Tag: 3BL

DETROIT, August 10, 2023 /3BL/ – The Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC) will host the third annual National Black Men in Leadership Summit on Thursday, Aug. 17 and Friday, Aug.18, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. The event, in partnership with the National Diversity Council (NDC) and the Michigan Diversity Council, will focus on “The Legacy of Black Leadership and Excellence.” This theme encapsulates a celebration of accomplishments, a recognition of challenges overcome, and a call to continue striving for equity, justice, and positive change. At its heart, the summit will embody the rich tapestry of achievements across diverse arenas, highlighting the exemplary contributions of Black leaders across generations.

The 2023 National Black Men in Leadership Summit Awards highlight individuals who have succeeded in their careers while paving the way for Black men to advance in the corporate and education sectors. These individuals contribute to creating and promoting a culture where Black talent is supported and leveraged for organizational success. They demonstrate leadership excellence and high visibility in the Black community and maintain a record of professional accomplishments.

“The National Diversity Council honors and recognizes the accomplishments and achievements of Black men that lead in the corporate and educational fields,” said Anika Rahman, CEO of the National Diversity Council. “It is imperative that we promote inclusion and advancement opportunities in the C-Suite and beyond.”

2023 Black Men in Leadership Summit Awardees 

Business Impact Award 
MACC Development

Racial Justice and DE&I Advocacy Award 
New Detroit

Community Leader Award 
Dwan Dandridge 
CEO 
Black Leaders Detroit

Outstanding Entrepreneur Award 
Maurice Evans 
CEO 
Elite School Management 

Outstanding Educator Award 
Glenn McIntosh 
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer 
Oakland University 

Business Leader Award 
Kenneth Mathies 
Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer 
AAA

Emerging Leader Award 
Dominic Mathis – Nelson 
Undergrad at Michigan State University

In addition to the individual and company awards, scholarships will be awarded to Black male college-bound students. The selected scholarship recipients are individuals who demonstrate strong leadership traits, community involvement, and academic achievement.

The Title sponsor of this event is AAA – The Auto Club Group; the Platinum sponsor is Aston Carter / Aerotek / Actalent; the Silver sponsor is The Elite Group; and the Bronze sponsors are Comerica Bank and Flagstar Bank.

Registration for the third annual National Black Men in Leadership Summit is open and can be purchased at https://blackmeninleadershipsummit.org/2023/. For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ivy Hunter at ivy.hunter@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the Michigan Diversity Council 
A non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of diversity. The council affords opportunities for organizations to share best practices and learn from top leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion. The Michigan Diversity Council is under the umbrella of the National Diversity Council. More information about the council is available at: http://michigandiversitycouncil.org/.

About the National Diversity Council 
As a diversity, equity, and inclusion focused non-profit offering consulting and training to many of the leading businesses across the nation, we are dedicated to fostering a dynamic learning environment and to empowering organizations to enhance their work environments. Through our programs, we provide invaluable opportunities for organizations to share best practices and gain insights from top leaders in the field of diversity and inclusion. More information about the National Diversity Council is available at: www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

Media Contact: 
Katrina Glenn 
Communications Manager 
National Diversity Council 
katrina.glenn@nationaldiversitycouncil.org

Originally published by Forbes

A future world in which nine billion people live well, within planetary boundaries, requires a set of systemic changes in production, distribution, and consumption. Only then can the current system move from fossil fuels into an electricity model based on renewable energies.

“Such a systemic change does not happen without serious investments and long-term partnerships,” said Ramón Zumárraga, Director of Purchasing Services, Iberdrola, the third largest electricity company in the world by market capitalization, and the world leader in renewable energy.

During an interview at SAP Sapphire Barcelona, Zumárraga explained how Iberdrola’s sustainable business model for renewable energy maximizes the use of technology in business areas that add value, either by improving processes and the productivity of its assets, or by achieving greater efficiency in its activities.

The company’s inventive approach is boundless. Among Zumárraga’s favorites are agro-solar initiatives that use land for solar power generation and agricultural purposes. “Whether using solar parks for beehives or cattle grazing, we try not to occupy the land for a single purpose,” he said.

