Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities

    Action for Climate-Smart Agriculture

    Our project will develop systems, tools, and expertise to create
    a sustainable marketplace for climate-smart commodities

    starting now and continuing into the future

    This project will support farmers and ranchers (producers) in the Northeast, greater Midwest, and Western United States in implementing climate-smart agriculture. Project partners and collaborators will train agricultural technical assistance providers (TAPs), develop open-source, farmer-centered ag technology, and advance a robust, accessible marketplace for climate-smart products.

    Over the course of the 5-year project, at least 385 producers will receive funding to improve soil health through on-site practice adoption, model and measure climate impacts of adopting practices, and access purchase premiums for practicing climate-smart agriculture in digital marketplaces.

    PROJECT OPPORTUNITES

    Empower Producers with Knowledge and Market Access​

    Engage producers with tools and technology as they choose, equipping them and other food systems actors with shared knowledge, collaborative frameworks, and open-source, connected technologies.

     

    Provide direct-to-producer grants for climate-smart agriculture implementation through the generation of collective funding from buyers as well as public and private funders, such as the USDA.

     

    Implement modeling and measuring of climate benefits to support research concurrent with advancing widespread climate-smart agriculture implementation.

    Bolster Existing Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) Networks​

    Outreach to TAPs about OpenTEAM’s tech ecosystem, engaging them for early input regarding digital marketplaces and other technology systems and tools for farmer-partners.

     

    Invest in existing TAP networks for on-farm soil sampling through partnerships with experts in soil science, sampling methodology, and ecological data collection and storage.

    Develop and Utilize Digital Marketplaces​

    Partner with leaders in this space to fund ongoing efforts that emphasize climate-smart purchasing and funding patterns.

     

    Garner price premiums for producers implementing climate-smart practices.

     

    Connect producers with buyers and funders through tools that will help provide each with the production and supply chain information they need to make the best decision for their operations.

    Build Partnerships and Develop Technology

    Develop interconnected and accessible technological infrastructure between TAPs, producers, buyers, funders, tools and systems.

     

    Cultivate community with new and existing collaborators across the West, greater Midwest, and Northeast as the project grows. 

     

    ENROLLEMENT INFORMATION
    Enrollment for producers looking to participate in this project will be primarily conducted through outreach via existing TAP networks, beginning in Summer 2023.

    Contact information for Regional Program Managers coming soon! We are in the process of hiring Regional Program Managers in the West (hired by June 2023), Midwest (hired by September 2023), and in the Northeast (hired by Fall/Winter 2023).

    For more information regarding this Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Award, please contact OpenTEAM’s Director of Network Development for Environmental Markets, Hannah Tikalsky, at hannah@openteam.community.

    This work is supported by a subaward from a federal grant, led by OpenTEAM as an initiative of Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment.

    This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G032.

    Relevant data and stories will be shared with other USDA project awardees and USDA leadership to inform the next generation of grant funding and other climate-smart infrastructure supports. Learn more about USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities here.

    PROJECT PARTNERS

    This list of partners will expand as we finalize partnership agreements and the project grows.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.