The United States recently hosted the AIM for Climate Summit in Washington, D.C. from May 8th to May 10th, 2023. This premier global event, supported by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, producers, civil society groups, scientists, and researchers from around the world. The Summit focused on accelerating investment in and support for agriculture and food systems innovation to combat climate change.
It was a momentous week for the Soil Health Institute to amplify the impact of soil health initiatives that play a crucial role in ensuring a resilient future for our food systems. Here are some highlights from our week in DC:
Tuesday, May 9
SHI’s Chief Scientific Officer, Cristine Morgan, Ph.D., participated in a panel discussion with Devon Leahy, Global Sustainability Officer at Ralph Lauren, Jesse Daystar, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Cotton Incorporated, and Byron Rath, SHI’s Chief Impact Officer, to discuss the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund (USRCF).
The breakout session, entitled “Measuring Soil Health: The Foundation of Regenerative Agriculture” addressed the strategies SHI is employing to quantify achievable levels of soil organic carbon concentration, carbon mineralization potential, aggregate stability, and available water holding capacity for different soil types across more than 11 million acres representing 85% of U.S. cotton production.
The USRCF is made possible with support from the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, the Walmart Foundation, the VF Foundation, Levi Strauss & Co, Cotton Incorporated, and the Hearst Foundations.
Learn more about USRCF.
Wednesday, May 10
The Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration Project (DSWR), led by Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI), was announced as an Innovation Sprint by the Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate. The U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative aims to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality in the dairy industry while improving water use and quality. The DSWR project will collect data over six years to assess the greenhouse gas footprint and soil health of dairy farms in response to soil health management practices and innovative manure-based products.
SHI Project Manager and Research Soil Scientist, Dr. Mara Cloutier (featured below right alongside Dr. Tim Kurt, Senior Vice President of Environmental Research for DMI and SHI’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Cristine Morgan), works with dozens of dairies across the major production regions of the U.S. to baseline their soil health and carbon storage as part of this effort. DSWR is being implemented with generous support from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research with matching contributions from Nestlé, the dairy industry, and Newtrient.
Learn more about the Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration Initiative.
SHI’s Chief Scientific Officer, Cristine Morgan, Ph.D., was excited to join the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) Team’s AIM for Climate Panel “Scaling Healthy Soil Practices through Innovative Partnerships, Financing & Policy.” She was joined by colleagues from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CIFOR-ICRAF, Clim-Eat, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Bayer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University, and Sustainable Harvest. Together, they highlighted on-the-ground advancements in accurate monitoring of soil health, opportunities for a soil health resolution in upcoming climate negotiations, and opportunities for equitable finance. SHI is excited to be linked with CA4SH in its efforts to improve soil health across the globe by addressing barriers that farmers face when adopting and scaling soil health management systems.
Learn more about CA4SH.
Learn more about SHI’s Recommended Measurements for Scaling Soil Health Assessment.
The AIM for Climate Summit provided a platform for AIM for Climate partners to raise ambition and amplify their work in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. Through our participation in various panels and discussions, SHI made a significant impact on this global audience and showcased our commitment to safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils through scientific research and advancement.