Pilot project launches for Southern cotton farms to engage in ecosystem service markets

The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC), US Cotton Trust Protocol, Manulife Investment Management, and Forum for the Future recently announced the launch of an Eco-Harvest pilot project in Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. This project will work with cotton farmers to generate high quality carbon and greenhouse gas credits on over 2,300 acres, through implementing conservation practices such as nutrient management, reduced tillage, and cover crops.

Global certification body SustainCERT will verify results; corporate buyers can purchase these credits. The project plans to enroll Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers to ensure ESMC’s program includes producers who may encounter barriers to participation in carbon markets.

Noting the significant upfront costs of implementing sustainable agriculture, Manulife Investment Management’s Brandon Lewis said, “We seek to support …by providing training, information, and financial support through the generation of soil carbon credits.”

Organic & Non-GMO Insights April 2023