Tag: 3BL

July 21, 2023 /3BL/ – Major companies and employers across the U.S. are applauding recent action in four states to advance ambitious clean vehicle standards, the latest signal of the growing momentum toward zero-emission vehicles and clean transportation policy.

On Monday, New Jersey formally moved to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II rule which will require manufacturers to increase sales of electric and other zero-emission models within the state over time, culminating with 100% of new sales in 2035. Maine followed suit this week by considering adoption of the ACCII rule through 2032, and recently began considering the Advanced Clean Truck rule, which sets increasing requirements for the sale of zero-emission trucks, vans, and other medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Colorado also took an important procedural step this week as it seeks to finalize adoption of the ACCII rule through 2032, and New Mexico recently announced plans to adopt both the ACCII and ACT rules.

U.S. companies, fleet operators, and auto manufacturers have been strong advocates for these state policies, because they recognize zero-emission vehicles are key to reducing pollution and achieving their corporate climate targets, while also saving money on fuel and maintenance. The rules provide a predictable framework for the ramp-up in zero-emission vehicle production, which will help ensure companies can access a diverse array of models in the volume they need for a successful transition. The increased supply will also help companies and consumers maximize the clean vehicle purchasing incentives available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act and various state policies.

“Rivian applauds Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, and New Mexico for advancing commonsense rules to grow the EV market,” said Tom Van Heeke, Senior Policy Advisor at Rivian Automotive. “The standards were thoughtfully designed to be feasible while delivering on critical climate and public health goals. Rivian’s R1T pickup, R1S 7-seat SUV, and commercial vans are proof that now is the time to implement these policies.”

“Congratulations to these states and their residents for taking steps that will result in cleaner transportation solutions and better air quality for Americans from coast to coast.” said Frank Girardot, Sr. Director Communications, BYD Motors.

“The recent wave of states adopting ambitious zero emission vehicle standards are proof the country is ready for the e-mobility revolution. We are actively building a national network of charging infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs in all vehicle classes that will hit our roads in the coming years,” said Suzanne Goldberg, Senior Director, Public Policy North America at ChargePoint. “We commend Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, and New Jersey for taking important steps to lead the shift to EVs, and we look forward to supporting these states in building an EV charging infrastructure their drivers need and deserve.”

“As a business at the forefront of emobility solutions, we see firsthand that technology and market demand are ready to support the transition to clean vehicles,” said Ryan Dalton, Siemens Head of External Affairs and Policy—Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. “Strong state standards that set clear expectations for market growth over the coming years are key to managing the transition and meeting escalating consumer demand. We support the adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II rule in Maine and New Jersey because it is the best way to attract investment and provide predictability for manufacturers, companies, workforces, and consumers alike.”

“We are committed to supporting Maine and New Mexico as they push toward the adoption the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which will deliver many economic and health benefits for each of their communities,” said Nate Baguio, Senior Vice President of Commercial Development at Lion Electric. “Establishing this regulation will reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, advance electrification and help each of these states meet their climate goals.”

“As a New Jersey-based company founded on the principles of equitable economic, social, and environmental sustainability, driven by actions that benefit healthier jobs, businesses and communities, Hugo Neu recognizes that the future of passenger transport is electric,” said Dominique Lueckenhoff, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs, EHS and Sustainability at Hugo Neu. “Adopting the Advanced Clean Cars II rule is essential to ensure that New Jersey businesses and consumers alike can enjoy the economic, health, and environmental benefits of cleaner transportation options, while also ensuring improved air quality and GHG reductions that better protect our overburdened communities. We thank Governor Murphy’s administration for moving forward on this important initiative.”

“Transportation makes up the majority of New Jersey’s climate pollution while worsening local air quality, leading to chronic health issues in communities across the state,” said Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health. “As New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health care network, Hackensack Meridian Health strongly supports increasing the availability of clean transportation vehicles with the Advanced Clean Cars II rule so all New Jerseyans can lead healthier, more sustainable lives. We applaud the Murphy administration and the Department of Environmental Protection for moving forward with the ACC II rule.”

