On April 4th, GDAE, in collaboration with the Consulate General of France, Tufts Institute of the Environment, and the International 4 per 1000 Initiative, sponsored a forum and panel discussion on “Soil Health, Agriculture, and Climate in New England”. Presentations at the panel reflected the work of a team of food system advocates, including farmers, researchers, students, and policymakers aiming to launch a Soil Health Initiative that will enhance and expand the regional system of soil management in New England States.
Speakers included:
Dr. Timothy Griffin, Tufts Friedman School
Ellen Griswold, Maine Farmland Trust
Julie Davenson, Executive Director of Stonewall Farms
Didi Pershouse, Author of “The Ecology of Care”
Sylvain Maestracci, French Embassy in Washington D.C.
View event meeting notes
See event flyer
Presentations
Jonathan Sanderman, Woods Hole Research Center, “Soil carbon sequestration: from potential to reality“
Paul Luu, Executive Secretary of 4 per 1000 Initiative, “The 4 per 1000 InitiativeGeneral Presentation”
The International 4 per 1000 Initiative, launched by the French government, aims to promote greenhouse gas emissions reduction though greater carbon absorption in agricultural soils. “4 per 1000” refers to the great potential for carbon absorption through practices that increase soil carbon sequestration by 0.4% per year, both to combat climate change and to increase food security.
Will Szal, Economics at Regen Network, “Regen Network”
Sylvain Maestracci, Agricultural Counselor, French Embassy in Washington D.C, “Soil Health, Agriculture & Climate in New England – 4p1000 initiative“
Steven Keleti, Tufts Northeast Healthy Soils Initiative, “Healthy Soils Legislation and Policy“
Julie Davenson, Executive Director of Stonewall Farms, “Stonewall Farms“
Didi Pershouse, Author of “The Ecology of Care”, “The Soil Sponge: The living matrix that supports life on earth“
Related GDAE Publications
Climate smart or regenerative agriculture? Defining climate policies based on soil health, Anne-Marie Codur and Josephine Watson, GDAE Climate Policy Brief #9, April 2018
Hope Below Our Feet Soil as a Climate Solution, Anne-Marie Codur, Seth Itzkan, William Moomaw, Karl Thidemann, and Jonathan Harris, GDAE Climate Policy Brief #4, April 2017
Additional Articles and Resources
Soil Health Initiatives in New York: Building Momentum, NOFA-NY, 2019
Farmers Are Excited About Soil Health. That’s Good News for All of Us., Karen Stillerman, Union of Concerned Scientists, April 2019
Healthy Soils to Cool The Planet: A Philanthropic Action Guide , Betsy Taylor, Breakthrough Strategies and Solutions, February 2019
Climate Instability and Agriculture: The Challenge and Solution, Fact Sheet, Earthjustice, February 2019
Managing for soil carbon sequestration: Let’s get realistic, William H. Schlesinger, Global Change Biology, November 2018
Summary of State Efforts To Promote Healthy Soils and Soil Carbon Sequestration, Regeneration International, July 2017
“Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function: A Teacher’s Manual”, Didi Pershouse, August 2017
Soil Health Institute
The Regen Network
Soil Carbon Coalition
Sponsors
This event was sponsored by GDAE at Tufts University, the Friedman School at Tufts University, Tufts Institute of the Environment, the international 4 per 1000 Initiative, and the Consulate General of France in Boston.
