offer a combination of direct incentive payments, technical assistance, and education to producers who adopt certain conservation practices on their grazing lands. It will also better enable Native American cattle producers to participate in carbon and branded commodity markets and create pathways to join U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs. This new program, developed through support from the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, officially launched at IAC’s Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional Summit.
Senior Project Manager Jake Deutmeyer, who has led ESMC’s participation in this project to date, noted, “This program is an exciting opportunity for ESMC to expand into areas beyond traditional row-crop systems to showcase the beneficial impact that Native American livestock systems have on landscapes across the country. We can document the improved outcomes in our science-based, standards-based Eco-Harvest program and monetize the outcomes to benefit these producers. The opportunity to participate in this program also ensures that Eco-Harvest is inclusive to as many types of producers as possible – especially those that have been traditionally left out of agricultural market programs.” Read the full announcement.
ESMC Partners with HabiTerre for Ag GHG Emissions and Soil Carbon Modeling
ESMC is working with HabiTerre, an advanced technology company specializing in environmental and productivity insights for agriculture, to provide modeling services to ESMC’s Eco-Harvest market program. The goal of this work is to improve accuracy and value creation for farmers and ranchers, while further reducing barriers to scale.
Work will initially evaluate HabiTerre’s approach to high-quality quantification of field-level net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – including soil organic carbon gain or loss, nitrous oxide and methane emissions – to accurately quantify environmental impacts. To ensure Scope 3 emissions reductions are impactful and scalable, scientifically rigorous quantification of outcomes is critical. The project represents the commitment shared by ESMC and HabiTerre to rely on science to make the largest, most scalable impact possible.
Jack Jeworski, ESMC’s Chief Product and Business Officer, notes, “As we pioneer the future of regenerative agriculture, our partnership with HabiTerre is a game-changer. At Eco-Harvest, our mission is clear: to scale up credible carbon and ecosystem markets that empower producers in their shift to regenerative practices. HabiTerre’s unique ‘System-of-Systems’ approach is a perfect match for our industry leading MMRV and program ecosystem, offering precise, scalable solutions for carbon and GHG measurement at the field level. This collaboration isn’t just about combining forces; it’s about reshaping the agricultural sector with advanced technology and scientific rigor. Together, we’re delivering meaningful systems change, advancing a sustainable and secure future across the entire agricultural value chain.” Read the full announcement.
Job Opportunities to Join ESMC
If you or someone you know would like to join our team, ESMC has three positions open, including a Project Manager, an Applied Soil Scientist/Agronomist, and a Protocol and Standards Manager. These positions are new postings, and we encourage you to apply or circulate to potentially interested parties. Find more information and application details for these three positions on our website.
ESMC’s Chris Smallwood Highlights Opportunities for Ranchers to Participate in Ecosystem Services Markets
Earlier this month, ESMC’s Chief Scientist Chris Smallwood participated in a panel discussion on income opportunities for ranchers at the second annual Expanding Markets Conference in Billings, Montana. This rancher focused event was hosted by Western Sustainability Exchange, a non-profit organization supporting stewardship of western ranchlands. The attendees included business leaders, high impact non-profits, and pioneering ranchers who are leading the way in regenerative land management. The audience was very engaged and expressed interest in pursuing opportunities with ESMC as we build out our ambitious ecosystem services offerings in western ranchlands. This event offered a refreshing opportunity to connect with dedicated producers who serve as the foundational problem solvers for the system-wide transition to a regenerative farming and ranching future.
Look for ESMC At….
Sustainable Agriculture Summit
Charlotte, North Carolina; December 6 – 7
The Sustainable Agriculture Summit is the premier sustainability event for agriculture and by agriculture, convening the collective food and agriculture value chain to learn, develop and advance a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient U.S. food system. ESMC’s Chief Scientist Chris Smallwood will be in attendance. Read more about this event and register.
ESMC in the News
Beef Is a Way of Life in Texas, But It’s Hard on the Planet. This Rancher Thinks She Can Change That
Times Union (November 16)
The cattle part as Meredith Ellis edges her small four-wheeler through the herd, silently counting the cows and their calves. It’s the way she starts most days on her 3,000-acre Texas ranch: ensuring all the cattle are safe, deciding when they should move to another pasture, and checking that the grass is as healthy as her animals. Ellis highlights her work with ESMC as key to helping quantify the impacts from regenerative agriculture on her land. Read the full article.
ESMC Member and Funder News
The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT) Seeks Markets Program Director
PACT is looking for a bold, visionary leader and sharp strategist who can grow their Markets program from the ground up. The ideal candidate will have direct experience working on sustainable agriculture supply chains, ecosystem services, or sustainable finance in an agriculture context. They will have deep interest in and commitment to strategies that reduce the climate impacts of producing and selling food in the U.S., while enabling rural and historically underserved communities to thrive in the face of climate change. Read the full opportunity.
USDA Invests Nearly $28M to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
USDA (November 15)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small recently announced an investment of $27.9 million across 45 organizations that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers, including programs for U.S. veterans who are entering into agricultural careers and starting new farming businesses. The USDA is an ESMC funder. Read the full article.
New ADM Report Highlights Power, Urgency of Regenerative Agriculture for Consumers and CPGs
Yahoo Finance (November 8)
ESMC Founding Circle member ADM recently issued “Farming for the Future: The State of Regenerative Agriculture Program Adoption.” The comprehensive report builds on earlier ADM research by assessing the business drivers, opportunities and challenges for companies looking to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Read the full article.