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DENTON, Texas, August 10, 2023 /3BL/ – The Carton Council of North America today announced the launch of its new podcast series, “Road to Recycling,” showcasing the journey to grow food and beverage carton recycling and the partnerships made along the way.

“Collaboration creates results, and it is a cornerstone of the Carton Council strategy,” said Larine Urbina, vice president of communications for the Carton Council. “Road to Recycling celebrates the power of collaboration through the lens of carton recycling, focusing on the many relationships that have been pivotal in our success. The podcast will often include broader recycling success stories, recognizing that strides made in one area often benefit recycling as a whole.”

Produced to be no more than 25 minutes, each “Road to Recycling” episode is designed to be stand-alone and experienced independently. Together, they aim to reinforce the Carton Council’s collaborative approach, while also sharing tips and best practices that will hopefully inspire others.

“Progress comes when you work with others throughout the entire recycling value chain who share your commitment,” said Urbina. “It is our hope that ‘Road to Recycling’ will provide others with useful ideas and insights.“

The first episode, which shares the origin story of how Emmet County Recycling in Michigan started accepting cartons, is available now in video and audio format. The episode features Lindsey Walker, recycling outreach, market development and commercial accounts for Emmet County Recycling and Jason Pelz, vice president of recycling projects for the Carton Council. They discuss the value, benefit and ease of accepting cartons. Walker shares best practices and insights into how they have helped create a culture of recycling in Emmet County. A video tour of the materials recovery facility (MRF) is also available.

To allow for the curation of meaningful content and fresh perspectives, the series aims to release around four episodes each year and will be available at RecycleCartons.com and on popular podcast platforms. The second episode, expected to come out this fall, will focus on how carton recycling is helping one school district get closer to reaching its Zero Waste goals.

If you are interested in being a guest or have an idea for future “Road to Recycling” episode, reach out to carton.recycling@hkstrategies.com.

 

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ABOUT THE CARTON COUNCIL 

The Carton Council is composed of four leading carton manufacturers, Elopak, Pactiv Evergreen, SIG, and Tetra Pak. Formed in 2009, the Carton Council works to deliver long-term collaborative solutions to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. Through a united effort, the Carton Council is committed to building a sustainable infrastructure for carton recycling nationwide and works toward their continual goal of adding access to carton recycling throughout the U.S. For more information, visit RecycleCartons.com.

ABOUT FOOD AND BEVERAGE CARTONS

Food and beverage cartons are fiber-based packages that contain some of the highest quality fiber available in the recycling steam. There are two types of cartons: aseptic and gable top. Aseptic cartons are shelf-stable and are often used to store products like broth, soups, juices or milk for long periods without the need for preservatives or refrigeration. Gable top cartons require refrigeration and are often considered the traditional milk carton. When recycled, cartons can have a second life as paper products, such as paper towels, toilet paper, paper cups and office and writing paper. Additionally, cartons play a vital role in a growing manufacturing industry where they are used to make sustainable building materials.

Media contact:

Anthony Johnson

(628) 255-2810

International Olympic Committee news

As World Refugee Day focuses the world’s attention on the plight of the millions of displaced people around the world, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) is working to ensure that, when those who have experienced crisis access sport, they do so in a safe and supportive environment. The ORF was founded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2017.

Since late 2022, the ORF has been running a pilot initiative aimed at enhancing the foundational psychosocial skills of coaches, players, administrators and anyone involved in sports environments. The training draws on the principles and packaging of psychological first aid, adapted to sports contexts and scenarios, and trauma-informed sports coaching. At the same time, mental health professionals have been engaged to raise awareness of the evidence base on sport and the benefits for mental health and psychosocial well-being outcomes, and to encourage these professionals to consider the opportunities for linkages with the sports sector in their respective contexts.

The number of refugees and displaced people around the globe continues to surge. UNHCR recently announced that there were an estimated 110 million people who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses. Forced displacement often results in stressful and traumatic experiences for those who have had to leave everything behind, all of which can negatively impact their ability to learn, cope and develop relationships. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than one in five people affected by conflict experience a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At the same time, there is growing evidence of the positive role that sport and physical activity can play in supporting mental health and psychosocial well-being. In order for the full benefits of sport to be realised, it is important that sport and physical activity are applied correctly, particularly when working with people who have experienced serious stressors or trauma. Sports coaches and physical education teachers must be sensitive to the experiences of refugees and displaced people, to ensure that physical activities effectively support mental health and counter feelings of stigma and discrimination.

