The Role of Agricultural Science and Technology in Climate 21 Project Implementation Published

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has released a new paper, The Role of Agricultural Science and Technology in Climate 21 Project Implementation. This publication examines nutrient and pest management, animal systems, agricultural technologies, food supply chain, and carbon markets. CAST is a nonprofit organization including members of scientific and professional societies, companies, nonprofits, and individuals. CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, balanced, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.

The Biden Administration introduced the Climate 21 Project as a blueprint for how the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can contribute to reducing the effects of climate change. The “Role of Agricultural Science and Technology in Climate 21 Project Implementation” report summarizes the key recommendations and priorities where current agricultural science and technology for plant and animal products can be applied and where new investments will be critical to meeting the climate goals of the administration. The report considers managed landscapes, animal agriculture’s role in climate mitigation, the role of advanced technologies in climate mitigation, food supply chain and waste in climate mitigation, and how to make carbon markets work for agriculture.

“This paper explores the potential for the USDA to emphasize collaboration, incentives, the historic resiliency and innovation of agriculture and forestry, and the critical role that rural America can play in helping address climate change while creating jobs and economic opportunities,” wrote David Baltensperger, chair of the report. “The report summarizes each of the key recommendations and priorities where current agricultural science and technology can be applied and where new investments in agricultural science and technology will be critical to meeting the goals of the administration. Our report showcases where CAST and CAST members can be a critical resource to the USDA to meet these goals and to indicate to the USDA and Congress where funding is needed to meet these goals.”

CAST held a webinar about the report, featuring the authors of the paper. Check out the webinar, summary of the report, and full report.