Regenerative agriculture revitalizes ecosystems that, in many cases, have been compromised by conventional agricultural methods.
The Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF) can help regenerative farmers and ranchers better explain the positive impacts created through their principles and practices in six key areas: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and climate. Each plays a central—and interconnected—role in restoring natural systems.
Regenerative agriculture revitalizes ecosystems that, in many cases, have been compromised by conventional agricultural methods.
The Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF) can help regenerative farmers and ranchers better explain the positive impacts created through their principles and practices in six key areas: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and climate. Each plays a central—and interconnected—role in restoring natural systems.
Nature is essential for human life. It provides us with clean air and water, nourishing food, and raw materials for medicines, manufacturing, and the built environment. When we exploit these natural resources, we deplete our wealth. These losses are not invisible.
Today, 30% of all plant and animal species are on the edge of extinction. 50% of the earth’s rainforests have vanished in the last 50 years, while rising CO2 levels put humanity in peril of catastrophic and irreversible changes by 2040.
While GDP uses income as a generally accepted metric to define a country’s economic performance, it says nothing about the natural capital that underlies this income, or what it means—in purely economic terms—if that natural capital is lost.
Regenerative agriculture revitalizes ecosystems that, in many cases, have been compromised by conventional agricultural methods.
While carbon capture and storage receive considerable attention—especially for their potential role in helping to mitigate climate change—regenerative agriculture provides a number of other equally valuable ecological benefits that include helping improve air quality, increasing the soil’s water holding capacity, building healthy soils, enhancing biodiversity, while also promoting greater equity across food systems.
The synergies generated by these ecological benefits generate additional ripple effects, whether it’s the promotion of diverse plant and animal life or the implementation of innovative water management techniques, regenerative agriculture offers a comprehensive and integrative approach to address the multifaceted ecological challenges faced by our agricultural systems.
To be truly regenerative, enlightened farmers prioritize fairness and inclusivity, extending these ecological benefits beyond environmental concerns to matters of equity and social justice within the food system. Rethinking diversity and inclusion across the supply chain, from producers to distributors to retailers, and extending the distribution of regeneratively-produced food to marginalized communities can help address some of the disparities in access to healthy food, land ownership, and decision-making power. A more resilient and just food system nurtures both the environment and society.
When our environment is healthy and regenerative, nature can provide a wealth of ecological benefits fundamental to our well-being and the sustainability of our planet. While climate change has put the spotlight on removing carbon from our atmosphere, we have other equally pressing concerns. Biodiversity loss. Water scarcity. Air pollution. Desertification. To meet these challenges we must develop a common framework that supports activities which create positive impacts delivering the full spectrum of ecological benefits: air, water, soil, biodiversity, carbon, and equity. Each plays a central—and interconnected—role in restoring natural systems.
Six Ecological Benefits for Regenerative Agriculture
Air.
Clean air is vitally important for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and providing ecosystems with greater balance and biodiversity.
Water.
Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.
Soil.
Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.
Biodiversity.
Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.
Equity.
Supporting inclusion fosters social justice, ensures equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promotes the well-being of all, regardless of background.
Carbon.
Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.
Clean air holds immense importance for human health by reducing the risk of respiratory diseases and promoting overall well-being. Moreover, air plays a crucial role in maintaining the regulation of temperature and climate patterns, essential for the stability of ecosystems and weather systems. It also facilitates the water cycle, supporting precipitation and maintaining the availability of water resources. Additionally, the exchange of gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide and oxygen, is vital for balancing greenhouse gases (GHG) and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Case Study No. 5: Stemple Creek
Stemple Creek increases soil carbon sequestration with carbon farm plan
Farmed by Loren and Lisa Poncia, Stemple Creek Ranch produces certified organic 100% grass fed free range beef and lamb, and humanely raised pork on 4,000-6,000 acres of land. A fourth generation farm, the Poncia family has been on this land for 120 years of continuous operation. They are working to create a sustainable future for the fifth generation of their family. They sell their meat directly to consumers, restaurants, on-line retailers, grocery stores, butcher shops, and farmers markets, including some of the most highly regarded restaurants in the Bay Area, including Chez Panisse, Zuni Cafe, State Bird Provisions, and Quince with a premium of around 67% as compared to conventional.
Stemple Creek Ranch is located outside of Tomales, California. The Stemple Creek watershed rangelands are Coastal Prairie and converted Coastal Prairie. They are dominated by large expanses of largely treeless grasslands, with some eucalyptus windbreaks and Homestead trees. The area has a Coastal Mediterranean climate with most rainfall coming in Winter and supplemental moisture provided by fog and dew at other times of the year. The entire ranch is protected through the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) to ensure it will remain a productive part of the Marin County agricultural landscape forever.
