AgMission, a global collaboration established in 2020 to develop and implement climate-smart farming solutions, has announced that the Nature Conservancy is joining the initiative as a founding partner.

Founded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA), and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), AgMission brings together farmers, ranchers, and scientists to co-create and rapidly expand innovation, adaptation, and adoption of climate-smart technologies by developing and deploying a comprehensive, interoperable data-driven framework.

The Nature Conservancy has committed $5 million over five years to advance innovative agriculture-climate solutions that will meet AgMission’s goals of reaching net negative greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the agriculture industry. The commitment, which will be matched by FFAR, will advance a number of innovative, data-driven projects designed to help farmers reduce GHG emissions and build more climate-resilient operations such as creating, testing, and deploying incentives for durable soil health practices in row crops; expanding technologies that can increase adoption of regenerative practices; advancing climate, nature conservation, and socioeconomic goals in range and pasture lands; and investing in research to advance adoption of regenerative agriculture as a climate solution.

“While many scientists around the globe are advancing our understanding of agriculture, there’s no central force to mobilize this work to address climate change with farmers and ranchers—until now. The unprecedented collaboration and scale of this initiative is what makes AgMission different,” said AgMission program director Allison Thompson. “It’s truly a privilege to have the Nature Conservancy’s valuable insight and vast network to move AgMission forward.”

“Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our time,” said Kris Johnson, director of agriculture for the Nature Conservancy in North America. “Farmers and ranchers are on the front lines and have an important role to play in driving solutions that could deliver a host of benefits, including improved water quality, enhanced biodiversity, and a resilient food system. We need to help bring natural and technological innovations forward to tackle climate change together.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Evandro Rigon)