Version 2.0
The U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol update to Version 2.0 will review the inclusion of additional practice types, cumulative accounting, soil testing methods, eligible project types, modelling guidance, among other topics.
Public Webinar
The Reserve hosted a public webinar to kickoff the U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol V2.0 revision process on October 25, 2023.
Local Stakeholder Engagement
The Reserve seeks to engage local stakeholders throughout the U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol V2.0 revision process to identify and incorporate applicable laws, norms, and conditions for agriculture in the United States. If you are a local stakeholder and would like to receive updates as it relates to this protocol update or participate in workgroup meetings as an observer, please fill our out Local Stakeholder Engagement Form and submit it to [email protected] by Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
Workgroup
The U.S. SEP v2.0 Protocol is being developed through the Reserve’s multi-stakeholder workgroup process. The Reserve strives to create a well-balanced workgroup consisting of industry representatives, project developers, environmental NGOs, verification bodies, independent consultants, academia, and government bodies.
| AgriCapture | Nutrien |
| Aster Global Environmental Solutions, Inc. | Regrow Ag |
| ATOA Carbon | Sierra View Solutions |
| Environmental Defense Fund | Soil Health Institute |
| Grassroots Carbon Public Benefit LLC | The Nature Conservancy |
| Indigo Ag | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| Land O’ Lakes Truterra | Viresco Solutions Inc. |
| National Association of Conservation Districts | Government Representative – TBA |
Stakeholders not in the workgroup are encouraged to participate in the process as “observers.” Observers may attend workgroup meetings in listen-only mode, submit written comments on the draft methodology when it is available for public comment, and attend the public webinar(s) held during the public comment period.
Workgroup Meetings
Workgroup Meeting 2
March 29, 2024
Workgroup Meeting 1
February 7, 2024
Development Timeline
The following timeline will be updated as the protocol development process unfolds.
| Protocol kickoff webinar | October 25, 2023 |
| Workgroup SOIs due | November 1, 2023 |
| Formation of workgroup | December 2023 – January 2024 |
| Workgroup meetings | February 2024 – Summer 2024 |
| Public comment period | Summer – Fall 2024 |
| Protocol presented to Reserve Board for approval | Fall – Winter 2024 |
Version 1.0
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Version 1.0 (September 30, 2020)
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Version 1.0 Summary
- Summary of Revisions to Model Cal_Val_Ver Guidance (September 16, 2020)
Second Public Comment Period
The second public comment period was held from August 11, 2020 to August 25, 2020. See below for the draft protocol released in August 2020, the summary of comments and responses from Reserve staff, as well as the submitted comments in their entirety.
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Version 1.0 – Draft for Public Comment (August 11, 2020)
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Version 1.0 – Redline from April Draft to August Draft
- Model Calibration, Validation, and Verification Guidance for Soil Enrichment Projects (August 11, 2020)
Second Public Comment Webinar
The Reserve hosted a webinar on August 18, 2020 to discuss the draft protocol, revisions made since the first public comment period, and to solicit further public comments.
Webinar recording
Presentation slides
First Public Comment Period
The first public comment period was held from April 17, 2020 to May 18, 2020. See below for the draft protocol released in April 2020, the summary of comments and responses from Reserve staff, as well as the submitted comments in their entirety.
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Version 1.0 – Draft for Public Comment (April 17, 2020)
- Model Calibration, Validation, and Verification Guidance for Soil Enrichment Projects (April 17, 2020)
* This comment was submitted by a workgroup member referencing the workgroup draft of the protocol.
First Public Comment Webinar
The Reserve hosted a webinar on April 29, 2020 to discuss the draft protocol and solicit public comments.
Webinar recording
Presentation slides
Stakeholder Q&A
Workgroup
The U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol was developed through the Reserve’s multi-stakeholder workgroup process. Workgroup member organizations are listed below.
| Alliance of Crop Soil and Environmental Science Societies | OpenTEAM, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment |
| California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) | Salk Institute |
| Colorado State University | SES, Inc. |
| Continuum Ag | Shell International Exploration and Production Inc. |
| C-Quest Capital | Sierra View Consulting |
| Delta Institute | The Nature Conservancy |
| Goodson Ranch LP | TREES Consulting LLC |
| Indigo Ag, Inc. | University of California, Berkeley |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University | Viresco Solutions Inc |
| NativeEnergy | Woods Hole Research Center |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service | World Resources Institute |
Following a request for such information, the Reserve is providing the following tabled summary of existing relationships between workgroup members and Indigo Ag, who funded this work.
| Jonathan Sanderman | Woods Hole Research Center | WHRC soil lab processed samples from some of Indigo’s research sites. Dr. Sanderman also consulted on experimental designs for Indigo’s research teams. Both activities were compensated. |
| Ken Newcombe | C-Quest Capital | Informal advisor to Indigo as it builds its carbon business. |
| Max DuBuisson | Indigo Ag, Inc. | Employee. |
| Mitchell Hora | Continuum Ag | Participant in Indigo Carbon, recent small cash prize in the Carbon Cup competition. |
| Robert Parkhurst | Sierra View Consulting | Paid for consulting services to Indigo on a topic unrelated to the SEP. |
| Tom Cannon | Goodson Ranch LP | Participant in the Indigo Research Partners program, no cash payments. |
Note: Remuneration from Indigo Ag to listed parties has totaled $90,000 (excluding remuneration of Indigo Ag employee Max DuBuisson).
Workgroup Meetings
U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Workgroup Meeting 4
June 19, 2020
Meeting recording
Presentation slides
U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Workgroup Meeting 3
April 3, 2020
Meeting recording
Presentation slides
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol – Draft V1.0 for Workgroup Review (March 30, 2020) *
- SEP Model Validation & Verification Guidance – Draft v1.0 for Workgroup Review (March 31, 2020) *
* Not for public comment
U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Workgroup Meeting 2
March 6, 2020
Meeting recording
Presentation slides
U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Workgroup Meeting 1
February 6, 2020
Meeting recording
Presentation slides
Public Scoping Meeting
The Reserve hosted a public scoping meeting on January 15, 2020 to discuss this new project type.
Webinar recording
Presentation slides
Resources
- Soil Organic Carbon Scoping Paper (September 23, 2019)
- U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol Workgroup Statement of Interest
Financial Support
Protocol development was funded in part by Indigo Ag.
Please contact [email protected] with questions or comments.