Sustainable Agriculture

iGrow News Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture News highlights the latest initiatives, research, and practices aimed at creating a more environmentally friendly and resilient food system.

Covering topics such as regenerative farming, organic practices, water conservation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity, this category focuses on innovations that promote sustainability across the agriculture sector. Learn about new technologies, policy developments, and industry efforts to reduce the environmental impact of farming, improve soil health, and support local ecosystems.

Stay informed on the approaches and solutions driving sustainable agriculture forward to meet the challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and global food security.

Cody Bailey, Director of Product Management at Reinke, sat down with us to discuss approaches to adapting smart irrigation systems.

Reinke’s Insights on Smart Irrigation and Water Management

Cody Bailey, Director of Product Management at Reinke, sat down with us to discuss approaches to adapting smart irrigation systems.

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Ag-West Bio has received $350,500 in non-repayable funding through the RIE program to support Saskatchewan’s food ingredient sector.

Ag-West Bio Expands Food Ingredient Cluster with New Funding

Ag-West Bio has received $350,500 in non-repayable funding through the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program to support Saskatchewan’s food ingredient sector.

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McCain Foods reports 71% of its farming partners have reached the Onboarding stage of its Regenerative Agriculture Framework.

McCain Foods Reports Progress on Regenerative Agriculture Goals

McCain Foods reports 71% of its farming partners have reached the Onboarding stage of its Regenerative Agriculture Framework.

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Explore the Netafim Hybrid Dripline, designed for clog resistance and easy installation in various agricultural applications.

Netafim Hybrid Dripline: Breakthrough In Drip Irrigation

Explore the Netafim Hybrid Dripline, designed for clog resistance and easy installation in various agricultural applications.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill has released "Unfolded," a short film focusing on sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture practices.

Chipotle Launches “Unfolded” Short Film Highlighting Sustainable Agriculture

Chipotle Mexican Grill has released "Unfolded," a short film focusing on sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture practices.

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TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables have established a joint venture to develop renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the U.S.

TotalEnergies & Jeunes Agriculteurs Partner to Support Young Farmers in Energy Transition

TotalEnergies and Vanguard Renewables have established a joint venture to develop renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the U.S.

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Lundberg Family Farms is accelerating R&D of rice varieties compatible with climate-friendly regenerative organic farming.

Lundberg Family Farms Expands Climate-Resilient Rice Breeding Program

Lundberg Family Farms is accelerating research and development of rice varieties compatible with climate-friendly regenerative organic farming.

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Explore the key concepts of understanding sustainable agriculture and its impact on productivity and environmental health.

Understanding Sustainable Agriculture: Principles, Focus Areas & Opportunities

Explore the key concepts of understanding sustainable agriculture and its impact on productivity and environmental health.

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The US beekeeping industry is facing a severe crisis as beekeepers across the country report unprecedented colony losses, with some operations experiencing 70-100% mortality rates.

US Beekeeping Industry Faces Unprecedented Colony Losses

The US beekeeping industry is facing a severe crisis as beekeepers across the country report unprecedented colony losses, with some operations experiencing 70-100% mortality rates.

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Key Takeaways: CIBO Technologies leverages simulation, modeling, and remote sensing to support regenerative agriculture. The company’s platform simplifies access to sustainability programs by integrating corporate and government incentives. CIBO collaborates with agricultural advisors to scale its solutions. Challenges include slow corporate climate action and complex enrollment processes for farmers. By 2030, CIBO aims to impact over 100 million acres globally while maintaining profitability. Leveraging Technology for Regenerative Agriculture CIBO Technologies, founded by Flagship Pioneering, was established to address challenges in understanding and improving the food system at scale. According to Daniel Ryan, CEO of CIBO Technologies, the company focuses on leveraging science and technology, including simulation, modeling, and remote sensing, to create scalable solutions without relying on extensive local data. “The problem we’re trying to solve is understanding the food and agriculture system at any scale without having to get local data,” Ryan explained. “Using inferences and modeling, we aim to understand what’s happening anywhere without needing data from a farmer.” The company’s software platform aims to enable corporations and governments to implement sustainability programs that incentivize farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices. Bridging Farmers and Incentives CIBO’s mission includes simplifying access to sustainability programs for farmers. Ryan noted that farmers often face complex enrollment processes, which can deter participation. “One of the challenges is that enrollments for some programs are very complex for farmers,” he said. “Farmers have to manually gather data about planting dates, cultivars, and nitrogen use, which can be a lengthy process.” To address this, the platform works through trusted advisors, such as agronomists and crop consultants, who bring these programs to farmers. “Rather than try to create trust at the farmgate ourselves, we’ve chosen to leverage the existing relationships farmers have with their advisors,” Ryan added. CIBO’s technology also pre-qualifies farmers for programs based on field boundaries and modeled practices, reducing the burden of data collection during the initial stages of enrollment. “We can very quickly tell farmers whether they’re qualified for a program without requiring them to answer a thousand questions,” said Ryan. Addressing Industry Challenges The agricultural sector faces several challenges, including financial pressures on farmers and slow progress by corporations toward climate targets. Ryan acknowledged that corporate commitments to sustainability have progressed more slowly than anticipated. “Inflation has impacted their margins,” he said. “They’ve probably come out of the gate more slowly than if you’d talked to them in 2020 or 2019.” CIBO’s platform seeks to address these issues by integrating government funding, such as USDA conservation programs, with corporate sustainability initiatives. This approach aims to reduce costs for corporations while providing financial benefits to farmers. “We integrate USDA NRCS grants directly into our platform,” Ryan explained, “to bring funding alongside corporate incentives and deploy programs to farmers more effectively.” Innovations in Regenerative Agriculture Ryan highlighted several technologies that could advance regenerative agriculture, including biologicals that improve soil health, nitrogen-use efficiency, and automated data integration from farm equipment. Long-term funding is also critical. “Our goal is to create a 10-year resilience roadmap,” Ryan explained, “emphasizing the importance of supporting farmers through the initial years of transition to regenerative practices.” Additionally, while official statistics on the adoption of regenerative agriculture are challenging to establish, certain practices are gaining traction. For example, the McKinsey Global Farmer Insights 2024 states that 68% of farmers have adopted crop rotations, 56% have implemented reduced or no-tillage practices, 40% utilize variable-rate spraying or fertilization, and 35% practice controlled irrigation.  The company also sees potential in complementary financial solutions, such as low-interest loans and innovative insurance products, to further encourage adoption of sustainable practices. “There are fintech elements, like lower-interest loans for regenerative farming, that will become increasingly important as we move forward,” Ryan noted. Vision for CIBO CIBO Technologies aims to expand its reach globally, impacting over 100 million acres of farmland. The company’s goal is to become a leading platform for regenerative agriculture, balancing scalability and profitability. “We hope to become the de facto standard for regenerative agriculture and to have a global impact, not just in North America,” said Ryan. Ryan outlined a vision for a more resilient food system, reduced emissions, and improved soil health. He noted that reversing soil degradation and ensuring food security are essential priorities for the agricultural sector. Enhancing soil carbon sequestration could sequester up to 23 gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050, creating long-term environmental benefits. “We don’t have a choice but to do this work,” Ryan stated. “Somehow, it has to get funded because people are going to want to eat.”

Daniel Ryan on Scaling Regenerative Agriculture: How CIBO Technologies Integrates Data, Incentives, and Innovation

Discover how CIBO Technologies leverages simulation and remote sensing for regenerative agriculture. Learn about CEO Daniel Ryan's vision.

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