Month: April 2023

For most of the last century, modern farming has included heavy dependence on mechanical tilling, single crops, chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.  As a result, much of United States farmland soil is depleted of nutrients, natural soil microbes and organic matter, with continuing loss of top soil to wind and water erosion.  Farm productivity is… Continue reading Biochar’s Role in Farming and Soil Health

The European Commission’s proposed Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) should have helped determine what constitutes valid carbon-dioxide removals in the European Union. But the draft certification, monitoring and accounting system has many shortcomings. A fatal flaw is the strong focus on the wrong types of removals, including ‘carbon farming’, gaining momentum in associated policy debates. To be considered… Continue reading Environmental stewardship yes, ‘carbon farming’ no

In an era of a rapidly changing climate, achieving agricultural sustainability is critical to ensure the health and well-being of our planet. With limited resources and an ever-increasing population, traditional farming practices can no longer support a sustainable food system. Fortunately, the current technological advances in machine learning offer a promising path toward more sustainable… Continue reading How machine learning can make agriculture more sustainable

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an investment of more than $46 million in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which has funded farmer-driven grants and grassroots education programs resulting in climate-smart solutions for farms and ranches in every state and island protectorate since 1988. “This investment in sustainable agriculture underscores… Continue reading USDA invests over $46M in sustainable agriculture research and education