A new carbon program has been launched by Truterra to help farmers generate and sell carbon credits to private sector buyers. The program, TruCarbon, is the first farmer-owned carbon program in the U.S.

TruCarbon offers buyers carbon credits that are created using soil and conservation science, and precision data and verification methods. The program offers farmers a streamlined experience, making it easier for them to develop and sell carbon credits. Through the TruterraTM Insights Engine data platform, the new TruCarbon program provides farmers and their ag retail advisers a planning suite of soil health tools. The tools are designed to help farmers decide what is best for their business while optimizing their fields’ carbon credit potential.

“TruCarbon is providing farmers new opportunities to be recognized and rewarded for their stewardship, creating new revenue opportunities for farm families as they adopt soil health practices and increasing the focus on carbon storage in crop fields," said Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Truterra is a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes. "It’s through innovative approaches such as TruCarbon that our farmer cooperative system can help ensure that farmers’ businesses are profitable, our rural communities are resilient, and the land, air and water are healthy for future generations.”

TruCarbon is launching with Microsoft as its first secured buyer to purchase carbon in 2021, which will help meet the company’s ambitious commitment to be carbon negative by 2030. For this initial launch, participating farmers may receive $20 per ton of carbon with payments this summer for this first tranche of credits. Qualifying farmers may be compensated for carbon sequestration retroactively up to five years based on the soil health practices they adopted in prior growing seasons. For maximum farmer convenience, Truterra will handle soil testing and other activities designed to ensure maximum credit quality and value. Farmers can begin the information and enrollment process by visiting https://www.truterraag.com/CarbonSurvey.

“We are excited to be able to bring this program to farmers through our trusted network of ag retailers, offering a competitive price and streamlined experience so that they can stay focused on farming and their stewardship," said Jason Weller, Vice President, Truterra

“The science is clear,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, CEO of the Soil Health Institute, which is collaborating with Truterra on TruCarbon metrics and soil sampling protocols. “Storing more carbon in soils not only benefits a farmer’s bottom line, but also improves water quality and helps fight climate change. Farmers who adopt soil health practices build drought resilience, reduce erosion and minimize nutrient losses. All of us at the Soil Health Institute are excited to work with Truterra on this project because it will help achieve these on-farm and environmental benefits at scale.”

Source: Truterra, LLC, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.