By Andi Anderson
Jason Rowntree, the C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at Michigan State University, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advisory council on carbon credit markets.
This council, known as the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council, supports the USDA’s Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program.
The program aims to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners participate in voluntary environmental credit markets that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions like carbon.
The council’s 36 members will evaluate and recommend updates to protocols for generating environmental credits, technical assistance qualifications, and verification standards.
Rowntree highlighted the importance of this role, saying, “Our research at Michigan State University on agriculture’s impact on ecosystem services, including carbon uptake, will provide valuable insights into future USDA policies for tracking greenhouse gas emissions.”
In addition to his professorship, Rowntree serves as co-director of the MSU Center for Regenerative Agriculture. He collaborates with farmers and policymakers to implement regenerative farming practices that enhance soil health, improve water management, and increase biodiversity.
Rowntree also oversees research at MSU’s Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center and Lake City Research Center.
Currently, he co-leads a $19 million project funded by the Noble Research Institute and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. The project focuses on grazing management systems and their effects on soil health, ecosystems, and farmer well-being.
Rowntree’s appointment reinforces the USDA’s commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture and expanding farmer access to carbon credit markets. His expertise will help shape policies that promote environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-brzozowska
Categories: Michigan, General, Sustainable Agriculture