OF NOTE USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded $25 million to conservation partners for 18 new projects under the Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovations Trails (On-Farm Trials) program. One of the projects is The Regeneration Egg Farming Project in Kentucky by our member Handsome Brooks Farm. This will support five beginning farmers in adopting climate-smart regenerative egg practices. This on-farm trial will establish on-farm manure management, storage and distribution systems designed to reduce GHG emissions, reduce on-farm soil erosion, and drastically reduce watershed pollution through pasture enhancements and investments in housing infrastructure. National Co+op Grocer’s (NCG) Co+op Forest carbon offset program in 2021 invested in farmer training and climate solutions in Brazil. Since 2021, NCG’s program funded the planting and protection of 1.8 million trees by fair trade farmer co-ops in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. The farmers, who grow cacao that is part of food co-ops’ chocolate supply, have also used the funds to implement agroforestry methods, plans for retirement, and improvements to their communities’ quality of life. Now, NCG is moving the focus to Brazil in helping fund an established farmer training and reforestation project in the state of Mato Grosso. NCG has made an inaugural investment in the project by offsetting 1,000 tons of carbon emissions. The offsets will fund the planting of more than 3,000 rainforest trees in the year ahead. South American rainforests are often described as the “lungs of the world.” Meanwhile, NCG is continuing to invest in Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund’s Food Box Program. The program connects Black farmers who have lost market share due to the ongoing economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with families in their communities who don’t have enough to eat. Uncle Matt’s Organic® during October 2021 through January 2022 partnered to support Chris Nikic—the first person with Down’s syndrome to complete a 140.6-mile Ironman—and his 1% Better Foundation. During that time, a portion of the profits from every bottle of Uncle Matt’s Organic juice varieties sold were donated to the 1% Better Foundation. Textile Exchange has recognized a handful of leaders with Ryan Young Climate+ Awards for driving progress towards lowering the climatic impact of the textile industry by using organic, recycled, and regenerative solutions. The defining goal of Textile Exchange’s Climate+ Strategy is a 45% greenhouse gas reduction in the textile fiber and material production phase by 2030. Among the award winners are two members of the Organic Trade Association’s Fiber Council: Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed and Margot Lyons and team at Coyuchi. News Bites
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