The AGree Climate, Food and Agriculture Dialogue (CFAD) has published recommendations on climate-smart agriculture practices. They have tested and developed climate-smart practices, demonstrated the benefits, and paved the way for others to follow. Unfortunately, early innovators can be excluded from public and private conservation programs, which target incentives toward farmers who are new to the conservation space.
CFAD outlines the following recommendations:
The USDA Economic Research Service should conduct a literature review of existing research to understand the economics around producer motivations for implementing and maintaining climate-smart practices.
The Federal Crop Insurance Program should recognize the risk-reducing benefits of conservation practices.
Agricultural lenders should recognize the economic benefits of conservation practice adoption, including improved soil health and reduced agricultural risk, when offering loan terms
