News USA
US releases billion for climate-friendly farmers
The US Department of Agriculture is making $1 billion available in the coming years for projects that achieve climate-friendly agriculture. That says agriculture minister Tom Vilsack to the Reuters news agency. Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage are two important spearheads in the programme.
Today, the USDA Department of Agriculture will announce more about the innovation program that will start this year. The government service uses the $30 billion pot that it has to spend annually on the sector. This money is used to increase farmers' incomes and to stabilize agricultural market prices.
The Biden administration has set a goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector by 2030. By 2050, the entire country must no longer emit any net emissions.
Marketing tool
Projects that help to reduce emissions or that capture carbon in the soil may be eligible for a subsidy. Vilsack also sees it as a marketing tool for the sector. A climate-friendly product – in which carbon is captured – can bring about an additional cost. According to the minister, what the program should do is make it possible for farmers to experiment with this and at the same time have a financial safety net.
Projects up to $100 million
Not only farmers but also NGOs, governments and universities can apply for a subsidy for climate neutral farmers. Two programs are available. One for projects requesting $5 to $100 million and one for all amounts below.
Niels van der Boom
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