To the victor go the soils
Soil is life. As a living, complex ecosystem it has produced a tradition of cultural foodways and regenerative land management, which we've lost touch with — partly because of a reduction in small, minority-owned and Indigenous farms. Healthy, carbon-rich soil provides opportunities for these farmers to reap the same economic benefits as corporations.
Carbon sequestration is a solution. The long-term storage of carbon in soils, plants and oceans is key to reducing environmental harm. Healthy soil removes CO₂ from the atmosphere — there’s a clear link between remediation and pollution-free communities.
Carbon colonialism is exploitative. SEED is against shifting responsibility for carbon reductions to developing countries, and for supporting local offsetting projects tied to sovereignty, agency and individual land claims in developing communities.
What is carbon farming? Carbon farming refers to various practices that bring carbon to the soil, like incorporating cover crops, crop rotations, compost, and low- or no-till strategies that minimize disturbances to keep carbon in the soil.
What is a smallholder? Small-scale farmers that grow on less than 5 acres (2 hectares) of land. They include sites in urban and rural areas and represent 84% of the world’s farms.
Oscar, a SEED partner in Cuba, uses cover crops and no-till on his finca.
What is the democratization of agtech? It is increasing availability of technology to underserved growers that empowers them and improves their agriculture holdings. Data is power.
What is aggregation? Similar to citizen science, SEED collects soil carbon data from multiple growers to create larger totals that are converted to carbon credits, which are then sold to benefit entire communities.
Radicle™ measurement at Odilia’s plot in Pacoima showed significant differences in the carbon balance between the control and experiment sites. With this baseline measurement, we determined how to manage practices to build carbon levels. Small Plot Kit results showed almost 30% water saved and a 35% increase in yields.