WGCIT Resident: Carbon Friendly EMPOWERING GROWERS THROUGH REGENERATIVE FARMING By Emily Lyons, Program Manager
Carbon Friendly (CF) is dedicated to supporting growers in being recognized and rewarded for adopting regenerative farming practices under the principle that “sustainability must pay to be sustainable.” CF establishes value pathways for growers, either through carbon income to fund regenerative practices or by positioning them as differentiated suppliers within the value chain. CF has already initiated group carbon projects in the U.S., where multiple farms implement climate-smart agricultural practices, measure their impact and generate carbon removals that can be monetized on the voluntary carbon market. This approach rewards farmers for their stewardship, enabling them to sustain and scale these practices. CF’s methods specifically quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of cropping systems, which are mitigated by implementing practices, such as cover cropping and composting. By creating value pathways for these practices, farmers play a crucial role in environmental improvement—truly becoming our climate heroes. Founded in 2017 in Australia, CF actually has more than 15 years of experience in the field. The company is also based at the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) in Salinas, Calif. CF collaborates with farmers in California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona, and is keen to expand into New Mexico and Colorado.
Beyond reducing carbon footprints, growers working with CF have seen tangible improvements. Cover crops have led to better water infiltration and reduced runoff during irrigation. Farmers can now irrigate for 24 hours without runoff, compared to 12 hours previously. Additionally, there is increased biodiversity, including earthworms and pollinators, reduced pest pressure and fewer issues with dust and mites during almond harvests. These benefits are not just environmental but also agronomic and monetary. CF has received strong engagement from growers in the Western states, particularly those practicing regenerative farming. CF primarily works with specialty and permanent crops but sees opportunities in row crops, dairy and some pastures. CF’s top priority is selling carbon credits from the 2023 and 2024 vintages. This will be the first sale of its kind, and CF aims to establish a strong market value to ensure farmers are fairly rewarded for their meaningful contributions. The following images show a large-scale almond grower participating in the CF program. This grower began introducing cover crops in the fall of 2023 and has seen a dramatic improvement in soil organic matter. The cover crops are flourishing and have had a transformative impact on the agro- ecosystem, revitalizing the orchards. For more information about Carbon Friendly’s technology, please contact the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology at elyons@wga.com.
The earthworms have transformed the compacted soil on the berm, aerating it and enabling much better water infiltration.
Diverse and multi-species cover crops make the difference and should be tailored to each site.
32 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2025
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