RIPE Partnership Pilot: Work Stream to Focus on Productivity

In addition to piloting our payment program in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Virginia, the RIPE Partnership project will include several national research work streams. One focus area, led by Virginia Tech and the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation, will target integrating productivity in climate-smart program design.

As world population grows, farmers will need to feed 10 billion people by 2050. To reach that goal, we must ensure that scaling climate-smart agriculture programs also increases agricultural productivity.

This project will draw on insights from Virginia Tech’s pioneering Global Agricultural Productivity Reports and technical conferences led by SoAR that gather experts, producers and others to deliver recommendations on integrating productivity considerations within a climate-smart program and research agenda. Additionally, the livestock sub-pilot (discussed in our December newsletter), will test options for reducing resource inputs and optimizing productivity in animal operations.

The research, expert engagement and testing will result in recommendations for integrating productivity within the pilot and RIPE100 program’s design as well as identifying longer-term research and development priorities.

To learn more about the pilot project and opportunities to participate, contact Danica MacAvoy.