Assessing the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Regenerative Organic Agriculture
Mitigating carbon emissions and land use impacts associated with the apparel industry.
Background
Regenerative organic practices aim to build soil health by increase carbon stocks stored in the soil. Producers are encouraged to adopt practices such as zero tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, and manure or compost applications.
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The benefits of implementing these practices include healthier, more resilient and productive soils, as well as a sink for atmospheric carbon. The ROA aims to accomplish this through the establishment of a new agriculture standard called the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). This certification has been backed by innovative companies, such as Patagonia and Dr. Bronners, who seek to use their business as a tool to combat climate change and protect the planet.
Objectives
Assess the effectiveness of regenerative organic practices to store soil carbon over time. Identify the most effective practices to sequester carbon for different crops and in different regions.
Model greenhouse gas emissions over time and the evaluate the effect of different regenerative organic practices on total GHG emissions.
Develop recommendations for Patagonia and ROC Framework on which practices have the largest impact on carbon sequestration in the soil.
Significance
Climate change and food security are projected to worsen as the population grows. The agricultural sector contributes to 30% of anthropogenic emissions. This includes direct emissions from soil and livestock as well as indirect emissions from fossil fuel use, agrochemical production, and land conversion to agriculture. However, opportunities exist to not only decrease GHG emissions in this sector but also to mitigate the effects of climate change on farming communities.
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As the importance of soil quality and resilience becomes more apparent, global attention is shifting towards research and development of soil health through regenerative practices. Increase in soil organic matter is one of the essential elements for increasing soil productivity and sequestering carbon. The goal is not only to increase soil health and crop yield, but to also transition soil from a source of carbon to a sink.
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The Team
Project
Manager
Tyler Cobian
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A second-year master's student graduated from the University of California Merced in 2018. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Economics with a minor in Sustainability. At UC Merced he worked as a Sustainability Coordinator hosting zero waste events, along with educating the campus population on ways to eliminate waste from entering landfills. In Ventura, he interned for the City of Ventura’s Sustainability department where he worked with local businesses to host beach and river cleanups. In this position, he also accumulated research on integrated pest management, which are non-chemical solutions for pest issues. Tyler’s main goal of perusing the MESM degree is to better align corporate interests with environmental stewardship. This is why he is specializing in Corporate Environmental Management. An interest of Tyler’s is the outdoor apparel industry. Being a user of outdoor apparel as a backpacking guide, he believes that companies whose products are being used in wild places have an obligation to protect those places. A postgraduate goal of his would be to work within the outdoor apparel industry looking for alternatives for conventional water repellents that are currently used on garments.
Data
Manager
Alex Ivina
A second-year master’s student, graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management Economics. After college, Alexandra worked for Deloitte & Touche as an external auditor. While working in audit, she obtained her Certified Public Accountant license and Project Manager Professional certification. In the next few years, Alexandra worked in various business roles, ultimately leading to an internal consultant position at Grifols Pharmaceuticals. At the time, living in Santa Monica and commuting over an hour each way to work, Alexandra became interested in electric vehicles and the infrastructure available to support them. Alexandra’s research on EVs led her to realize the vast differences in infrastructure and incentives available to different communities in Los Angeles County. Alexandra led a project within her company to retrofit parking spaces to create designated EV charging stations. Her curiosity further encouraged her to obtain the LEED Green Associate accreditation and secure an internship at the California Energy Commission. Alexandra is specializing in Energy and Climate, with a post-graduate goal of working for a consulting firm or in the public sector on projects aimed at expanding EV infrastructure and green buildings.
Finance Manager
Ilayda Dinc
Ilayda Dinc, a second-year master’s student, graduated from Bogazici University, Turkey in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After completing two production internships in conventional factories, she realized that she wanted to work in a field that involves more social responsibility and decided to enhance her career with a graduate degree in Environmental Science. In 2017, she attended Harvard Summer School and prepared the business plan of a wind power plant to be implemented in Turkey by addressing three problems: air pollution, climate change, and energy dependency. In 2018, she interned in Mikado Consulting where she was a part of an international program “Water Explorer” that encourages children to save water and raises awareness of issues related to water. Also, she interned at the United Nations Convention To Combat Desertification Regional Coordination Unit For Northern Mediterranean where she helped the organization of the Regional Workshop on UNCCD Reporting. After acquiring knowledge with company-based, community-based and intergovernmental level internships, she plans on specializing in Corporate Environmental Management with a focus on Eco-entrepreneurship at the Bren School. She hopes to combine her engineering background and past experiences to integrate sustainable practices and technologies into the corporations and address environmental and natural resource problems.
Outreach Manager
Karan Shetty
Karan Shetty, a second-year master’s student, graduated from the University of California, Los
Angeles in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. As an undergraduate, Karan spearheaded multiple renewable energy efforts on campus, including managing a Solar Decathlon team and expanding campus solar panel arrays. His senior research focused on working with the City of Los Angeles and the National Park Service to restore the degraded Los Angeles River. A significant portion of the project was dedicated to determining the best ways to communicate the research to average citizens in Los Angeles, as the project would not succeed without proper citizen engagement. After graduating, Karan interned with the Los Angeles start-up Pick My Solar, where he created informative materials to educate students and homeowners alike on the economic advantages of solar energy. Karan came to Bren focusing on Energy & Climate and Strategic Environmental Communications. He worked as a Climate Corps Fellow with the Environmental Defense Fund, and successfully executed a solar energy strategy and materials waste reduction program at GAF Materials. Karan aims to use technology and innovative practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
Our Client
Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company whose is passionate about integrating sustainability in every part of their business. Guided by their mission of preserving the planet, the company is seeking to mitigate climate change impacts through developing practices that sequester carbon within their supply chain.