Stemple Creek Ranch was selected to be one of three case studies for the Marin Carbon Project in 2013. The 10-year study has involved the application of compost onto rangeland acres and the implementation of a unique Carbon Farm Plan.
The Stemple Creek Ranch Carbon Farm Plan includes compost and manure spreading, fencing off creeks, planting trees and grasses, and using grazing more intentionally to reduce soil compaction and naturally fertilize the fields. The Poncias also practice biodiversity seeding, and they plant perennial grasses throughout their pastureland. The deep roots of these perennials help keep the soil intact and pull nutrients into the soil. In 2013, the Poncia’s had 350 acres of pastureland in this project, and they are now up to 600 acres.
These practices have increased the carbon sequestering ability of the soil. Increasing the soil’s carbon content allows the soil to retain more water and nutrients and reduces fertilizer needs. These practices have also created additional habitat and healthier and better tasting meat.
Stemple Creek Ranch has implemented a variety of other regenerative practices: they don’t use artificial hormones, growth promotants or antibiotics on their livestock; they don’t use chemical pesticides or fertilizer; they use solar and gravity flow technology; and their diverse employees (mostly women) are given benefits that include matching 401ks. Not only this, but Stemple Creek is an education ranch. They host events and training around regenerative in hopes of spreading the word.
Water availability and quality are crucial for the health and productivity of plants, animals, and humans, making it essential for sustaining agricultural systems and ensuring food security. Effective water management is also vital for preserving ecosystem balance, promoting biodiversity, and maintaining the overall health of our planet. It serves as a habitat for aquatic organisms, a vital resource for avian species, and plays a critical role in nutrient cycling and the distribution of nutrients within ecosystems. Furthermore, as a medium for sediment transport, water contributes to the creation of diverse habitats.
Enhanced infiltration and water-holding capacity of soil, reducing runoff and increasing water availability for plants and ecosystems.
Improved soil structure and organic matter content, promoting water retention and reducing the risk of soil degradation and water pollution.
Decreased use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, minimizing chemical runoff and contamination of water bodies.
Enhanced biodiversity and ecological balance, supporting natural water purification processes and reducing the need for artificial water treatment.
Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation in waterways, preventing the degradation of water quality and preserving aquatic habitats.
Conservation of wetlands, riparian zones, and natural water storage areas, enhancing water filtration and retention capabilities.
Adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation or precision watering, minimizing water waste and maximizing water-use efficiency.
Implementation of riparian buffers and buffer zones, protecting water bodies from nutrient runoff and improving water quality.
Restoration of degraded or contaminated water bodies through regenerative practices, improving their overall health and ecological functions.
Case Study No. 1: Sierra Orchards
Sierra Orchards increases water holding capacity of their soil with regenerative practices
Farmed by Julie and Craig McNamara and their children Sean and Emily, Sierra Orchards is a 450 acre certified organic walnut orchard located in Winters, CA. The farm produces, on average, 850,000 lbs of walnuts each year (that’s about 2,000 lbs per acre). Currently, all of their walnuts are sold to Andersen and Sons Shelling in Vina, CA, for a premium of around 100% and then continue on to be sold to consumers at Trader Joe’s.
Sierra Orchards have implemented a number of regenerative practices on their farm. Those that relate to water conservation and quality are outlined below.
Cover crops are planted on the farm so that the ground is covered throughout the year. Cover cropping reduces runoff and erosion and leads to increased soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is the percent of living things in the soil. It improves soil structure, stability, nutrient retention, and water holding capacity. In addition to cover crops, compost is applied to the soil as fertilizer (no synthetic fertilizers are used) and the farm is no-till, meaning that the soil is not disturbed through tillage, further reducing erosion and runoff and increasing soil organic matter. With these practices, Sierra Orchards has increased their soil organic matter from 1.8% to 3.5% in 5 years. This increase in soil organic matter represents an increase in water storage on their orchard by around 4.5 million gallons (or 10,000 gallons per acre) per year over the course of those five years. This water storage is especially important in a place with frequent droughts for crops that need a lot of water, like walnuts. Furthermore, the farm uses buried drip irrigation to reduce water use and minimize nutrient loss and the farm also has tailwater ponds, sediment traps, and hedgerow plantings to minimize water use and waste.
Putah Creek runs through the orchard and the McNamaras have worked with the Solano County streamkeeper to preserve the creek’s watershed. They’ve planted the creek banks with thousands of California native plants and created hedgerows that stretch for miles to help keep the creek clean and healthy. Their organic practices of not using synthetic fertilizer or pesticides is also great for water quality.
