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2	Sequestering A Future for Pennsylvania Dr. Paul Hepperly, Research Manager, The Rodale Institute Dan Desmond, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection John Quigley, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
3	Global Warming… NASA modeler Dr. J. Hansen predicts a 4.5° F (2.5° C) increase in world temperatures in the next 100 years.
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5	“Hockey Stick” Temperature Trend
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7	Global Warming: Global Threat
8	Hurricane Katrina
9	Temperature Affects Weather
10	Good Reasons to Stop Warming
11	Putting the “black” back into the soil Burning converts carbon and oxygen into CO2 Photosynthesis converts CO2 back into carbon in the form of organic matter (plus oxygen!) Soil Organic Matter retains carbon in soil
12	Balancing the World’s Carbon “Breath” The globe is a living organism Burning (oxidation) = carbon “exhalation” Photosynthesis = carbon “inhalation” When photosynthesis equals oxidation, the climate is in steady state Currently, as oxidation is greater than photosynthesis, the net result is global warming When we find ways to make photosynthesis greater than oxidation, we can reverse global warming
13	What is Sequestration? Sequestration is a process that: Takes gases out of the air Traps the gases Stores gases in such a way that they cannot re-enter the atmosphere
14	Sequestering Greenhouse Gases Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO₂, the predominant greenhouse gas), into the atmosphere. Sequestration re-captures CO₂ and imprisons it in the ground, water, soils, and sediments.
15	Steps Taken To Date… The Rodale Institute®, PA Department of Environmental Protection, and PA Department of Agriculture have: Formalized an Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Reviewed scientific literature Expanded the knowledge base and developed protocols based on field research Outreached important findings to policy makers, farmers, and the public
16	Where is Carbon Sequestered? Ocean waters and floor Sediments Soil Fossil fuels Trees
17	Where is the Carbon coming from ?
18	Agriculture Affects Greenhouse Gases 25% of the world’s supply of fossil fuel is presently used in agricultural production, processing, distribution of food and forestry in the US Soil and trees are reservoirs that can trap excess carbon dioxide Agriculture can serve as a both a fuel producer and a reservoir, eliminating fossil fuel needs and sequestering greenhouse gases
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20	Agriculture Systems Also Use Energy! Over half of conventional corn soybean energy input is for Nitrogen Over 10% is for herbicide input About 75% of organic energy inputs are for seed
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22	No-Till Corn Starts with Hairy Vetch
23	Successful Weed Control In Organic No-Till Corn
24	2002 FST Corn PLOW TILL Plow Disc Pack Plant Rotary Hoe Rotary Hoe Cultivate Cultivate Harvest NO-TILL Roll/Crimp - Plant Harvest
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26	Organic and Conventional: Side by Side
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28	Organic Agriculture Traps Carbon Deep In The Soil
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30	Carbon Storage Capacity Estimates for Different Agricultural Practices Agricultural Practice Compost Cover Crop NoTill Crop Rotation Manuring Cover Crop & Rotation Compost, Cover Crop, Rotation, & No-till Carbon (kg/ha/year) 1,000 to 2,000 600 to 800 200 to 500 0 to 200 0 to 200 800 to 1,000 2,000 to 3,000 (projected)
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32	Unproven Carbon Sequestration
33	Unique and Important Results Long term focus creates the opportunity to see the accumulation of small annual differences into larger results Conventional and organic systems clearly accumulate carbon differently No guesses, projections, nor simulations… just real results from hard, statistically analyzed data
34	The Soil is the Key If people work to feed the soil…
35	Beneficial Root Fungi Extend plant root systems Produce erosion-resistant carbon enriched soil Provide mechanisms for soil biological carbon fixation Organic and no-till practices maximize
36	Increasing Beneficial Root Fungi on Bahia Grass Dr. David Douds - USDA-ARS Researcher, specializing in beneficial root fungi research for the last 25 years
37	Unique and Important Results Clarify the mechanisms that sequester carbon and nitrogen in agricultural soils Employ those mechanisms to maximize agricultural sequestration Collaborate to share these benefits with world-wide audiences
38	Agricultural Sequestration Benefits Everyone Planet Earth Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Areas Consumers Energy Producers Policy Makers Reduced global warming! Opportunities to grow products, markets, and environmental resources A reliable, healthy food supply Carbon credit trading Proven solutions, instead of large-scale, risky experiments
39	Managing Excess Greenhouse Gases Through… Fossil fuel energy conservation/efficiency Land management for sequestration Marketplace incentives to balance greenhouse gas outputs and sequestration Innovative/renewable power resources
40	There Is No Single Silver Bullet Because we need… huge greenhouse gas reduction, and better methods/technologies to do it, … we’ll need to use an array of approaches in order to make headway. No single solution will be adequate on its own.
41	Starting With The Basics Steps we can take quickly and easily: Analyze energy and carbon budgets to economize and optimize use Reduce unnecessary energy use in industry, commercial operations, residences, and transportation Promote energy efficiency in food production and transportation Modify forest and agricultural practices
42	TRI Intern, Genevieve Slocum, and Organic No Till Farmers take break in Maryland
43	Cover Crops Austrian Winter Peas and Hairy Vetch protect soil in fall, winter and spring
44	No-till cover crop planting demonstration Steve Groff’s Cedar Meadow farm
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46	Pennsylvania Takes Action The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), PA Dept. of Agriculture (PDA), and The Rodale Institute have agreed to collaborate on greenhouse gas issues and solutions DEP is supporting research on agricultural carbon sequestration mechanisms and efficiency PDA, DEP, other NGO’s, industry representatives, and academics are developing a PA Greenhouse Gas Roadmap to clarify plans and solutions