Danone Exec on the Farm Bill’s Role in Helping CPGs Establish Sustainable Supply Chains
Retail Brew (November 3)
When the Farm Bill will be passed is still TBD, but public-private partnerships funded by the USDA will be essential for CPGs said Danone’s Chris Adamo in an interview (Danone is an ESMC Legacy Partner member). Read the full interview.
Can Regenerative Agriculture Regenerate the US Food System?
CSR Wire (November 3)
Can regenerative ag regenerate the US food system? Kara Brewer Boyd thinks so. The farmer and rancher of about 1,500 acres in Southside, Virginia is also a member of the Lumbee Tribe and founder and president of the Association of American Indian Farmers. “Being an Indigenous person here in North America, I highly value food security and resilience — as we’ve always grown and produced food to feed our families, tribal communities and others,” she says. Indigenous people were utilizing regenerative farming practices — from no-till and companion planting to crop rotations and pollinating buffer strips — well before many other segments of agriculture. And they have done so by making decisions with forethought of the next seven generations: “Take some, leave some; and there will always be some for future generations.” The article highlights work conducted by ESMC Legacy Partner member OpenTEAM. Read the full article.
Osterhoudt Farms Partners with CALS Through US Dairy Net Zero Initiative
Cornell CALS (October 25)
Established as a dairy farm in 1957, the Osterhoudt family of Genoa, New York, now operates a crop and custom harvest operation. In 2022, the farm joined a project called Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration. This project employs on-farm research partnerships in top dairy production states throughout the U.S. The project is led by the Dairy Research Institute, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (an ESMC Founding Circle member), in collaboration with the Soil Health Institute (an ESMC Legacy Partner member) and researchers from Cornell University and seven other research institutions. The project is largely supported by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (an ESMC funder), which awarded $10 million toward this work. Read the full article.
Other News of Note
Exclusive: US Securities Regulator Signals It May Curb Climate Rule Ambitions
Reuters (November 20)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officials have told lobbyists and corporate executives in recent days that the agency’s long-anticipated climate rules may scale back some of the most demanding greenhouse gas emissions disclosure requirements that it had proposed. At issue are so-called Scope 3 emissions that account for greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere from a company’s supply chain and the consumption of its products by customers, according to people familiar with the conversations. Read the full article.
The Toll of Climate Disasters Is Rising. But a U.S. Report Has Good News, Too
NY Times (November 14)
A major government assessment lays out both the far-reaching perils of global warming and the cost-effective fixes that are available today. The report points out that cost-effective tools and technologies to significantly reduce America’s contribution to global warming already exist. U.S. emissions of heat-trapping gases fell by 12 percent between 2005 and 2019 as the country has shifted from coal toward natural gas and renewable sources. And options are increasing for electrifying energy use, reducing energy demand and protecting natural carbon sinks like forests and wetlands, the report says. Read the full article.
GHG Protocol Launches New Governance with Call for Steering Committee and Independent Standards Board Applications
GHG Protocol (November 14)
The GHG Protocol seeks to recruit members for its new Steering Committee and Independent Standards Board that will oversee the update and maintenance of GHG Protocol’s flagship suite of standards for business (including the Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, and Scope 3 Standard). This governance restructuring is part of GHG Protocol’s overall strategy refresh. In May 2022, GHG Protocol initiated a strategy and organizational review process, including soliciting feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders. This feedback calls for a more formalized governance process and increased transparency and speed of standards development. Applications are due by January 15, 2024. Read the full announcement.
Growing Stronger: The Sustainable Roots of Indigenous Agriculture
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (November 14)
Many of the methods we refer to as regenerative agriculture practices originate in Indigenous tradition. Indigenous agricultural practices—which vary widely by tribe and location—are heavily localized and embedded in the broader fabric of ecosystem, climate, and community practices. Because these practices are ecologically and culturally adapted to sustaining balance within their particular ecological settings, they inherently adhere to a regenerative philosophy. Chief of Staff for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Missty Slater explained the ideology behind the Tribe’s agricultural practices in a recent interview.
Researchers: Modeling Can Revolutionize the Fight Against Climate Change in Agriculture
Phys.org (November 14)
It’s no secret that climate change poses a threat to our planet. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the battle against climate change, but it’s a complex task. According to a group of esteemed researchers, better collaboration between research, policy, and society is needed to achieve the set political climate goals. In a comment published in the journal Nature Food, researchers from, among others, Aarhus University discuss how modeling tools can play a crucial role in this effort. Read the full article.
Why Regenerative Farming Is Taking Hold in Red America
Fast Company (November 10)
In some conservative pockets of the U.S., farmers are embracing regenerative practices. Just don’t ask them to make it political. Read the full article.
One Fourth of Corn and Soy Growers Alter Practices Due to Weather Shifts
Successful Farming (November 8)
The most common changes were use of no-till planting, a shift in the mix of crops, and increased use of drought-resistant varieties, according to the Ag Economy Barometer. Read the full article.
Walmart’s ‘Regenerative Foodscape’
Civil Eats (November 1)
Walmart’s efforts to redefine itself as a regenerative company are at odds with its low-cost model and combined with the Walton family’s vast investments in regenerative agriculture, have the potential to remake the marketplace. Read the full article.