“As a company headquartered in New Jersey, Avocado Green Brands supports the state’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II rule by the end of this year,” said John Davies, Senior Director, Brand Editorial and Sustainability at Avocado Green Brands. “We recognize the climate crisis as a constant threat to economic sustainability, as well as to the wellbeing of our people and planet. Because transportation is the leading source of emissions in New Jersey and nationwide, we must not delay in ensuring all New Jerseyans are able to reap the benefits of cleaner transportation options.”

“Transportation is the largest source of climate-warming emissions in Colorado. As a business that prioritizes protecting the state’s winter climate, Arapahoe Basin is increasingly thinking about how skiers and riders (and our staff) get to the slopes,” said Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. “By adopting the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, Colorado will position businesses and residents to reap the benefits of improved efficiency, lower operating costs and fewer emissions, while improving air quality and protecting the climate that supports our most treasured industries and ways of life.”

Transportation remains the largest source of climate pollution in the state and across the nation, and passenger vehicles are its biggest cause. In addition to reducing climate-warming emissions, electric vehicles also cut toxic air pollution that most heavily impacts communities — often low-income communities and communities of color — located near major roads and highways.

If all four states finalize the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, they will join seven others that have adopted versions of the rule: California, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and Vermont. Maryland and Delaware are also in the process of adopting the ACCII rule. Eight states have already adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks rule: California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, and Colorado, while Maryland and North Carolina are in the process of adopting the rule.

Ceres, the sustainability nonprofit that works with companies and investors, and CALSTART, the clean transportation technology advocacy organization, have been organizing company support for the ACCII and ACT rules across the states, and for federal clean vehicle standards that will also help to grow the zero-emission vehicle market.

“This is a momentous week for clean vehicles in the U.S., and we are grateful to the administrations in all four of these states for their ambitious action to advance clean transportation policy,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy, Ceres. “These states are each sending a clear signal that they are cultivating a forward-looking business environment to build the economy of the future. As the ACCII and ACT rules take hold in states across the country, we expect to see continued investment in this crucial technology, and the companies, communities, and economies in these leading states all stand to benefit.”

“CALSTART applauds Governors Murphy, Mills, Polis, and Grisham for taking these important steps for their states. These regulations will have positive impacts on the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure, as well as significantly contributing to job growth and technology investment in their states, for decades to come,” said Alissa Burger, Regional Policy Director, CALSTART. 

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

About CALSTART

A nonprofit consortium with offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California and central Europe and partners world-wide, CALSTART works with 300+ member company and agency innovators to build a prosperous, efficient, and clean high-tech transportation industry. We overcome barriers to modernization and the adoption of clean vehicles. CALSTART is changing transportation for good.

Media Contacts: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

Just in time for summer festivities, Michigan facility upgrades improve accessibility in Mackinaw City

Since 1944, American Legion Post 159 has offered veterans and their families in northern Michigan a comfortable space to connect, relax and access a variety of resources.

“This is a place for men and women as they come home from war,” says Tom Chastain, Post Commander. “There’s a lot of history here, and our membership can gather to exchange stories with pride of their time in service while reconnecting with old friends.”

Post 159 is a facility built by veterans, for veterans. Its membership of approximately 450 is made up of three groups who offer various services and put on events year-round: Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and American Legion Veterans.

Services range from pension claim support to funeral detail, but members can simply stop in and enjoy socializing in the canteen, too.

“It’s a get-together and, for many, it’s also a tradition,” says Chastain. “Having been around for so long, we see people and families coming together and passing that routine down to their kids and their grandkids—kids who are also going to be members one day.”

Men and women returning from their posts this year will get a pleasant surprise at Post 159, as the facility underwent significant upgrades and repairs over the winter. From hidden improvements such as a furnace replacement to more obvious remodeling like a new deck, outdoor seating areas and ramps for wheelchair accessibility, members will have a lot more to enjoy this summer.

“Our summer schedule is out, we’re opening our facility to the public again and we’ll have live music starting up on Saturday nights,” says Chastain. “It’s great—all of a sudden people are back.”

Last year, Enbridge made a $45,000 Fueling Futures donation to American Legion Post 159 as part of our commitment to building vibrant and sustainable communities near our operations. The funding has been used for key upgrades to the facility and outdoor beautification of the area such as shrubbery and flowers.

“The grant improves the overall accessibility of the Post,” says Chastain. “It’s something we could have never raised the money for ourselves, so we’re overwhelmingly grateful.”

