Bayer Says Farmers Using Conservation Practices Since 2012 Might Qualify For Its 2021-22 Carbon Program

As companies have ventured into the carbon marketplace, nearly all the programs to date have paid farmers to adopt new conservation practices on new acres. In other words, farmers already using conservation practices such as no-till, strip till and cover crops were excluded.

But not anymore. On Monday, Bayer Crop Science announced it’s changing that paradigm.

Now, farmers in specific states using any of those three practices – dating back to Jan. 1, 2012 – could be eligible to benefit financially from the company’s 2021-22 carbon program.

"Some of the feedback that we received during our pilot year (2020) was that growers who had already implemented these practices wanted an opportunity to participate as well," says Lisa Streck, Bayer Carbon Grower Lead. "So, we'll work with those growers on a one-on-one, case-by-case basis and collect the needed information that we need from them to participate."

Farmers who participate in the program agree to a 10-year term for the contract along with what the company is describing as a 10-year retention period.

"The reason for the length of the contract is to ensure that we've created a marketable carbon credit that can be made available for sale to other companies," Streck says. "One key component of those carbon credits is to have what's called a permanence within that carbon credit, so we know that these practices are in place for a longer period of time," she adds.

In addition to the nine states that were part of the program last year, Bayer is expanding its program to include farmers in Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“Farmers are at the center of the solution when it comes to helping sequester carbon and addressing climate change,” said Jackie Applegate, president of Crop Science, North America, in a press release. “By enabling farmers to benefit in a simple and transparent way, Bayer is uniquely positioned to help growers capture value created by these sustainable farming practices.”

Work last year laid the groundwork for Bayer’s future, long-term success with reducing carbon, says Pamela Bachman, digital agriculture and sustainability manager at The Climate Corporation.

“At the end of the day, this (program) can create a new value pool of revenue opportunity for farmers and Bayer beyond just the harvest,” she says.

Ultimately, she explains, Bayer expects the program to help the company and agriculture reduce its carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The company has committed to achieving a 30% reduction in field greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in regions where the company operates.

Bachman says the connectivity provided by the company’s digital platform will make it easy for Bayer to expand and scale its carbon initiative program. “We can move from 200,000 acres this year on up to 2 million or 10 million acres in the future, and digital tools can play a really big role in that,” she notes.

Streck says there is no cap on the number of acres U.S. farmers, who qualify, are able to enroll in the 2021-22 program.

Bachman adds that the company is looking at how to address carbon and greenhouse gas emissions on a worldwide basis.

“At the end of the day, we're looking at how do we roll this out globally to our farmer customers around the world, and having an easy-to-use digital platform enables us to connect everyone and make it easier for the farmer,” she says.

More information about the Bayer Carbon Initiative program and how to enroll in the 2021-22 program is available now at www.bayercarbon.com

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