What are Climate Smart Agricultural Commodities, and How Do Soybeans Fit In?

In recent years, the term "climate-smart agricultural commodities" has been introduced to describe products like soybean grain. These commodities are cultivated using practices that aim to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and/or store carbon in soils. The multi-billion dollar investment by the USDA in climate-smart commodities exemplifies the increasing interest by public and private sector actors, and by grain buyers, in measuring climate footprints of soybeans. In this webinar, Dr. Andrew Margenot will provide an introduction to climate-smart agriculture and agricultural commodities, how soybeans fit into this paradigm, and considerations for Illinois soybean producers in navigating climate-smart commodity markets.
Dr. Andrew Margenot is a soil scientist and associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He joined the Illinois agricultural scene in 2017, where he leads a research team that evaluates nutrient biogeochemistry in our state and the greater North Central US region. Dr. Margenot’s research focuses on phosphorus management, soil health, and carbon crediting, with the goal of supporting efficient use of nutrients for crop productivity that support environmental quality.