Improving soil health is critical for enhancing agricultural productivity, fostering biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our food systems. Healthy soils support a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and earthworms, which play key roles in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition, providing essential nutrients for plant growth. Moreover, healthy soils exhibit excellent water-holding capacity, facilitating efficient water infiltration and reducing erosion. Additionally, by sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, healthy soil acts as a valuable carbon sink, contributing to the mitigation of climate change. Through these mechanisms, building healthy soil is a fundamental component of regenerative agriculture.
Increased soil organic matter content, microbial activity and biodiversity in the soil, improving soil structure and nutrient availability.
Enhanced soil fertility, promoting healthy plant growth and productivity.
Improved nutrient cycling, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and minimizing nutrient runoff into water bodies..
Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, preventing soil degradation and preserving soil fertility.
Increased carbon sequestration in the soil, mitigating climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Improved soil water infiltration and drainage, reducing the risk of waterlogging and promoting efficient water use.
Enhanced soil resilience to drought and extreme weather events, maintaining agricultural productivity in challenging conditions.
Decreased reliance on synthetic pesticides and herbicides, promoting natural pest and weed control through biodiversity and ecological balance.
Case Study No. 2: Tule Farms Wheat
Tule Farms increases soil health while growing healthy wheat for community grains
Tule Farms is owned and farmed by sixth generation farmer Fritz Durst. Fritz farms all his land regeneratively, both the acres that are organic and conventional. His farming practices have increased the health of his soil. They also result in wheat that has a lower protein content than most commodity wheat standards specify, but that has a higher quality of protein that makes good healthy bread. His Patwin and Summit organic wheats are purchased by the grain company Community Grains for around a 25% premium. The farm also grows garbanzo, safflower, organic vegetables, safflower, rice, wine grapes, and sunflowers.
Tule farms is located in the Hungry Hollow and Dunnigan Hills area outside of Woodland, California in Yolo and Capay Counties. This area is in the larger Sacramento Valley, a landscape that is part of the alluvial fan of the Sacramento River. Therefore, the area has historically had deep, high fertility, silty clay loam soil, although this soil has been dramatically depleted over the last 100 years by conventional farming.
Fritz Durst pays attention to his soil and the things that live in the soil. He started farming on his family farm in the 1980s and he and his father were early adopters of no-till and soil conservation farming methods as a way to improve their soil which had been depleted from previous methods of heavy tillage. For the last 25+ years, Durst has practiced conservational tillage on almost all of his land. This means that he not only works to grow his crops, but also works to improve air, water and soil quality on his farm and reduce carbon emissions.
Durst’s no-till methods of plowing stalks back into the soil and planting wheat and barley directly into the residue of the previous crop, in addition to his multispecies cover cropping and diversified crop rotation has reduced soil erosion on the farm, and gullies that used to form during winter rains no longer do.
The health of his soil allows Fritz’s soil to absorb up to three times more water when it rains than it used to. This allows him to practice dry farming on much of his land. Dry farming is following a special rotation of crops to help retain water so that many of his crops can rely solely on rain and not need irrigation. The soil’s increased ability to absorb water also makes it more resilient to extremes, so when and if there is a drought and an especially wet year, Durst is still able to grow a decent crop.
The practices that create soil health on the farm also create habitat for diverse wildlife, such as snakes and raptors, which do their work in turn to keep the farm healthy by eating rodents. They have also led to higher yields and better, healthier wheat.
Tule farms is also committed to providing a safe work environment and living wages for all their employees and they provide education to their employees about their regenerative methods.
Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life forms on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as their genetic diversity and the complex interactions they share. It is a fundamental component of healthy ecosystems, providing a range of ecological services vital for sustaining life. Biodiversity enhances the resilience of ecosystems, allowing them to adapt to environmental changes and disturbances. It also plays a key role in pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pest control, which are crucial for maintaining the health and functioning of ecosystems. Moreover, biodiversity has significant implications for human well-being, offering potential sources of new medicines, ensuring food security through diverse agricultural systems, and providing opportunities for recreation and inspiration.
Case Study No. 4: Lundberg Rice
Lundberg Rice Farms create habitat for migrating birds and fish
Lundberg Rice was founded in 1937 by the Lundberg family when they moved to California from the midwest. Today, the company is owned by 40 Lundberg family members and includes a network of 40 growers and over 400 employees. The Lundbergs themselves farm 6,000 acres of 17 varieties of rice using practices that not only tend to their crops, but also to the soil, air, water, and wildlife. The practices support biodiversity by replicating the wetlands that were once common in California and providing habitat for migrating birds, salmon, and other animals. Lundberg Rice is vertically integrated. The farm grows, dries, stores, mills, manufacturers, markets, and distributes their rice products in grocery stores in the US and Canada.
