PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
AGRICULTURAL CARBON IS A FINANCIAL ASSET
Carbon stored in California's agricultural trees and vines can serve as a carbon credit. This enables companies to meet their carbon neutrality and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
Thank you for your support of the TREES pilot program. We received an overwhelming response from growers signing up to participate in the pilot program. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any more participants in the pilot program at this time. For general questions on the program, please contact Dr. Amrith Gunasekara at the California Bountiful Foundation email at cabountifulfoundation@cfbf.com
KEY FINDINGS
- Plants undergo photosynthesis to grow and survive, capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) through their leaves. This process, assisted by sunlight and water, produces sugars that fuel plant growth and reproduction.
- The plant converts these sugars into molecules called hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, which comprise the tree or vine's roots, stem, trunk, and branches.
- Approximately half of these molecules consist of carbon; the same carbon that was captured from the atmosphere by the plant.
- Therefore, trees and vines act as carbon sinks, storing carbon in their biomass (stem, trunk, roots, and branches).
- Companies seeking to reduce their climate impact invest in carbon sequestration projects.
- The TREES program quantifies this stored carbon on farms, enabling it to become a financial carbon asset.
About the Program:
The California Bountiful Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit science and research organization of the California Farm Bureau.
The Terrestrial Reserve for Emissions and Exchange Systems (TREES) Program serves as a link between commercial enterprises aiming to offset their greenhouse gas emissions and the agricultural sector, where farmers can earn revenue through carbon sequestration. Enterprises (like airlines seeking to balance their emissions) create the demand for carbon credits. In response, the California Bountiful Foundation acts as an administrator and verifier, assessing and quantifying the carbon stored in the woody material of tree orchards and grapevines on farms. The Foundation will facilitate contracts with farmers and direct sales of carbon credits to businesses, enabling them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers earn revenue for their carbon sequestration efforts and commit to biochar production, enhancing the program's environmental impact.
The Foundation specializing in:
Development of a Comprehensive Agricultural Carbon Protocol and Methodology: Developed by PhD scientists at the California Bountiful Foundation to accurately measure carbon sequestration.
Custom Developed Software: Designed to support growers, verifiers, and buyers with a user-friendly interface for streamlined information management.
Legal Contracts: Established to ensure a high degree of compliance, reliability, and accountability in carbon credit transactions.
Cost-Effective Verification: The California Bountiful Foundation verifies carbon stored and biochar produced, maintaining a low administrative costs.
Case Studies and Farmer Profiles: Documenting instances of carbon sequestration on farms and the production of biochar at the end of a tree or vine's productive life.
Direct Carbon Credits Sales to Commercial Buyers: These credits are sold directly to commercial buyers, bypassing voluntary or compliance carbon markets for streamline transactions.
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To find out more:
Contact the California Bountiful Foundation at cabountifulfoundation@cfbf.com or Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, Director of Science and Research, at (916) 561-5500.
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