Key Takeaways:
- Innovative Partnership: EcoBalance Global, KazBeef (Yerkin Tatishev’s Kusto Group subsidiary), and rTek (Rakurs Consulting Group company) have partnered to produce the world’s first climate-smart beef using carbon insets.
- Pilot Ranch Outside the US: The initiative, launched at COP28 in Dubai, marks the first pilot ranch outside the United States to introduce blockchain-backed, environmentally sustainable cattle farming.
- EcoBalance’s Rotational Grazing Framework: The project utilizes EcoBalance Global’s Framework, which incorporates rotational grazing for enhanced carbon capture and precise carbon accounting using satellite technology.
- Significance for Global Agriculture: The pilot aims to establish a scalable model for low-carbon beef production, potentially transforming global agricultural practices and contributing to net-zero goals.
In a groundbreaking move, EcoBalance Global, a US-based leader in carbon storage projects, KazBeef, a Kusto Group subsidiary, and rTek, a Rakurs Consulting Group company, have joined forces to launch the world’s first pilot ranch outside the United States, dedicated to producing climate bright beef. This pioneering initiative, unveiled at COP28 in Dubai, is set to revolutionize the livestock and farming industry, showcasing how it can contribute to the net-zero solution.
The KazBeef pilot is built upon EcoBalance Global’s Framework, encouraging ranches to adopt a specialized rotational grazing program. This technique increases carbon capture in the soil and employs machine learning and satellite technology for sustainable land management and accurate carbon accounting. The integration of blockchain technology ensures transparency and authenticity in the process.
rTek, a company based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, brings its expertise in remote sensing and MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) development to the table, specifically in precision agriculture, to bolster the pilot program.
Spanning a decade, this pilot project aims to demonstrate the world’s first carbon-inset beef supply chain. The overarching goal is to use EcoBalance’s Framework as a global standard for sustainable and climate-smart beef supply.
Tellan Steffan from EcoBalance Global expressed enthusiasm about the MoU signing with KazBeef and rTek at COP28, emphasizing the opportunity for Kazakh farmers to implement a scalable carbon storage project on their land and create marketable low-carbon beef products. Steffan highlighted the significant impact of food systems on greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the potential of the EcoBalance Framework to mitigate carbon emissions in agriculture globally.
KazBeef, established in 2011, has been a proponent of environmentally conscious farming, boasting a large cattle operation and substantial beef production. The partnership with EcoBalance Global aligns with its mission to innovate farming methods and reduce the carbon footprint, offering new revenue streams for local farmers.
EcoBalance Global’s North Dakota ranch has already made strides in carbon credit registration and climate-smart cattle production, showcasing the viability and impact of such initiatives.
Yerkin Tatishev, Chairman of Kusto Group, praised KazBeef’s pioneering role in environmentally friendly farming and hoped their efforts would be a model for others. The recognition of these efforts at COP28 underlines their significance in the transition towards sustainable global food production.
Dosym Kydyrbayev of Rakurs Consulting Group stressed the importance of innovative technologies and data-driven approaches in environmental sustainability, highlighting rTek’s role in advancing Kazakhstan’s decarbonization goals.
EcoBalance Global, as a carbon reduction project developer and consultant, has been instrumental in developing projects that enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and boost vegetative production. Their Framework employs varied methodologies to meet diverse environmental needs in agriculture, facilitating the production of low-carbon footprint products.
KazBeef, part of the Kusto Group, reflects a ‘from farm to folk’ concept and is at the forefront of transforming Kazakhstan’s arable land into a hub for premium beef production.
rTek’s commitment to sustainable technology solutions and involvement in significant research projects in Kazakhstan further solidifies its role in this transformative partnership.
This collaborative effort not only marks a significant step in sustainable agriculture but also sets a precedent for future initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the global food supply chain.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
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