Lundberg Rice is located in Richvale, California, which is in Butte County. They are in the larger Sacramento Valley, an area that provides 97% of the rice crop in California. This is because the area is well suited for rice growing. It has clay adobe soil and hardpan subsoil which allows rice farmers to be water efficient. The region gets around 24 inches of rain each year on the valley floors, and more in the foothills. This rain supports the Sacramento Valley aquifer.
Lundberg’s fields provide habitat for hundreds of species. After rice is harvested the rice straw is left in the field and the fields are then flooded. These flooded fields replicate California’s once-abundant wetlands and provide habitat for migrating birds in the Pacific Flyway, including ducks, geese, swans, sandhill cranes, and shorebirds. These birds depend on the rice fields for more than 60% of their nutrition. These flooded fields also contribute to the restoration of the salmon population in Butte Creek. After the birds leave, the Lundbergs return the water from the fields to rivers and streams. Zooplankton from the fields provide food for the salmon population.
Lundberg Family Farms works with local conservationists and the California Waterfowl Association to rescue duck eggs from their fields before they prep their fields for planting. Since 1993, they’ve saved more than 30,000 duck eggs, which are then moved to a local hatchery where they are incubated, hatched, raised, and released into the wild.
With their use of integrated pest management, the Lundbergs encourage biodiversity to naturally control pests. This includes putting owl boxes around their facilities so the owls can naturally control pests.
Lundberg Farms has a number of other regenerative practices: they return rice straw to the soil after harvest to build organic matter in their soil, rotate their crops, implement water-conservation practices, plant cover crops, such as oats, vetch and fava beans in the winter so more carbon is put in the soil, use composted manure instead of synthetic fertilizers, and manage their weeds by raising and lowering water levels in the rice fields rather than using herbicides or pesticides. Eighty two percent of their land is certified organic through CCOF and the rest uses Integrated pest management and minimal applications of conventional inputs that don’t have carcinogens, mutagens, GMOs, or PAN Bad Actors.
Promoting equity in ecological systems is crucial for addressing environmental and social injustices and fostering sustainable and inclusive development. It recognizes the importance of providing equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background or geographic location, to enjoy and benefit from nature. This includes ensuring equitable access to clean air, water, and land, as well as to the various services and opportunities these ecosystems provide. By prioritizing equity, we can work towards creating a fair and just society, one where everyone has equal access to the resources and benefits derived from the natural world. This not only supports environmental well-being but also contributes to the overall social and economic prosperity of communities.
Increased access to and control over natural resources, ensuring equitable distribution and utilization of land, water, and other ecosystem services.
Preservation of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, valuing and integrating indigenous practices and perspectives in land management and decision-making processes.
Strengthening of social cohesion and community resilience through collaborative and inclusive approaches, fostering cooperation and collective action.
Improved health and well-being, reducing environmental health disparities and providing equitable access to clean air, water, and nutritious food.
Protection of environmental and social justice, advocating for fair treatment, equal opportunities, and the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups in relation to natural resources and environmental governance.
Fostered sense of belonging and connection to the land, promoting cultural identity, pride, and a deeper appreciation for the interdependence between people and nature.
Case Study No. 3: ALBA
ALBA helps farm workers transition to become organic independent farmers
ALBA (Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association) is a 100-acre farmer incubator program that was started in the 1970s as a place to help farm workers transition to become independent farmers. Located in Salinas, California, its sandy loam soils and year round spring-like temperatures are good for growing a wide range of cool season vegetables, berries, and flowers, and ALBA farmers grow an average of 2-3 crops per year, although some grow 20-30 crop varieties. ALBA provides farmers access to land (farmers get ½ to five acres of land while in the ALBA incubator program), infrastructure and assistance in planning, marketing, compliance, ground preparation, and connections to service providers for business coaching, land and capital access, conservation practices, and other resources. All ALBA farms are organic certified by CCOF and have a USDA HGAP Food Safety Certification.
The production system at ALBA is based on commercial-scale organic production practices with an emphasis on soil health and ecological practices, including cover cropping, composting, hedgerows, and habitat for beneficial insects. These practices result in increased groundwater infiltration, reduced erosion, nutrient recycling, fertilizer reduction, improved tilth, and soil biodiversity. According to the Comet-Planner tool, ALBA farms sequester an estimated 2.1 metric tonnes of C02.
Carbon, as a critical component of the Earth’s climate system, plays a pivotal role in sustaining life on our planet. It acts as a greenhouse gas, regulating the Earth’s temperature and creating a habitable environment for humans and other species. However, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have disrupted this natural carbon balance, leading to an alarming increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels that contribute to the global climate crisis. Therefore, managing carbon is essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change. By actively sequestering carbon through natural processes like photosynthesis or regenerative practices that store carbon in soils and vegetation, we can restore the carbon balance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through increased plant biomass and soil organic matter.