Sport as an access point to support

In an effort to counter this ever-growing need for mental health support, the ORF has identified the unique position that coaches and physical activity facilitators are in to offer safe, supportive and healing-centred sports activities. As displaced people begin to settle in their host countries, many find their way to local sports clubs and sports facilities, which can serve as an entry point to other mental health and psychosocial support services they may need.

Dr Leslie Snider, a member of the ORF Think Tank who worked with the ORF in developing and delivering the pilot programme, said: “the benefits of combining mental health and psychosocial support and sport are many. For one, sport is an important access point to reach young people who may need support, but might not know about or be comfortable accessing mental health services. Sport is something young people recognise and want to participate in, and so they are more likely to engage without the fear of stigma. Second, sport offered by trained coaches offers the opportunity for adult mentorship that can bring protection, stability and positive role-modelling for young people. Third, sport affords young people the chance to participate in activities that benefit not only their physical health, but also their mental health, relationships and building of life skills like cooperation and fair play.”

Working in partnership to deliver at scale

Working closely with partners like the Moldovan National Olympic Committee, the Polish Ministry of Sport and the WHO, the ORF has facilitated training for 65 sports coaches and physical education teachers, and 25 mental health professionals.

Initially trialled in Paris, the initiative is now being rolled out in Moldova and Poland, which have seen a large influx of displaced people from neighbouring Ukraine. While the initiative remains in its infancy, the pilot phase has demonstrated significant potential to scale. From the 35 sports coaches and physical education teachers trained in Poland, they have trained a further 510 professionals, who deliver sport to more than 50,000 young people – demonstrating the potential for a fully developed programme to reach a very large number of people.

Dr Snider added: “It was surprising to see the transformation of mental health professionals, who did not consider sport as something they could use in their work, wholeheartedly embracing it as important and impactful. Also surprising was how thirsty coaches were in all of the countries where we delivered the training for information about mental health, and how they can appropriately work with and support young people in their role as coaches.”

Going forward, the ORF will work in partnership with other organisations to ensure that the delivery of this model – which combines sports education and coaching with foundational psychosocial skills – reaches displaced people at scale.

Published by Las Vegas Sands on July 18, 2023

LAS VEGAS, 2023 /3BL/ – Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) announced it has contributed $300,000 to its long-time partner Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), bringing the company’s total contributions to the fight to end youth homelessness with NPHY to more than $2.3 million since 2014.

The multi-faceted engagement is fueling NPHY’s work in three areas: assisting the nonprofit in providing immediate relief to youth in crisis, helping create lasting solutions that build NPHY’s capacity to address youth homelessness, and powering The Movement to End Youth Homelessness as co-presenter of the Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit and through support for NPHY’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

Specifically, funding in the areas of immediate relief and lasting solutions is targeting the social and emotional well-being of youth experiencing homelessness with direct support for classes and activities at the NPHY Drop-In Center as well as in-house and contracted mental health services. Sands’ investment in these areas recognizes the vital need to address the impact of the situations NPHY’s clients face, build self-esteem and confidence, and put youth on a course not just to survive, but to thrive.

Sands’ contribution also is assisting NPHY in addressing its youth clients’ immediate needs for food, hygiene items, clothing, transportation, health care and educational materials, while providing general support for NPHY’s emergency services touch points including the Safe Place program, the NPHY Drop-In Center, the Emergency Shelter program and ongoing youth outreach efforts. Integral to these operations is funding to support an additional staff person to enhance program delivery.

Finally, Sands and NPHY recently announced their continued partnership to co-present the Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit, which NPHY and Sands have hosted annually since 2017. Sands’ support is enabling NPHY to expand the Summit and The Movement to End Youth Homelessness statewide and continue holding advocacy trainings through The Movement Institute, which was launched at Summit 2022.

