Organic Farming Footprints (OFoot) This project addresses needs
of 3 stakeholder groups: organic producers, organic certifying
agents and agencies, and purchasers/traders of carbon credits.
These groups need a scientifically sound yet simple estimation
of the carbon and nitrogen sequestration and net greenhouse gas
(GHG) balance likely in a given organic cropping system
scenario. Both a research model and a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
tool will be developed through this project. The LCA tool will
evaluate the impacts (contribution or mitigation) of organic
farming methods on climate change. Currently, LCA is the purview
of academics and consultants. Working with organic producers to
develop a generally useful LCA tool could lead to organic
farming methods and systems that maximize soil carbon storage,
minimize greenhouse gas production, minimize total carbon
footprint, and thereby contribute further to critical ecosystem
services including global temperature moderation. A small set of
“Focus Farms” will be invo