Enhancement of soil fertility and productivity through the increased organic matter content, which improves nutrient cycling and soil structure.
Preservation of soil moisture and reduction of water stress, as higher soil organic matter content enhances water holding capacity, reducing the need for irrigation and improving drought resilience.
Creation of economic opportunities through carbon offset markets and incentives for carbon sequestration, providing the future potential for additional revenue streams for farmers and landowners.
Contribution to sustainable land management and land-use practices, as carbon capture and storage is an important component of sustainable agriculture and forestry strategies.
Positive impact on air quality by reducing emissions of air pollutants associated with conventional agricultural practices, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Promotion of long-term sustainability and resilience of agroecosystems, as carbon capture and storage supports the development of robust and regenerative farming systems that are better able to withstand environmental and climate challenges.
Carbon Markets
Can being smart about what you eat become an effective way to help mitigate climate change? While forests and oceans are well-known carbon sinks, there is growing recognition that the right regenerative agricultural practices—like planting cover crops, applying compost, or reducing tillage—can build healthy soils while also drawing carbon dioxide, a significant contributor to climate change, from the atmosphere and into the ground for long-term storage.
Transitioning to a regenerative system can require upfront financial investment, at least in the first few years, but achieving these positive outcomes can also lower costs for farmers, especially since regenerative practices require less inputs, including pesticides and fertilizers.
One emerging idea is for farmers to be paid incentives that reward them by placing a monetary value on the ecological benefits they provide, including the carbon they capture in the soil.
Where would the money for these incentives come from?
Companies, governments, and even individuals emitting GHGs through their activities are now using financial mechanisms like carbon credits to pay farmers for the GHGs they pull out of the atmosphere and “sequester” in the soil, offsetting this benefit against the pollution that others generate. A carbon credit is typically equivalent to the removal of 1 metric ton of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Double counting.
Using proper accounting methods can help prevent double-counting, a system where multiple parties attempt to “own” the carbon credit created by a farming activity that sequesters carbon. To avoid this issue, some programs restrict carbon credit sales to just one instance, after which the credits are immediately retired, while others embed critical information in serial numbers or use blockchain technology to track the movement of a credit across markets.
The permanence of carbon credits.
To maintain the value of an offset transaction, carbon sequestered in the soil would need to be kept out of the air, but for how long? Ideally, that would be forever, but the question of how to measure and insure the permanence of this sequestration varies across carbon markets. Some require at least 10 years while others set the bar at 100 years. This lack of agreement partially stems from the fact that current measurement techniques are far from accurate.
Cost of measurement.
Some carbon markets require direct soil sampling, often over many years using multiple sampling points, but, the costs and relative imprecision of these approaches usually outweigh the economic value of whatever ensuing carbon credit can be established from this collected data. In the near future, the emergence of new technologies (AI, satellite imaging) and predictive modeling tools may provide enough accuracy to enable carbon offset transactions with a higher degree of certainty.
Additionality asks a simple question: “Would this project have happened without the incentive of carbon credits?” Additionality ensures that carbon credits incentivize and reward projects that go beyond regulatory requirements or standard practices and are truly making a positive environmental impact. By proving additionality, carbon credits showcase their contribution to global climate goals and provide assurance to buyers and investors in carbon markets that their investment is making a real difference.
Science and Environmental Activism vs. The Marketplace.
While proponents of regenerative agriculture celebrate the carbon sequestration potential of their practices, scientists urge the community to check their numbers. Overestimating and generalizing the amount of carbon soils can take in to mitigate climate change not only compromises the goals of the movement but also the value of these carbon credits. Additionally, some environmentalists express concern that carbon credits commodify nature, equating its value to dollars, and prompting a system where the flow of money allows polluters to continue harming the environment while placing the burden on others to clean it up.
Who else stands to lose most with carbon markets (and what can we do)?
If the marketplace is focused on additionality and conditioned to solely reward producers for new practices that capture and store carbon in the soil, how can farmers that have adhered to enlightening agricultural practices—including those requiring organic certification—for decades be rewarded for their work?
Comparing Carbon Markets
To explore how regenerative agriculture connects to carbon markets, The Lexicon’s REGEN1 Activator did three case studies using the protocols developed by these registries: Nori, Regen Network, and Climate Action Reserve (CAR).
