USDA to fund ‘Climate-Smart’ program

Apr 20, 2023

Just under $3 billion was earmarked by the USDA last fall for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program.

Funding has become available in the past few weeks, says Ben West, executive director for Farmers for Soil Health, one of the groups that received $95 million in funding.

This project looks to accelerate long-term cover crop adoption by creating a platform to incentivize farmers, according to a USDA release. The platform will quantify, verify and facilitate the sale of ecosystem benefits, creating a marketplace to generate demand for “climate-smart commodities.”

The lead partner is the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and other major partners include the United Soybean Board, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Pork Board.

Click here to see more...

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.