USDA makes historic US$2.8 billion investment in agricultural climate solutions

The US Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program has awarded US$2.8 billion in funding to pilot projects that develop and expand markets for crops and livestock farmed in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.

“USDA saw overwhelming interest from farmers, ranchers and foresters to accelerate agriculture’s capacity to deliver climate benefits," commented Britt Groosman, Vice President, Climate-Smart Agriculture at one of the world’s leading international non-profit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund. "The agency met the moment, nearly tripling their original US$1 billion commitment and creating a dedicated pool of funding for climate projects that expand opportunities for farmers of color, beginning farmers and other historically marginalized producers.

“This is the decisive decade for determining what our climate future will be," continued Groosman. "Agriculture currently contributes 10% of US emissions, but it has enormous capacity to be part of the solution. USDA’s increased investment will equip producers to cut emissions and make their businesses more resilient. It will boost scientific research to measure climate progress over time.

“The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, of which EDF is a founding member, called on USDA to create a climate-focused pilot program last year, and that recommendation was the basis for this program. EDF is thrilled to see those ideas come to fruition with so much momentum behind them.

“EDF contributed to multiple proposals that were awarded grants under the program. These include: a project led by the University of Arizona, which will involve several tribes, Bridgestone Americas and OpenET to accelerate the transition to climate-smart, lower-water-use agricultural practices in the Southwest; and a project led by Field to Market that will use innovative finance mechanisms to accelerate climate-smart practice adoption and increase demand for climate-smart commodities.”