Several countries and organizations announced agricultural climate initiatives during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates formally launched the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (“AIM for Climate”) with more than 30 other countries and nearly 50 non-governmental groups. President Biden said the coalition will “mobilize $1 billion in investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years (2021-2025).”  Among planned activities, according to USDA, are

• Scientific breakthroughs via basic agricultural research through national-level government and academic research institutions;
• Public and private applied research, including support to international research centers, institutions, and laboratory networks; and
• Development, demonstration, and deployment of practical, actionable, and innovative products, services, and knowledge to producers and other market participants, including through national agricultural research extension systems.

McDonald’s Corporation announced it was committing $5 million to a climate project with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action and the World Farmers’ Organization. The initiative, called AgMission, will help agriculture have net-negative GHG emissions by bringing farmers, ranchers and scientists together to create science-based solutions that can be rapidly deployed, increasing on-farm resiliency while mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Another initiative was announced by Bayer Crop Science, which is joining with CHS, a farmer-owned cooperative, to take Bayer’s 1,000 farmer carbon program to 75,000 farmers and ranchers across the country by paying for carbon-smart practices.

Another farmer cooperative, GROWMARK, announced an initiative with Indigo Ag to use GROWMARK’s branded retailers to help farmers get paid to adopt carbon-smart practices.