USDA Announces Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities

The Department of Agriculture has announced a "new Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities" opportunity to provide up to $1 billion for pilot projects that create market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. Through this initiative, "USDA will finance partnerships to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Pilots will provide technical and financial assistance to producers who implement climate-smart practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; pilot innovative and cost-effective method for quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and market the resulting climate-smart commodities." Of note, "Afforestation/reforestation and sustainable forest management" is an eligible category to apply for pilot project funding. For more information, click here.