How each program... | Nori | Regen Network | Climate Action Reserve (CAR) |
---|---|---|---|
Characterizes Additionality | Producer has adopted the practice since 2010 | Producer has not used the practice before (lookback period defined to 10 years) | Establishes a threshold to differentiate whether an adopted activity is additional or common practice |
Counts Permanence | 10 years | 25 years | 100 years |
Prevents Double-counting | Credits can only be sold once, and then are immediately retired upon purchase | Uses blockchain to create immutable records of GHG removals | Assigns unique serial number to each credit |
Calculates 1 ton of CO2 | Nori Carbon Removal Tonne (NRT) - Calculated difference between CO2 removed from new practices minus CO2 removed from old practices |
GHG - Difference in the net amount of carbon resulting from the estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks between two periods of time and subtracting GHG emissions on the farm. Co-benefits - ranking ecosystem health, soil health, and animal welfare | Climate Reserve Ton (CRT) - |
Measures and monitors sequestrations | Modeling (Soil Metrics based on COMET-Farm Tool) | Soil measurements coupled with satellite remote sensing analysis. | |
Determines Eligibility | US, croplands only | International | US and specific projects in Canada and Mexico |
Credits verification | Third party verifier | Third party verifier | Third party verifier |
Has this program sold any soil carbon sequestration credits? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Take a look at these carbon market case studies.
In Mead, a small farming town in Saunders County, Nebraska, depleted soils, erosion, weed resistance, disease, drought, and flooding present great environmental challenges.
Since 2016, Wilmot Farm’s Stuart Austin and Trish Cowley have practiced rotational grazing to raise cattle on a picturesque landscape rich with fertile soils and natural waterways.
Dan Probert uses holistic land management techniques to move cattle through a 22,000-acre plot on the Zumwalt Prairie.
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We have no idea who grows our food, what farming practices they use, the communities they support, or what processing it undergoes before reaching our plates.
As a result, we have no ability to make food purchases that align with our values as individuals, or our missions as companies.
To change that, we’ve asked experts to demystify the complexity of food purchasing so that you can better informed decisions about what you buy.
The Lexicon of Food’s community of experts share their insights and experiences on the complex journey food takes to reach our plates. Their work underscores the need for greater transparency and better informed decision-making in shaping a healthier and more sustainable food system for all.
Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?
In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?
How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?
Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?
Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?
It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?
Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.
The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.
Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?
How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?
Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.
Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?
Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?
How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?
What if making the right food choices could be an effective tool for addressing a range of global challenges?
Let’s start with climate change. While it presents our planet with existential challenges, biodiversity loss, desertification, and water scarcity should be of equal concern—they’re all connected.
Instead of seeking singular solutions, we must develop a holistic approach, one that channel our collective energies and achieve positive impacts where they matter most.
To maximize our collective impact, EBF can help consumers focus on six equally important ecological benefits: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and carbon.
We’ve gathered domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.
The Lexicon™ is a California-based nonprofit founded in 2009 with a focus on positive solutions for a more sustainable planet.
For the past five years, it has developed an “activator for good ideas” with support from Food at Google. This model gathers domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.
Together, the community has reached consensus on strategies that respond to challenges across multiple domain areas, including biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food packaging, aquaculture, and the missing middle in supply chains for meat.
Lexicon of Food is the first public release of that work.
Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?
In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?
How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?
Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?
Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?
It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?
Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.
The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.
Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?
How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?
Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.
Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?
Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?
How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?
This game was designed to raise awareness about the impacts our food choices have on our own health, but also the environment, climate change and the cultures in which we live.
First, you can choose one of the four global regions and pick a character that you want to play.
Each region has distinct cultural, economic, historical, and agricultural capacities to feed itself, and each character faces different challenges, such as varied access to food, higher or lower family income, and food literacy.
As you take your character through their day, select the choices you think they might make given their situation.
At the end of the day you will get a report on the impact of your food choices on five areas: health, healthcare, climate, environment and culture. Take some time to read through them. Now go back and try again. Can you make improvements in all five areas? Did one area score higher, but another score lower?
FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET will help you better understand how all these regions and characters’ particularities can influence our food choices, and how our food choices can impact our personal health, national healthcare, environment, climate, and culture. Let’s Play!
The FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET game allows users to experience the dramatic connections between food and climate in a unique and engaging way. The venue and the game set-up provides attendees with a fun experience, with a potential to add a new layer of storytelling about this topic.
Starting the game: the pilot version of the game features four country/regions: Each reflects a different way people (and the national dietary guidelines) look at diets: Nordic Countries (sustainability), Brazil (local and whole foods instead of ultra-processed foods); Canada (plant-forward), and Indonesia (developing countries).
Personalizing the game: players begin by choosing a country and then a character who they help in making food choices over the course of one day. Later versions may allow for creating custom avatars.
