Steenwerth, Kerri : Sustainability metrics, vineyard cover crop use, carbon sequestration

Integrating Systems â?¦ 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 ) â?? 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 Bordeauxâ??s focus on biodiversity st History of viticulture since 1 century A.D . STATUS Highly impacted system 75 % of Bordeaux region = vineyards Agro - ecotourism Reduced pest pressure GOALS Reduced erosion and offsite chemical movement Bordeaux Increased nutrient retention VALIDATION Promoting hedgerows Established & Diverse covers ACTION monitored by : Reduction in chemical applications Restoration on edges Growers Syngenta PARTNERS Earthwatch Institute Bordeaux Agricultural Univ . http : / / www.earthwatch.org / europe / expeditions / exped_research_focus / rf_bordeaux.html Greening Waipara Valley , NZ : Biodiversity trails May 2009 Biodiversity Trails Omihi Creek Cassis MacKenzie Farm Ball Estate Ben and Viv Kepes Claremont Luxury Estate Glenview Farrm Pimlico Vineyard Fancrest Estate Harris Wine and Food Frog Rock 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 Graeme Allen Vineyard Wedge Farm Railway Station Waipara Gardens Mairehau Vineyard Cass View Mt Cass Dickson Vineyard The Mound Waipara Junction Garage Terrace Edge Concorde Vineyard One Stop Turbo Shop Dunstaffnage The Mud House Camshorn Waiata Estate Pegasus Bay Number of plants planted to date 23562 0 2.5km California : Farm Edges and Sustainability The Stephenâ??s Property , South Fork of Willow Slough Work by Solano Co . RCD Ground has been prepared & seeded â?¢ Early native grass growth â?¢ 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 â?¢ Project planning & management : $ 700 - $ 1400 / ac â?¢ Site preparation : debris removal , initial weed control , road removal : $ 5600 - $ 6200 / ac â?¢ Native grass seeding : $ 1500 - $ 1800 / ac â?¢ Plant trees & shrubs in hedgerow & riparian zone : $ 3000 - $ 3700 / ac â?¢ Plant native grass , sedge & rush plugs : $ 900 - $ 1300 / ac â?¢ Design / Install irrigation : $ 1100 - $ 1500 / ac â?¢ Site maintenance / monitoring : $ 2000 - $ 3700 / ac â?¢ Habitat enhancements â?? bird boxes , etc . : $ 250 - $ 360 / ac Required Irrigation â?¢ Central Valley â?¢ 12 irrigations ( May - Oct ) in Year 1 â?¢ 4 - 6 irrigations ( May - Oct ) in Year 2 â?¢ 10 gal / tree / event â?¢ 266 trees : 2660 gal / event â?¢ 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 â?¢ Develop or adopt specific , measurable and verifiable , outcome - based metrics for benchmarking â?¢ Comparing and improving sustainable performance in the specialty crop sector â?¢ Develop a common language among crops and regions so that we use the same metrics Scope â?¢ Farm â?? Distribution â?? Processing â?? Retail / Food service â?¢ People , Planet , Profit â?¢ Specialty crops ! Proposed Initial Phase â?¢ Develop open source metrics through a transparent , multi - stakeholder 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 Samâ??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 200 participating organizations Metrics Review Committee Trade Assoc . Academic ( 5 % ) ( 10 % ) Buyer ( 5 % ) NGO ( 24 % ) Grower ( 23 % ) Inputs ( 2 % ) Government ( 6 % ) Consultant Distributor Finance ( 2 % ) ( 15 % ) ( 2 % ) Other ( 6 % ) Metrics PEOPLE Community Human Resources PLANET Air quality GHG emissions Biodiversity / Ecosystems Packaging Energy Nutrient management Pesticides Soils Waste Water use and quality PROFIT Green procurement Fair price Envisioned Benefits â?¢ Tool for finding cost reduction opportunities â?¢ Reduce duplicative sustainable reporting systems â?¢ Data for backing marketing claims â?¢ Frees users to innovate the best practices â?¢ Recognizes high performers or improvement over time â?? all can participate â?¢ Can be applied across many commodities â?¢ Tool for solving problems and preventing need for future regulations Thank You