Slipstream partners with Croatan Institute to create financing model for regenerative agriculture
The agriculture industry significantly impacts global greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, as well as local and global water quality and quantity issues. Conventional farming practices are unsustainable in their effects on the land and soil. This is a problem that requires immediate action, which is why we are honored to be a part of creating a solution.
We partnered with Croatan Institute, Delta Institute, as well as several other project partners and advisers, on a $700,000 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Croatan Institute will lead the effort to develop an innovative, place-based financing model to support the adoption of farming systems that improve “soil wealth.” Through this project, Slipstream has an opportunity to take on a new challenge -- apply its experience with financing clean energy projects to accelerate a shift toward regenerative agriculture.
The goal is to develop a model for a financial mechanism that will enable and encourage farmers to transition from conventional to regenerative farming techniques. Croatan Institute previously identified a concept to create Rural Regenerative Agriculture Districts (RRADs), which could enable property assessment-based financing as a way for farmers to fund the cost to transition to regenerative farming. This could expedite the time between the investment and return.
Slipstream will apply its experience with Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs to provide technical assistance to design the RRADs and the financing mechanism(s). We will also investigate greenhouse gas impacts of the changes in farming practices and advise on how these expected benefits can be integrated into the financing toolkit.
We are excited to be a part of this impactful project. We look forward to transforming the agricultural system to improve rural resilience across the United States.