By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reaching out to the public for ideas on how to measure the environmental benefits of climate-smart practices used in biofuel production. This information will be used to develop standards for biofuels that minimize greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Currently, biofuel policies don't consider how crops are grown. The USDA wants to create a system that rewards farmers who use sustainable practices, like cover crops or no-till farming, to reduce emissions. This would create new markets for these farmers and benefit the environment.
"We're looking for ways to recognize biofuels produced with climate-smart practices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "This will give American farmers new opportunities and help fight climate change."
Wider adoption of sustainable practices could significantly reduce GHG emissions from biofuels. It could also improve water quality and soil health. However, for these benefits to be real, there needs to be a reliable way to measure and verify the impact of these practices.
The USDA is asking for feedback on several areas, including -
- Types of biofuel crops and sustainable practices to consider.
- Scientific data on how these practices affect GHG emissions.
- Methods to track and verify the use of sustainable practices.
- Systems for tracing biofuels throughout the supply chain.
The public can submit comments for the next 30 days. This will help the USDA develop standards that promote climate-friendly biofuels and create new opportunities for American agriculture.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National