Demonstrating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions in California and Midsouth Rice Production

This initiative builds on recent work by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in California and Winrock International in Arkansas, carried out in collaboration with the leading rice industry associations and rice producers in each region. The project will create and secure approval of a methodology for rice sector GHG emissions reductions, and adapt it as needed for appropriate practices in California and Arkansas. We will implement one pilot project with EQIP eligible producers in each state; assess environmental impacts of tested practices; introduce a new middle layer technology that will allow farmers to efficiently access offset credit information; facilitate the monitoring, verification, and registration of the resulting GHG emission reductions on a commonly recognized carbon registry; work to secure regulatory approvals so that the GHG emission reductions achieved will have compliance value under California’s cap-and- trade program; disseminate lessons learned to other interested producers and NRCS; and evaluate scale-up potential in California, Arkansas and other rice-producing states.