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Nitrogen is essential for life, but excess nitrogen can pollute the atmosphere and water. EDF's new N Balance Implementation Guide provides a road map for food and agriculture companies to help reduce nitrogen pollution from agricultural production and claim the environmental improvements associated with nitrogen management.

EDF’s Executive Vice President for Impact, Angela Churie Kallhauge, reflects on the outcomes of the annual United Nations climate conference.

Nitrogen — which is often added to farm fields through commercial fertilizer, manure or leguminous plants — is essential for feeding and clothing eight billion people around the world, and counting. But serious problems occur when fields have too little or too much nitrogen. Too little lowers crop yields and depletes soil health. Too much …

Citing the overlapping challenges of climate, energy poverty, food security, President Joe Biden today unveiled a suite of actions to support developing countries adapt and build resilience to climate impacts, recommit to global efforts to reduce methane emissions, and create climate-smart food systems.  

Farmers have a long history of steadily increasing crop yields through technological innovation and improvements in management practices. However, as climate change makes weather more extreme and variable than ever before, productivity progress will likely stall by 2030 — even if the U.S. maintains past rates of R&D investment and innovation. Adaptation efforts must begin …

As the UN climate conference kicks off in Egypt, food and agriculture are central to negotiations for the first time. More severe droughts, warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall fueled by climate change are making it harder than ever for the world’s one billion farmers to grow food and fiber. While some farms and regions are …

As climate change threatens agricultural production around the world, the agricultural finance institutions that work with farmers also face growing risk to their businesses — as well as untapped opportunities to help farmers prepare for climate impacts. A new report — The Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Finance — conducted by Environmental Defense Fund …

This global survey is the first of its kind to measure the climate change perceptions, actions and challenges at agricultural finance institutions. This survey reveals that many institutions are alert to the risks and opportunities inherent to climate change, but need greater support to take action.

As we gear up for COP27, we need to realize how far we have to go when it comes to global food security. The post World Food Day has come and gone, with food security still out of reach for people and planet first appeared on Growing Returns.

Without urgent adaptation action, climate impacts are likely to curb U.S. crop productivity growth as soon as 2030.

In January 2022, global farmer-to-farmer network and ag tech company Farmers Business Network®, launched a new rebate program for farm operating loans. The Regenerative Agriculture Finance Operating Line program includes a 0.5% interest rate rebate for farmers who achieve climate and water quality benchmarks established by Environmental Defense Fund. Both farmers who already meet the benchmarks,

Farms, ranches and forests can get the U.S. 17% of the way toward the national goal to cut emissions in half by 2030.

Businesses have a unique opportunity to drive innovation to reduce enteric methane, according to a new EDF report. Companies with beef and dairy in their supply chains can play a critical role in reducing global enteric emissions by creating incentives and by investing in technologies that are tailored to the needs and concerns of farmers and ranchers.

USDA awarded $2.8 billion for pilot projects that develop and expand markets for crops and livestock farmed in ways that reduce emissions or sequester carbon.

Methane is the climate opportunity companies and policymakers can’t afford to miss. In fact, reducing methane emissions is critical to slowing global warming in the near term and meeting net zero climate goals. As companies and policymakers look to drive new opportunities to reduce agricultural methane emissions, understanding where producers are today and how to …

New legislation shows that the U.S. is serious about reducing climate risks and expanding opportunities in rural communities. The post To address climate change, U.S. makes historic investment in rural America first appeared on Growing Returns.

This post was authored by EDF policy experts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin on July 27 announced the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 — an agreement that will improve Americans’ lives by fighting inflation, lowering healthcare costs, and making significant down payments on energy security and climate progress. If passed by …

Scientists agree that agricultural soils can be part of the climate solution, but their estimates about how much soils could slow warming vary widely. The post Scientists agree: Soil health matters but climate mitigation potential still uncertain first appeared on Growing Returns.

Donny Hicks, a longtime almond farmer near Modesto, participated in the Water Leadership Institute to better understand groundwater issues in his area. Read on to learn what Donny gained from the institute and how he is adapting to water scarcity by working with another institute graduate to test a new innovative irrigation system. The post This almond industry expert participated in the Leadership Institute to learn more about groundwater. Now he’s sharing that knowledge. first appeared on On the Water Front.

These are the three key things that successful applications had in common. The post California’s new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program is already oversubscribed. Here are 3 features of successful applications. first appeared on Growing Returns.

Enteric methane is emitted when ruminants, like cows, digest their food. These emissions are the single largest source of agricultural methane emissions, which makes reducing enteric emissions a massive opportunity to slow warming, today. New breakthrough technologies coming to market are giving companies across the food and agricultural supply chain the ability to partner with …

The California Department of Conservation has awrded a grant to Self-Help Enterprises and EDF to support coordination and peer learning for Multibenefit Land Repurposing Proram.

Companies are designing strategies that will drive immediate and meaningful progress on their climate and net zero commitments. The pressure points – from investors, employees and customers – on companies to take accountability for their climate impacts is mounting, putting business leaders under pressure to find immediate ways to slash their emissions.   Many are turning …

Among food shortages and an escalating hunger crisis, a new problem has arisen: the skyrocketing prices of vegetable oils used in everyday cooking.

Among food shortages and an escalating hunger crisis, a new problem has arisen: the skyrocketing prices of vegetable oils used in everyday cooking.