“For nearly 10 years, Sands has been one of our most committed partners, profoundly impacting the trajectory of our organization and enabling us to expand the care and advocacy we provide for our youth,” Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY, said. “The 2023 partnership is reflective of our ongoing strategic planning with Sands and its commitment to deeply understanding the youth homelessness issue and what is needed to give youth in crisis a pathway to sustainable independence and a bright future.”

Youth homelessness remains a critical issue in Southern Nevada. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 2022 roughly 12% of youth experiencing homelessness across the United States were residing in Nevada, with 81% concentrated in Southern Nevada. Homelessness risk factors have accelerated as the state of Nevada is facing an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The first-ever standalone Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Needs Assessment, created through a community process driven by The Movement and the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care (CoC) in 2022, found that 5,125 youth ages 14 to 24 depended on emergency shelters, transitional housing or a combination of these solutions in 2021, an increase from 4,252 youth in 2020.

“Our commitment to ending youth homelessness in Southern Nevada is one of the cornerstones of our Sands Cares program in Las Vegas because of the tremendous need in our region – and because we greatly value and believe in the capability of NPHY to uplift young people facing these circumstances,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives at Sands. “Whether it’s delivering programs and services to youth in crisis, building ultimate solutions or leading The Movement to End Youth Homelessness, NPHY has a vision and model that we believe can drastically reduce the impact on young lives and the incidence of youth homelessness in our state.”

Sands’ support for youth homelessness falls under the global Sands Cares community engagement program’s priority on hardship relief. As part of the company’s hardship relief initiatives, Sands Cares provides resources to disadvantaged people and aids them in overcoming barriers to necessities such as food, housing and other critical resources.

To learn more about Sands Cares, visit https://www.sands.com/responsibility/communities/#our-program-sands-cares.

To support NPHY in the fight to end youth homelessness, visit https://nphy.org/.

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the world’s preeminent developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts. Our iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make our host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. Our ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

About Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)

NPHY is the most comprehensive service provider for the thousands of homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through core programs and touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. NPHY’s programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. Through work with homeless youth, NPHY creates productive, healthy adults who contribute to society. Strengthening and complementing the high-quality direct services for homeless youth, NPHY is dedicated to advocating with and for the Las Vegas Valley’s homeless youth population and serves as a leader in systems-level efforts to eliminate homelessness among Nevada’s youth. For more information or to support our life-changing work for homeless youth, please visit www.nphy.org.

Contacts: 
Kristin Koca 
Sands 
702.923.9142 
Kristin.Koca@sands.com

Lanette Rivera 
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth 
702.688.1013 
lanette@nphy.org

SALEM, OREGON – KeyBank recently delivered a $10,000 grant to the Salem Kroc Center to fund the printing and materials of the “Been There” program, an interactive seven-week course designed to empower youth and young adults to change their thinking and behaviors in order to make positive changes that will help them reach their goals.

Written by motivational speaker, author and empowerment expert Bonnie Milletto, the course and “Been There, From Stuck to Unstoppable” book draw from her own personal experiences as she shares the powerful stories of her journey to overcome the obstacles she has faced. 

“The underlying theme is that when we change our beliefs about our self, our past and our present, we set the wheels in motion to change our lives,” says Josh Lyons, KeyBank’s market president for Oregon and S.W. Washington and commercial banking leader. “The power of positive self-talk and self-belief is truly what makes you unstoppable, no matter your life experiences up until now. We at Key know that helping youth realize their full potential is critical to their success and instrumental in building and maintaining a vibrant economy. We are honored to help support this initiative.” 

“We are excited that KeyBank’s values align with our own when it comes to helping youth,” said Tony Frazier, Kroc Center Director. “Strong community partnerships like this help to make a significant impact on the lives of young people we serve. Together, we help the next generation discover their value and make contributions that effectively engage in community and strengthen our local economy. We are truly thankful for this new partnership.”

 About the Salem Kroc Center

The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Salem, Oregon is committed to producing tangible outcomes that will build character, confidence, and competence in the children and families of the Mid-Willamette Valley region. The 92,000 square foot Kroc Center is geared for health, fitness, education, teamwork, and ultimately, providing hope to our community. We serve as an important place for people of all ages to gather, play, learn, and socialize. With over six different venues, and programs focusing on health and wellness, aquatics, sports, fitness, the arts, child development, science and education, youth leadership, and so much more, the Salem Kroc Center has something for everyone in the community.