A ribbon-cutting event in mid-June is expected to mark the grand re-opening of Post 159 following the final installation of new sidewalks. Enbridge’s own Mike Davanzo, a former U.S. Coast Guard Captain and now helming the Enbridge Straits Maritime Operations Center (ESMOC), will be in attendance, in a nod to his former post as Captain of the Mackinaw.

Chastain is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran himself, and has had long-term involvement with the Legion for over 20 years.

Post 159 is located in Mackinaw City, MI; however, the Legion network is vast. Anyone who has served even one day in the military since 1941—and has been honorably discharged or still serving—is eligible for membership.

Veterans can travel across the United States knowing a Legion location is not too far away and ready to welcome them through their doors—and some partner locations are even located internationally.

“We’re a family,” says Chastain.

Innovation has long been a cultural centerpiece of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), and today, the company was recognized on Fast Company’s fifth annual list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized as one of the top innovative companies in the nation. It’s a credit to the inspired team of innovators we have here that are making it all happen,” said Scott Aakre, senior vice president, Brand Fuel at Hormel Foods. “The food industry is constantly evolving, and it is our commitment as a global branded food company to keep pace with that evolution by making insights-led innovation central to everything we do. Innovation has always been an important part of our culture. We’re constantly striving to improve the lives of our customers and consumers by meeting their needs with innovative processes and product solutions while also creating a more sustainable future for both our company and the planet.”

Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners worldwide from a variety of industries, including biotech, consumer-packaged goods, education, healthcare and many more. Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers collaborated together to score nearly 1,000 submissions, and a panel of eight distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies, which now includes Hormel Foods for the first time.

Hormel Foods recently unveiled a new center of excellence focused on consumer insights and innovation called Brand Fuel. The Brand Fuel team serves as the company’s hub for consumer insights and brand diagnostics while supporting technology to enable connections with consumers on where and how they shop and eat.

Additionally the company launched its Originate Initiative, an email series that shares many of the industry-leading efforts the company is pioneering today, while sparking conversations about tomorrow and beyond.

“Innovation is part of our DNA, and it will continue to play an important part in our future,” Aakre said. “It’s one of the reasons we have had so much success for so many years.”

To see the complete list of Fast Company’s 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators, visit fastcompany.com/best-workplaces-for-innovators/list.

Originally published on Nielsen Insights

This May, Nielsen celebrated Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Employees joined in internal events to learn more about AANHPI culture and history from their colleagues in the ALL-IN (Asians Learning, Leadership, & Innovation at Nielsen) Business Resource Group. Nielsen also released Seen, heard, valued – engaging Asian Americans through media, our 2023 Diverse Intelligence Series report.

The ALL-IN BRG organized events with the theme Breaking the Myth, Sharing Our Story: Empowering AANHPI Voices. “We wanted to challenge the damaging stereotype of AANHPIs as a ‘model minority’ that masks the unique challenges and struggles faced by our diverse community,” said Sikavas Nalampang, ALL-IN Regional Co-lead. “By encouraging AANHPI individuals and communities to share their stories with confidence and clarity, we can bust this myth.”

One event featured guest speakers from Toastmaster and Storicate to help employees to voice their authentic story and build their brand. “I learned the tools to develop my storytelling skills and recognize my strengths,” said ALL-IN Europe Regional Leader Amanda Zalameda. “Being a part of ALL-IN has helped me get out of my comfort zone and tell my personal story with an authentic voice.” Zalameda has also launched a book club exploring books by Asian authors to continue engaging colleagues year-round.

During the kick-off event, ALL-IN co-sponsor Jon Kaiser, Nielsen’s SVP of Industries and Advertisers, hosted a fireside chat with Angelina Eng, VP of Measurement, Addressability, and & Data Center at Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), where she shared her career journey, focusing on the importance of self-development, finding allies and mentors.

On May 24, Nielsen launched Asian Language Media Consumption And Preferences: A Study Of Chinese, Korean And Vietnamese Audiences at the Asian American Advertising Summit (3AF) in Los Angeles. Half of the AANHPI population in the U.S. were born outside of the country, so native language media is a powerful way of engaging this audience for whom their language remains an important part of staying connected to their roots. Six Nielsen employees joined the Summit, learning about Asian-focused marketing, networking and engaging with Asian marketing industry experts. ALL-IN sponsor Patricia Ratulangi and Nielsen’s AANHPI thought leader summarized the insights from Nielsen’s AANHPI Diverse Intelligence Series and moderated a panel with Little Saigon TV, multicultural agency IW Group and their client from Lexus.

