CDFA’S HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM SELECTS 20 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TOTALING $2.97 MILLION IN GRANTS

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SACRAMENTO, July 30, 2020 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has selected 20 Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Demonstration Projects, totaling approximately $2.97 million in grant requests. This program aims to improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) by funding on-farm demonstration projects that collect data,  showcase conservation management practices that mitigate GHG emissions and increase soil health and promote widespread adoption of conservation management practices throughout the state.

“Soil health is key to agricultural productivity and food security, and capturing atmospheric carbon and storing it in the soil is an opportunity for long-term carbon storage in addition to reducing GHG emissions,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “These demonstration projects help get the word out to the farming community that these practices do work. These science-based projects will help improve the quantification benefits of carbon sequestration on the land.”

The 20 funded projects are located across the state in counties from Modoc to San Diego and span a spectrum of academic organizations from research universities to junior colleges, non-profit organizations, and Resource Conservation Districts. With 39 applications received by CDFA requesting $5.98 million in funding requests, oversubscription rates remain high at 195% for the HSP Demonstration Projects.

The Healthy Soils Program was established as part of the California Healthy Soils Initiative, a collaboration between state agencies to support the development of healthy soils in California. The program is funded through the California Climate Investments. For details, visit the Healthy Soils Program website.

The 2020 Healthy Soils Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.  The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.  At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.  For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website.

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