About KeyBank

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

The Hattie Redmond apartments, a 60-unit development that provides housing for low income, disabled people in Portland, Oregon, opened its doors on a recent rainy spring day and immediately said hello to more two dozen new residents. 

This development – aptly named after Harriet (Hattie) Redmond, an African-American suffragist and civil rights leader who lived and worked in Oregon in the late 1800s – is now humming along, thanks in large part to a $9.6 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investment and $8.3 million loan from U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank.

“This project is located in Portland’s Albina District – a place that’s both historically significant and long recognized as an active hub for Portland’s Black and African-American community,” said Ann T. Melone, senior vice president and business development officer for Affordable Housing. “We’re honored to support this model initiative, which addresses Portland’s houselessness challenge in a comprehensive and sensitive way.”

It’s an innovative project backed by a big idea. Along with the financing from U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, this $25+ million project was the brainchild of Portland’s housing authority, Home Forward, and the Urban League of Portland. A 2018 Metro Housing Bond, provided via the Portland Housing Bureau, and funding from Oregon Housing and Community Services, also helped bring the building to life. 

Hattie Redmond units are all permanent supportive housing (PSH), available for people who are exiting homelessness. The PSH model is considered to be a best practice and a proven strategy that can help stabilize individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Here, referrals come from Coordinated Access, a system created in 2018 in Multnomah County to streamline and provide equitable access to shelter and housing interventions on behalf of low-income and disabled individuals. One of the goals of the development is to reconnect Black individuals to the neighborhood and to each other; supportive services in the building are provided by Urban League staff. 

“Hattie Redmond Apartments is a model for how the City of Portland can make progress in housing people more quickly and with thoughtful community engagement,” said Ivory N. Mathews, CEO of Home Forward. “This building will provide safe shelter to 60 formerly homeless people in need of culturally specific supportive services. From the location to services offered to building amenities, Urban League of Portland thought of everything. This gives us hope that many more people who have been homeless can— and will—thrive with the right support.”

At four stories and 34,000 square feet, Hattie Redmond is on the Yellow MAX line. On the ground floor, residents share a community room/kitchen, conference room and laundry facilities. Individual studios have full kitchens and baths in addition to living space. Floors are hardwood, with cabinetry to match. The building also features original donated artwork from six Black and brown artists adding cheer throughout, including a portrait of Hattie Redmond.

“For decades, I’ve watched our members be priced out and pushed out of neighborhoods that were once stable and welcoming of Black Portlanders,” said Urban League of Portland President & CEO Nkenge Harmon Johnson. “We also know that more Black developers and property owners are a necessary part of the solution. For those reasons, the Urban League chose to be co-developers of the Hattie Redmond Building as well as provide wrap-around services for residents.”

Over the last three-plus decades, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance has partnered on 95 affordable housing projects, investing more than $492 million in equity and more than $611 million in lending to create or rehab 9,000+ affordable housing units in the Portland area.  

Nationwide, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance provides tax credit investments and syndications, lending and other financial solutions to help create affordable housing, spur economic activity in underserved communities, restore historic buildings, develop renewable sources of energy and strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions.

Originally published on TriplePundit

With their reliance on massive combines and other large pieces of diesel-powered equipment, the agriculture and construction industries present a major challenge for electrification. Nevertheless, suppliers are beginning to offer electric options, and the global firm CNH Industrial illustrates how careful strategizing can yield rapid results.

A head start on electrification

The Electrification Portfolio Management team is a relatively new addition to CNH Industrial as the electrification industry picked up steam over recent years. The sector’s rapid rise has enabled CNH Industrial to recruit talent from a deep pool of accomplished electrification experts.

“Now that the technology is known, there is a well-defined supply chain and expertise in the market, we decided to look at the market and bring in that expertise,” said Mario de Amicis, head of the CNH Industrial electrification team.