Making tough food choices: This interactive game for all ages shows how the food choices we make impact our health and the environment, and even contribute to climate change.
What we eat matters: at the end of each game, players learn that every decision they make impacts not only their health, but a national healthcare system, the environment, climate and even culture.
We’d love to know more about you and why you think you will be a great fit for this position! Shoot us an email introducing you and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Providing best water quality conditions to ensure optimal living condition for growth, breeding and other physiological needs
Water quality is sourced from natural seawater with dependency on the tidal system. Water is treated to adjust pH and alkalinity before stocking.
Producers that own and manages the farm operating under small-scale farming model with limited input, investment which leads to low to medium production yield
All 1,149 of our farmers in both regencies are smallholder farmers who operate with low stocking density, traditional ponds, and no use of any other intensification technology.
Safe working conditions — cleanliness, lighting, equipment, paid overtime, hazard safety, etc. — happen when businesses conduct workplace safety audits and invest in the wellbeing of their employees
Company ensure implementation of safe working conditions by applying representative of workers to health and safety and conduct regular health and safety training. The practices are proven by ASIC standards’ implementation
Implementation of farming operations, management and trading that impact positively to community wellbeing and sustainable better way of living
The company works with local stakeholders and local governments to create support for farmers and the farming community in increasing resilience. Our farming community is empowered by local stakeholders continuously to maintain a long generation of farmers.
Freezing seafood rapidly when it is at peak freshness to ensure a higher quality and longer lasting product
Our harvests are immediately frozen with ice flakes in layers in cool boxes. Boxes are equipped with paper records and coding for traceability. We ensure that our harvests are processed with the utmost care at <-18 degrees Celsius.
Sourcing plant based ingredients, like soy, from producers that do not destroy forests to increase their growing area and produce fish feed ingredients
With adjacent locations to mangroves and coastal areas, our farmers and company are committed to no deforestation at any scale. Mangrove rehabilitation and replantation are conducted every year in collaboration with local authorities. Our farms are not established in protected habitats and have not resulted from deforestation activity since the beginning of our establishment.
Implement only natural feeds grown in water for aquatic animal’s feed without use of commercial feed
Our black tiger shrimps are not fed using commercial feed. The system is zero input and depends fully on natural feed grown in the pond. Our farmers use organic fertilizer and probiotics to enhance the water quality.
Enhance biodiversity through integration of nature conservation and food production without negative impact to surrounding ecosysytem
As our practices are natural, organic, and zero input, farms coexist with surrounding biodiversity which increases the volume of polyculture and mangrove coverage area. Farmers’ groups, along with the company, conduct regular benthic assessments, river cleaning, and mangrove planting.
THE TERM “MOONSHOT” IS OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE an initiative that goes beyond the confines of the present by transforming our greatest aspirations into reality, but the story of a moonshot isn’t that of a single rocket. In fact, the Apollo program that put Neil Armstrong on the moon was actually preceded by the Gemini program, which in a two-year span rapidly put ten rockets into space. This “accelerated” process — with a new mission nearly every 2-3 months — allowed NASA to rapidly iterate, validate their findings and learn from their mistakes. Telemetry. Propulsion. Re-entry. Each mission helped NASA build and test a new piece of the puzzle.
The program also had its fair share of creative challenges, especially at the outset, as the urgency of the task at hand required that the roadmap for getting to the moon be written in parallel with the rapid pace of Gemini missions. Through it all, the NASA teams never lost sight of their ultimate goal, and the teams finally aligned on their shared responsibilities. Within three years of Gemini’s conclusion, a man did walk on the moon.
FACT is a food systems solutions activator that assesses the current food landscape, engages with key influencers, identifies trends, surveys innovative work and creates greater visibility for ideas and practices with the potential to shift key food and agricultural paradigms.
Each activator focuses on a single moonshot; instead of producing white papers, policy briefs or peer-reviewed articles, these teams design and implement blueprints for action. At the end of each activator, their work is released to the public and open-sourced.
As with any rapid iteration process, many of our activators re-assess their initial plans and pivot to address new challenges along the way. Still, one thing has remained constant: their conviction that by working together and pooling their knowledge and resources, they can create a multiplier effect to more rapidly activate change.
Co-Founder
THE LEXICON
Vice President
Global Workplace Programs
GOOGLE
Who can enter and how selections are made.
A Greener Blue is a global call to action that is open to individuals and teams from all over the world. Below is a non-exhaustive list of subjects the initiative targets.
To apply, prospective participants will need to fill out the form on the website, by filling out each part of it. Applications left incomplete or containing information that is not complete enough will receive a low score and have less chance of being admitted to the storytelling lab.
