Organic Report Fall 2021 - Flipbook - Page 25
for truly unavoidable emissions. Finally, it is essential to
Phase 1 of a life cycle assessment (LCA) in partnership with
transparently report impacts, progress, and challenges to
the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This LCA
stakeholders, and advocate for inclusive and just solutions for demonstrated that, on average, the dairy farms of Organic
a decarbonized economy.
Valley's members have a smaller carbon footprint than
Organic Valley, a member
average U.S. conventional
of the Organic Trade
and organic dairy overall.
The trade association’s newest council, the
Association, SFTAC, and a
The cooperative is now
CAMP participant, leveraged
Sustainable Food Trade Action Council, provides a exploring ways to reduce
the process to fast-track a fiveGHG emissions further and
set of effective tools for organic businesses to
year Climate Action Plan for
maximize carbon
its entire value chain. The plan
sequestration. Organic Valley
build, measure, and refine their sustainability
incorporates fundamental
recently synthesized this
quality control aspects of
programs. Its COMPASS program offers a variety work into a commitment to a
GHG reduction tracking and
carbon-neutral dairy supply
of proprietary analytic modules designed to help chain by 2050, setting
data verification to ensure
transparency and integrity,
milestones to reach 15% by
organic food companies operate sustainably.
operational reductions such as
2030 and 30% by 2035,
renewable energy to power its
without the use of external
business facilities, and crucially, helps achieve value chain
carbon offsets.
solutions by empowering farmer-owners to reduce their farm
With the help of SFTAC tools, members are leading the
emissions. Through Organic Valley's Climate Smart Farming
way in measuring their impact, charting robust climate targets
Program, more than $8 million in farmer incentives have
and strategies, and creating transparent reporting.
resulted in 70 Climate-Smart Farm projects, including on-farm
Lisa Braun is Sustainability Technical Services Manager
energy, soil health, manure management, and the permanent
for the Organic Trade Association
protection of organic farmland.
Organic Valley is also taking strides to measure the
climate impact of organic dairy systems, recently completing
Post Harvest Fertilization
Feeding the soil microbiome after harvest helps build humus.
Soon the soil life won’t be fed from the plants’ photosynthesis.
So apply a carbon-based fertilizer like Pacific Gro.
Provides amino acid nitrogen, plant available calcium,
salmon oil and chitin.
O
Helps microbes feed and defend the crop
O
Builds healthy fungal populations
O
Delivers plant-available calcium
Soil tilth will improve, soil life will continue to grow, and
Next year’s crop will enjoy a faster, vigorous start.
Produced on the Washington Coast by Creative AG Products Inc.
www.pacificgro.com 503-867-4849
Organic Report • Fall 2021
25
