Farmers need better research and tools to store carbon in their soils.
Existing soil carbon research is sparse, and when it comes to measuring soil carbon and managing its data, we’re coming up short. Farmers and ranchers need affordable, data-backed tools and regionally relevant demonstration trials to take the plunge and confidently implement soil carbon practices. (Fact sheet)
Landowners face serious barriers to reforestation.
A national seedling shortage hinders reforestation efforts, especially as increasing wildfires ramp up replanting needs. Simultaneously, land use competition and a lack of incentives make selling forestland more appealing than ever. We’ll need a robust workforce and planting strategy to meet the moment, keeping forests as forests and integrating productive trees into agricultural lands. (Fact sheet)
The Farm Bill can change this.
How? Read our memos.
Our recommendations
It’s time to invest in a climate-resilient future with robust soil carbon research and monitoring, expanded agroforestry practices, and a seed-to-stand reforestation strategy.
Carbon180 is proposing a farmer-centered research agenda to put soil carbon sequestration into practice.
- Centralize and coordinate federal soil carbon research efforts.
- Launch a national Soil Carbon Monitoring Network (SCMN) to jumpstart large-scale data collection and management.
- Advance the next generation of soil carbon measurement.
- Expand real-world demonstration trials to build confidence in soil carbon practices.
- Bolster state and Tribal climate action by providing matching funds.
Carbon180 is proposing a science-based forestry campaign down to the seeds, saplings, nurseries, and workforce — in our forests and on our productive agricultural lands.
- Address the seedling shortage and nursery capacity, especially with wildfires creating more need for recovery and replanting.
- Create an agroforestry initiative to integrate harvestable tree crops into marginal farmland more widely.
- Expand forest conservation easement options to keep forests as forests.
Soil carbon storage
Some of the most consequential innovations in America have been underpinned by government-funded research. Soil carbon data should be no different, yet it doesn’t exist effectively today. With a better understanding of carbon storage, farmers can make decisions about the best climate-smart practices for their land (think: agroforestry, cover crops, or rotational grazing).
Not all climate-smart practices are created equal, however, especially from region to region. Research, data collection, and measurement on soil carbon must be responsive to the unique cultural and regional barriers that American farmers face when implementing new practices. Under the Farm Bill’s research and conservation titles, we’re proposing a rehaul of how soil carbon is understood to maximize the carbon-storing potential of US lands.
Public agricultural research is declining,
but needs to rise to meet the challenge of climate change.
— = Private agriculture funding,
mostly spent on day-to-day functionality, with things like farm machinery and crop seed
— = Public agriculture funding,
mostly spent on fundamental research, which can have conservation and social benefits
Forest carbon removal
Trees have been removing and cycling carbon out of the atmosphere for millions of years. Still, they’re a bit of an untapped reservoir — publicly protected and private commercial forests can together store 630 million metric tons of atmospheric carbon every year if we treat them right. When the land prospers, so do we.
From a handful of tiny seedlings to a forest of mature trees, reforestation requires well-staffed nurseries and a range of planting and management strategies, including agroforestry. Under the Farm Bill’s conservation and forestry titles, we’re proposing a holistic, science-based approach to reforestation to store more carbon in our forests, while creating high quality, long-term revenue streams for producer communities.
Seed sourcing
A robust seed sourcing strategy requires an expanded workforce with specialized training to collect, store, and conserve seeds.
Nursery expansion
We’ll need to more than double tree nursery production to realize US reforestation potential and climate goals.
Integrating trees
Effective forest restoration across diverse ecosystems and producer communities calls for regional best practices, including integrated management systems like agroforestry.
Conservation
It is essential to keep forests as forests, young and old, to sustain carbon storage and ecosystem function long-term.
Carbon180's Farm Bill platform
Go deeper on our recommendations by subject area
Research: Centralizing and Coordinating Soil Carbon Efforts Across the Federal Government
The Soil Carbon Monitoring Network (SCMN): Jumpstarting Large-Scale Soil Carbon Data Collection
Demonstration trials: De-Risking Adoption of Soil Carbon Practices
Monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV): Advancing Towards Next-Generation Soil Carbon Measurement
Grants for states and Tribes: Bolstering State and
Tribal Climate Action
Agroforestry: Building Resilience Through Productive Trees
Nurseries: Enhancing a Science-Based Seedling Supply Chain
Keeping forests as forests: Expanding Forest Conservation Easements
Get in the weeds
How did we arrive here? Years of research, listening sessions with farmers and ranchers, and policy development. Take a spin through our reports, fact sheets, and perspectives.
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