The Ag Carbon Transparent Project, announced last summer by the National Corn Growers Association and Ag Data Transparent, today released its Transparency Principles for Ag Carbon with growing industry support as the group works to bring clarity to farmers interested in carbon programs.
Farmers, industry leaders, and carbon program experts collaborated to develop a set of transparency principles and a program contract verification process for agricultural carbon programs, designed to bring clarity, comparability, and trust to a complex and rapidly evolving market.
“Collaborating with Ag Data Transparent and a broad cross-section of industry partners has been critical to building Ag Carbon Transparent in a way that is practical, credible and farmer-focused,” said Sean Arians, NCGA vice president of Sustainable Production and Value Chain Engagement. “We are delighted that industry leaders are stepping forward to support these principles, indicating their commitment to transparency.”
Based on this unified set of transparency principles and a third‑party contract verification process, Ag Carbon Transparent will help farmers understand what they are signing, what assets are being created and sold, and clearly identify payment terms and future obligations while giving carbon programs a credible way to demonstrate integrity. Farmers will also benefit from understanding the critical areas of carbon programs that require the most due diligence.
In alignment with ADT’s mission, this project aims to bring the same level of transparency, simplicity and trust to carbon initiatives that ADT has successfully delivered in the agricultural data sector. The Ag Carbon Transparent contract verification is now available for carbon programs to complete and for farmers to review. Indigo and the Bayer Carbon Program will be the first carbon programs to complete this verification process. Companies completing this verification will receive the Ag Carbon Transparent Seal that they can use to promote their alignment and membership with ADT data and carbon principles.
“Momentum is building and it is important for agriculture industry organizations and carbon program providers to join this coalition supporting transparency, integrity, and farmer‑first carbon opportunities,” said Todd Janzen, partner with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law and ADT administrator. “As we know through starting ADT a decade ago, farmers want to be confident in decisions around their data and programs that could impact their farms for generations.”
If your industry organization or business would like to sign on to these principles to show support for simplicity, transparency, and trust in carbon markets for agriculture or if you are a carbon program that wants to begin the process of having your contract verified, take the first step by reaching out to Todd Janzen at janzen@agdatatransparent.com
