Statement from E2 Chair and Co-founder Nicole Lederer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Agriculture Committee today passed its version of a 2018 Farm Bill, including first-of-their kind soil health provisions designed to improve agricultural practices and also help address climate change.
Included in the provisions is a new USDA pilot project designed to incentivize agriculture practices that build soil carbon and reward those projects based on measurable results.
The following is a statement from Nicole Lederer, chair and co-founder of the national nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs):
“This will help farmers while helping our environment. Along with creating new revenue streams and improving crop resilience for farmers, these provisions will also help sequester atmospheric carbon and in doing so, help mitigate climate change.
“This also sends a market signal that will attract investment and drive innovation in the agricultural technology sector, which will ultimately benefit our economy.”
E2 was among a group of partners, including the American Coalition for Ethanol and the National Corn Growers Association, that advocated for the soil health provisions, which were sponsored by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden.
“Sen. Wyden recognizes the inherent value of strong environmental performance to grow the economy, and his sponsorship of this soil health provision shows his commitment to serve agricultural, business and environmental interests. The leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sens. Roberts and Stabenow, also deserve credit for their bipartisan work to include this provision.”