The federal renewable fuel standard was created nearly 20 years ago, shortly after General Motors famously killed its first electric car. As we use more electric vehicles and less gasoline, you know, we'll see less corn ethanol being blended with gasoline. We're expecting gasoline used to fall most quickly. But even as we look out a couple decades, I think biofuels will continue to have an important role, but that role will evolve.
Agriculture is responsible for around 11% of U.S. carbon emissions. And yet soil holds the potential for massive carbon sequestration. Conventional agriculture focuses more on crop productivity than soil health, relying on pesticides, fertilizer, and other practices that contribute to climate-changing emissions rather than reduce them. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack advocates for a federal initiative focused on supporting “climate smart” agriculture for commodity crops that comprise the bulk of what’s grown on American farms: corn, soybeans, wheat. Meanwhile, the restaurateur behind Zero Foodprint is working to create change from table to farm, by crowdsourcing funds from customers to support regenerative farming practices directly.
Guests:
Tom Vilsack, Secretary, US Department of Agriculture
Jeremy Martin, Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists
Anthony Myint, Executive Director, Zero Foodprint
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
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