Knowing both the customer and the technology is another foundation of the company’s strategy. While some firms have gained publicity by electrifying massive pieces of machinery, CNH Industrial assessed the demand for relatively small, lightweight utility tractors, taking particular note of the specific benefits that electrification would bring to customers.

Collaborating to accelerate electrification

Another leg of the strategy involves forming partnerships with experienced electrification companies, helping to accelerate the timeline from concept to market. For its inaugural electric tractor project, CNH Industrial enlisted the U.S. firm Monarch Tractor as a strategic partner.

The result was a prototype version of the T4 Electric Power, an all-electric utility tractor for CNH Industrial’s New Holland Agriculture brand. The prototype was produced in record time and unveiled at the company’s tech day event in Phoenix, Arizona, in December 2022.

A production model will extend to CNH Industrial’s Case IH brand as well, where the company has also introduced an all-electric mini-excavator.

Electric vs. diesel vehicles: Compare and contrast

Around 70 percent of the CNH Industrial’s electrification team comes from the automotive industry, de Amicis said. That experience shows up in T4 features that have become standard fare in electric vehicles, including battery range that can last up to a day depending on the type of work. Another key element is fast-charging capability: a bi-directional charging system enables the tractor to provide power to electric tools (such as welding machines and drills) and function as a generator for emergency or daily use.

The commercial version of the T4 will launch with remote and autonomous features. Similar to those in other electric vehicles, these elements are expected to result in significant productivity improvements.

“Farmers can remotely activate the tractor via a smartphone app,” the company detailed in a recent announcement. “Shadow Follow Me mode lets operators sync machines to work together. A 360-degree perception system detects and avoids obstacles. Telematics and auto guidance keep all functions in check for operators.”

CNH Industrial also took care to incorporate a power take-off feature and other standard elements for attaching implements to a tractor, with a high-tech twist. The T4 comes with a fleet management controller that recognizes and links the attachments, enabling farmers to run the tractor remotely through all stages of use.

All the benefits of electrification

As with all electric vehicles, the T4 eliminates tailpipe emissions and offers a significant savings on operating costs. CNH Industrial estimates a savings up to 90 percent over the cost of fueling and maintaining a diesel engine. The electric drive also delivers improvements in responsiveness, traction control and all-around handling, according to the company.

In terms of agricultural use, the electric tractor eliminates the risk of soil contamination from spills or accidents, de Amicis said. That’s an especially important consideration for regenerative agriculture, which prioritizes soil health.

On a more holistic basis, regenerative practices also prioritize worker health, making a zero-emission tractor all the more attractive.

The T4 reduces noise by up to 90 percent, according to company estimates, and tamps down on vibrations, too. That’s a significant improvement in the well-being of both workers and farm animals, while lessening disturbance for nearby neighbors.

Similar benefits are at work in CNH Industrial’s electric mini-excavator. It is sized to enable it to pass through doorways and conduct work indoors, free of the diesel fumes and noise of conventional equipment.

Next steps for decarbonization

CNH Industrial also offers farmers a methane biofuel option for New Holland’s T7 and T6 tractors. These models are a particularly good fit for livestock farms with digester equipment, which extract biogas from manure.

“Farmers grow crops and use waste products to generate biomethane, which powers the tractor, which, in turn, helps to grow those very crops,” New Holland’s website reads.

Electrifying combines and larger pieces of equipment involves another set of challenges. Here, CNH Industrial is focusing on a hybrid strategy to satisfy customer demand for both performance and efficiency, while also achieving a sharp reduction in carbon emissions, de Amicis said.

“Battery-electric, with no combustion, is a really good application for small machines,” he explained. “But when we move up, we know that — due to the limit of the power density and cost of the battery — we need to talk about hybridization for medium to large machines.

Much of the equipment attached to farm and construction vehicles is driven by hydraulic systems, which lend themselves to electrification.

“Electrification is an opportunity for efficiency,” de Amicis said. “A tractor is pointless alone. It is intended to pull and provide energy for something else — for implements. There is a lot of opportunity because of the hydraulics in implements, and if we move to electrification, we can improve controllability.”

Beyond EV batteries

As much as CNH Industrial and other firms have been helped along their electrification journey by the size and maturity of the on-road electric vehicle market, further progress in the off-road area will require a tailored approach.

