Zero Foodprint collaborates to sequester carbon in the soil with help from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
SACRAMENTO, CA – Zero Foodprint and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) announced a new collaboration that will help fund climate beneficial farming practices while helping meet the state’s lofty climate change goals.
Restore California is a new project from Zero Foodprint asking restaurants statewide to implement a 1% voluntary surcharge on customers’ bills to help fund carbon sequestration efforts on California farms and ranches. CARCD has been working with Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) across the state to plan and implement ‘healthy soils practices’ that help fight climate change by sequestering carbon. CARCD will link the new funding to farmers and ranchers through the network of 96 RCDs who have worked directly with agricultural landowners and managers across the state for over 75 years.
“We are thrilled to be playing a part to help Californians make a tangible positive impact in combatting climate change with this innovative new partnership,” said Kristen Murphy, project manager at CARCD. “Resource Conservation Districts have been providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers since the Dust Bowl, and it’s an honor to help align concerned community members with forward thinking landowners to get real work done on the ground.”
CARCD has been working with RCDs to advocate for funding and to ensure that farmers can implement climate friendly practices and can get help knowing how to do them. To get the biggest impact per dollar, help is needed. Writing Carbon Farm Plans to identify the greatest climate opportunities while increasing productivity and sustainability of the soil is a critical need of farmers. These practices take time and money to implement, which is where Restore California enters the picture.
In this partnership, Zero Foodprint’s Restore California program will aggregate funds collected by restaurants. Together, CARCD and Zero Foodprint will provide the funding and technical assistance for climate friendly practices such as large-scale compost application which might otherwise be cost prohibitive. Local community members, restaurant, RCDs and farmers and ranchers are ready to get started.
It’s a win for everyone involved. Scientists have let the world know that the need to sequester carbon is urgent and communities are rallying. The project has received funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant, a federal program which supports next-generation conservation efforts. State agencies such as the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Air Resources Board recognize the potential for working lands to make a major impact on climate change mitigation goals, and are supportive of this project. The project has received funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Innovation Grant. Community members, by contributing to Restore California, can take a material step in fighting climate change.
Contact: Kristen Murphy, CARCD, Kristen-murphy@carcd.org, 916-520-9404
Updated January 29, 2020 to reflect partnership with NRCS through Conservation Innovation Grant