Integrating Systems Dr. Kerri Steenwerth, USDA/ARS Dr. Katherine Holmes, RCD of Solano County Dr. Cliff Ohmart, Sure Harvest Dr. Maarten van Helden, National School for Agricultural Engineers-Bordeaux Dr. Steve Wratten, Lincoln University, NZ
What types of services? Provisioning (grain, fish, freshwater etc) Supporting (nutrient cycling etc) Regulating (carbon capture, erosion mitigation, climate regulation etc) Cultural (aesthetic, educational, spiritual etc)
Valuable ecosystem services include: pollination soil formation flood mitigation carbon capture biological control tourism aesthetics
STATUS Bordeaux s focus on biodiversity History of viticulture since 1 st century A.D. Highly impacted system 75% of Bordeaux region = vineyards GOALS Agro-ecotourism Reduced pest pressure Reduced erosion and offsite chemical movement Increased nutrient retention Bordeaux ACTION VALIDATION Promoting hedgerows Diverse covers Reduction in chemical applications Restoration on edges PARTNERS http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/expeditions/exped_research_focus/rf_bordeaux.html Established & monitored by: Growers Syngenta Earthwatch Institute Bordeaux Agricultural Univ.
Greening Waipara Valley, NZ: Biodiversity trails
May 2009 Biodiversity Trails MacKenzie Farm Ball Estate Ben and Viv Kepes Claremont Luxury Estate Omihi Creek Cassis Glenview Farrm Pimlico Vineyard Fancrest Estate Frog Rock Harris Wine and Food Dancing Water Daniel Schuster Wines Waipara River Estate Waipara Springs Greystone Three Sisters Mountford The Old Vicarage Williams Hill Vineyard Weka River Vineyard Dallington Downs Muddy Water Cabal Properties McKenzie Vineyard Torlesse Wines Brent Knight Waipara Downs Waipara School Elrick Vineyard Railway Station Graeme Allen Vineyard Wedge Farm Dunstaffnage Waipara Gardens Mairehau Vineyard Cass View Mt Cass Dickson Vineyard The Mound Waipara Junction Garage Terrace Edge Concorde Vineyard One Stop Turbo Shop The Mud House Waiata Estate Camshorn Pegasus Bay Number of plants planted to date 23562 0 2.5km
California: Farm Edges and Sustainability The Stephen s Property, South Fork of Willow Slough Work by Solano Co. RCD
Ground has been prepared & seeded
Early native grass growth Shrubs and trees in tubes
After 2 years of growth: winter - K. Holmes
After 2 years of growth: summer
What are the costs of restoration?
$15-20K per acre Project planning & management: $700-$1400/ac Site preparation: debris removal, initial weed control, road removal: $5600-$6200/ac Native grass seeding: $1500-$1800/ac Plant trees & shrubs in hedgerow & riparian zone: $3000-$3700/ac Plant native grass, sedge & rush plugs: $900-$1300/ac Design/Install irrigation: $1100-$1500/ac Site maintenance/monitoring: $2000-$3700/ac Habitat enhancements bird boxes, etc.: $250-$360/ac
Required Irrigation Central Valley 12 irrigations (May- Oct) in Year 1 4-6 irrigations (May- Oct) in Year 2 10 gal/tree/event 266 trees: 2660 gal/event Season total: 96,000 gal or 0.3 acre feet for Year 1
Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops www.stewardshipindex.org
Stewardship Index Overview Purpose Develop or adopt specific, measurable and verifiable, outcome-based metrics for benchmarking Comparing and improving sustainable performance in the specialty crop sector Develop a common language among crops and regions so that we use the same metrics Scope Farm Distribution Processing Retail/Food service People, Planet, Profit Specialty crops! Proposed Initial Phase Develop open source metrics through a transparent, multistakeholder process
Stewardship Index Coordinating Council Growers California Association of Winegrape Growers DelCabo Fresh Sense Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Growers National Potato Council The Wine Institute United Fresh Produce Association Western Growers Buyers Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation Compass Group Del Monte Food Marketing Institute Heinz Markon Cooperative Produce Marketing Association Sam s Club Sodexo SYSCO Unilever Wal-Mart Wegmans NGOs & Experts American Farmland Trust California Institute for Rural Studies California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation Community Alliance with Family Farmers Defenders of Wildlife Environmental Defense NRDC Organic Center SureHarvest Sustainable Food Lab University of Arkansas World Wildlife Fund
More than Metrics 200 participating Review Committee organizations NGO (24%) Trade Assoc. (5%) Academic (10%) Buyer (5%) Inputs (2%) Government (6%) Distributor Finance (2%) (2%) Other (6%) Consultant (15%) Grower (23%)
Metrics PEOPLE PLANET PROFIT Community Human Resources Air quality GHG emissions Biodiversity/Ecosystems Packaging Energy Nutrient management Pesticides Soils Waste Water use and quality Green procurement Fair price
Envisioned Benefits Tool for finding cost reduction opportunities Reduce duplicative sustainable reporting systems Data for backing marketing claims Frees users to innovate the best practices Recognizes high performers or improvement over time all can participate Can be applied across many commodities Tool for solving problems and preventing need for future regulations
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