The next step involves forming new supply chain partnerships to develop a battery designed specifically for high-voltage systems, de Amicis said. “We can’t simply copy and paste what the automotive industry is doing. Due to the specific requirements linked with our environment, a customized solution is required.”

The decarbonization of the agriculture and construction industries is only just beginning. But equipment suppliers such as CNH Industrial are poised to overcome the technology challenges and accelerate the transition away from fossil energy.

This article series is sponsored by CNH Industrial and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image courtesy of CNH Industrial 

Originally published by TAPinto Camden
By Janel “Jaycee” Miller

The students were honored during an event held last Thursday, June 8, at Camden High School. Each received a new laptop and a $1,500 scholarship from Subaru of America, and a $25 gift card from First Harvest Credit Union.

The scholarship can be used for books, dormitory costs and other college-related expenses, said Shira Haaz, Subaru’s corporate responsibility manager.

“These students have had to overcome adversity; they may have had specific hardships that required them to go above and beyond in order to make sure they push to the finish line for graduation,” district Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs said in an interview. “These graduates are definitely remarkable because of their resilience, their grit and the perseverance that they’ve shown in dealing with some challenging circumstances.”

Continue reading here.

What’s the value of data? Well, like any other tool, it depends on how you use it. In agriculture, data is proving to be an essential foundation for building more efficient, productive and profitable businesses. It’s also revealing opportunities many never thought possible, such as providing selective inputs across entire fields on a plant-by-plant basis or even informing strategies for farms to actively pull carbon out of the atmosphere. But perhaps the most powerful aspect of data is that farms around the world already produce it. They always have. And now, it’s becoming easier for farmers to benefit from it.

Acting on intelligence

On the farm, even the smallest improvement can lead to big gains in efficiency. This is where digital insights make a massive difference. By revealing new layers of information, farmers can make more informed decisions about how to manage their operations, allowing them to conserve resources, optimize inputs, and ultimately accomplish more with less. Explore some of the many new and unexpected ways farmers are using their field data to their advantage.

When data meets machinery: the real-life impact of AI

By developing tailored algorithms unique to each farm, Artificial Intelligence helps farmers by analyzing historical and real-time field, weather, and environmental data to generate personalized recommendations that maximize efficiency throughout the growing cycle. The impact of these insights can be extraordinary, whether it means dramatically reducing the amount and frequency of inputs needed in the field or identifying key problem areas within the field that need additional attention for a more bountiful harvest.

Smart machines doing manual labor

Leveraging these intricate in-field measurements, smart machinery such as advanced sprayer systems are taking on more of the everyday grunt work. Equipped with new nozzles that relay information from in-field sensors, automated sprayer technology can identify and treat plants on an individualized basis. With unprecedented accuracy, this selective spray system ensures that farmers only use resources when and where they’re needed. That helps to conserve water, nutrients and other applications—not to mention cutting the associated costs. In fact, farmers have been found to save anywhere from $13—$25 (€11.5—€22.1) per acre each season just using GPS and precision applicator technology alone.

Sowing seed: the scientific method

Every seed you plant is an investment. That’s why it pays to consider every factor that could influence your return. This is where digital management platforms come in. By constantly monitoring the moisture levels, nutrient density, and soil temperatures throughout your fields, these tools generate tailored recommendations to optimize the performance of every seed. What’s more: these platforms can also pair with your equipment to not only select the ideal hybrids before the season starts, but to then precisely plant them with variable-rate depth and spacing down to mere fractions of an inch. The sheer precision of these technologies makes a massive difference when you’re talking about 75,000–225,000 individual seeds per acre. And that doesn’t even begin to factor in the additional economies of scale farmers these technologies enable for conserving resources, reducing costs, and increasing harvest potential.

Measuring up to a prosperous future

Data is driving incredible opportunities for farmers around the world, but we’re only just beginning to understand the true power of these insights. Today and into the future, farm data is helping create better agricultural practices that benefit farmers, global communities, and the planet we all share. Looking forward, these technologies promise to provide farmers with even more insights that enrich their already intimate knowledge of their land. With insight as our guide, farmers will continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation, where advancements in technology help address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

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