By establishing this council, the USDA aims to provide technical assistance to farmers, helping them to obtain and sell carbon credits, a move that Secretary Tom Vilsack noted as critical to advancing climate-smart agricultural practices.
The council will focus on setting robust standards for environmental credits and ensuring fair participation across the agricultural sector.
Members of the council will include a diverse group of stakeholders from the agricultural and environmental sectors, tasked with advising on protocols for generating environmental credits and methods to quantify and verify emissions reductions.
Interested individuals or representatives are encouraged to submit their nominations by October 15, 2024.
The formation of this council underscores the USDA's commitment to integrating sustainability into the fabric of American agriculture, fostering economic growth and environmental health.