Nonprofit organizations, communities of fishers and fish farmers and companies that are seeking a closer partnership or special support can also apply by contacting hello@thelexicon.org and interacting with the members of our team.
Special attention will be given to the section of the form regarding the stories that the applicants want to tell and the reasons for participating. All proposals for stories regarding small-scale or artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, communities of artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, and workers in different steps of the seafood value chain will be considered.
Stories should show the important role that these figures play in building a more sustainable seafood system. To help with this narrative, the initiative has identified 10 principles that define a more sustainable seafood system. These can be viewed on the initiative’s website and they state:
Seafood is sustainable when:
Proposed stories should show one or more of these principles in practice.
Applications are open from the 28th of June to the 15th of August 2022. There will be 50 selected applicants who will be granted access to The Lexicon’s Total Storytelling Lab. These 50 applicants will be asked to accept and sign a learning agreement and acceptance of participation document with which they agree to respect The Lexicon’s code of conduct.
The first part of the lab will take place online between August the 22nd and August the 26th and focus on training participants on the foundation of storytelling, supporting them to create a production plan, and aligning all of them around a shared vision.
Based on their motivation, quality of the story, geography, and participation in the online Lab, a selected group of participants will be gifted a GoPro camera offered to the program by GoPro For A Change. Participants who are selected to receive the GoPro camera will need to sign an acceptance and usage agreement.
The second part of the Storytelling Lab will consist of a production period in which each participant will be supported in the production of their own story. This period goes from August 26th to October 13th. Each participant will have the opportunity to access special mentorship from an international network of storytellers and seafood experts who will help them build their story. The Lexicon also provides editors, animators, and graphic designers to support participants with more technical skills.
The final deadline to submit the stories is the 14th of October. Participants will be able to both submit complete edited stories, or footage accompanied by a storyboard to be assembled by The Lexicon’s team.
All applicants who will exhibit conduct and behavior that is contrary to The Lexicon’s code of conduct will be automatically disqualified. This includes applicants proposing stories that openly discriminate against a social or ethnic group, advocate for a political group, incite violence against any group, or incite to commit crimes of any kind.
All submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Submissions must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.
Participants will retain the copyrights to their work while also granting access to The Lexicon and the other partners of the initiative to share their contributions as part of A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative.
If a potential selected applicant cannot be reached by the team of the Initiative within three (3) working days, using the contact information provided at the time of entry, or if the communication is returned as undeliverable, that potential participant shall forfeit.
Selected applicants will be granted access to an advanced Storytelling Lab taught and facilitated by Douglas Gayeton, award-winning storyteller and information architect, co-founder of The Lexicon. In this course, participants will learn new techniques that will improve their storytelling skills and be able to better communicate their work with a global audience. This skill includes (but is not limited to) how to build a production plan for a documentary, how to find and interact with subjects, and how to shoot a short documentary.
Twenty of the participants will receive a GoPro Hero 11 Digital Video and Audio Cameras by September 15, 2022. Additional participants may receive GoPro Digital Video and Audio Cameras to be announced at a later date. The recipients will be selected by advisors to the program and will be based on selection criteria (see below) on proposals by Storytelling Lab participants. The selections will keep in accordance with Lab criteria concerning geography, active participation in the Storytelling Lab and commitment to the creation of a story for the Initiative, a GoPro Camera to use to complete the storytelling lab and document their story. These recipients will be asked to sign an acceptance letter with terms of use and condition to receive the camera.
The Lexicon provides video editors, graphic designers, and animators to support the participants to complete their stories.
The submitted stories will be showcased during international and local events, starting from the closing event of the International Year of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 in Rome, in January 2023. The authors of the stories will be credited and may be invited to join.
Storytelling lab participation:
Applicants that will be granted access to the storytelling Lab will be evaluated based on the entries they provided in the online form, and in particular:
Applications will be evaluated by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).
When selecting applications, the call promoters may request additional documentation or interviews both for the purpose of verifying compliance with eligibility requirements and to facilitate proposal evaluation.
Camera recipients:
Participants to the Storytelling Lab who will be given a GoPro camera will be selected based on:
The evaluation will be carried out by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).
Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed in these Official Rules but which may be associated with the acceptance, receipt and use of the Storytelling Lab and the camera are solely the responsibility of the respective participants and are not covered by The Lexicon or any of the A Greener Blue partners.
All participants who receive a Camera are required to sign an agreement allowing GoPro for a Cause, The Lexicon and GSSI to utilize the films for A Greener Blue and their promotional purposes. All participants will be required to an agreement to upload their footage into the shared drive of The Lexicon and make the stories, films and images available for The Lexicon and the promoting partners of A Greener Blue.