USDA is investing millions of dollars into a plan to improve the measurement and monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in agriculture.
A total of $300 million in funding was allocated by the Inflation Reduction Act. The strategy is based on priorities set in the recently released “Federal Strategy to Advance Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Monitoring for the Agriculture and Forest Sectors,” which the department said provides a framework for improving accuracy in GHG measurements. The draft strategy was produced by USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Interior, NASA and others.
“This new investment by USDA in improving data and measurement of greenhouse gas emissions—made possible by through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda—is unmatched in its scope and potential to increase accuracy, reduce uncertainty and enhance overall confidence in these estimates,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.
Plan details
The federal strategy outlines a framework for how to enhance GHG measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification. It also aligns with ongoing work on how to quantify carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
There are seven key areas USDA will focus on in the plan:
• Create a Soil Carbon Monitoring and Research Network.
• Create a Greenhouse Gas Research Network.
• Expand data management, infrastructure and capacity.
• Improve models and tools for assessing GHG outcomes.
• Improve Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practice standards and implementation.
• Improve temporal and spatial coverage of national conservation activity data.
• Strengthen the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Assessment Program of USDA.
According to DTN, White House Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi told reporters in a call that the draft plan will call on other agencies, such as the EPA, the Energy Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to work with USDA.
The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), a coalition of food, agriculture and forestry groups, applauded USDA’s move. The group said several of their priorities were included in the plan, including the launch of a national soil carbon monitoring network and updates to conservation practice standards.
“FACA supports science-based evaluation mechanisms for GHG quantification that account for the diversity and breadth of agricultural and forestry production systems,” the coalition said in a statement. “Continued stakeholder input is necessary to ensure strong protections for producer privacy, and standards for data governance.”
FACA said it supports voluntary, market-based and scientifically sound climate policies.
USDA will be hosting a webinar on July 21 at 1 p.m. ET for those who want to learn more. Registration is required and can be submitted at tinyurl.com/3h7p5v88.
In addition, USDA is seeking comments on the draft strategy over four topics: general comments or questions, animal agriculture, croplands, and data and data sharing. Comments must be submitted by Aug. 11. To submit a comment, search for docket ID USDA-2023-0009 at regulations.gov.
To view the draft strategy in its entirety, visit tinyurl.com/yckck8tw. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