RESTON, Va., July 21, 2023 /3BL/ – Top Workplace USA 2023 has awarded CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) with five National Culture Excellence Awards as part of its annual workplace survey conducted by Energage, LLC.

CACI is recognized in the following categories:

Compensation & BenefitsInnovationLeadershipPurpose & ValuesWork-Life Flexibility

“CACI’s leadership has created a culture that is a destination of choice and makes our employees proud to work here,” said Angie Combs, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “We are dedicated to continuously advancing CACI’s value proposition through our industry-leading benefits and unique culture ensuring our employees are supported and able to take on the greatest challenges facing national security and government modernization.”

CACI’s human resources team, led by Combs, continues to introduce programs that improve day-to-day experiences for employees and create workplaces where they can thrive by building a culture of solidarity and shared purpose.

Honorees of these awards are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through a confidential employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, which evaluate factors such as leadership, culture, and benefits that are proven to predict high performance, against industry benchmarks.

ABOUT CACI

CACI’s approximately 22,000 talented employees are ever vigilant in providing the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address our customers’ greatest enterprise and mission challenges. Our culture of good character, innovation, and excellence drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. As a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, we consistently deliver strong shareholder value. Visit us at www.caci.com.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:

Lorraine Corcoran 
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com

By Candace Higginbotham

Regions Bank recently hosted the second annual CDFI Convening, attended by 25 CEOs and executives from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) across the bank’s footprint.

As he welcomed the group to Birmingham, Regions Head of Community Affairs Leroy Abrahams talked about the role these institutions serve in improving the financial health of our communities and why it’s crucial for Regions to maintain close relationships with them.

“Communities are important to us, and you are important to communities,” Abrahams told the leaders.

He explained that community development is part of Regions Bank’s mission to create shared value. “Our business is only successful when our four key constituents are doing well and are able to win – customers, associates, communities and shareholders.”

Our business is only successful when our four key constituents are doing well and are able to win – customers, associates, communities and shareholders.

Leroy Abrahams, head of Community Affairs

Abrahams noted that Regions’ relationships with CDFIs and MDIs are key to that mission. “By investing in these institutions, we can create faster growth and ensure everyone has opportunity for financial success,” he said.

CDFIs are private financial institutions dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream.

An MDI may be a federally insured depository institution of which 51% or more of the voting stock is owned by minority individuals – or a financial institution that primarily serves minority communities and whose board of directors is primarily composed of individuals from minority backgrounds.

CDFIs and MDIs are often based in small towns, rural areas or urban communities and provide services in areas where the nearest physical bank branch may be several miles away.

Support for CDFIs and MDIs has long been a part of Regions’ community engagement strategy. Regions Bank and the Regions Community Development Corporation have provided equity investment and lending support, and late last year the bank announced a program that allows customers of seven institutions to access Regions’ ATM network with no fee.

In early 2023 the bank announced it would be enhancing these support efforts, as part of the launch of the Making Life Better Institute. That initiative is led by Wendi Boyen, head of Community Advocacy and Financial Wellness at Regions.

“The financial support Regions provides is important, but perhaps just as beneficial is the technical assistance we are able to lend,” Boyen said. “We have a lot of expertise in our organization – in so many areas – and we have leaders who understand how vital CDFIs and MDIs are in our communities. They are more than willing to share their advice and guidance with these institutions.”

During the May convening, discussion topics included risk management, balance sheet management, economic and market conditions, consumer lending, deposit pricing, strategic planning, M&A, financial industry conditions, liquidity and technology.

What Regions does for us is give us additional resources that we can use to grow and expand. But more than just financial resources, there’s also the relationships.

Robert James, President and CEO of Carver Bank in Savannah, Georgia

Boyen noted that these weren’t just one-way communications. “We may have more resources at Regions Bank than some of these smaller organizations, but we don’t have all the answers. We can – and did – learn from the other bank leaders in the room. The whole idea was to have an information-sharing forum, a dialogue, and we accomplished that.”

“What Regions does for us is give us additional resources that we can use to grow and expand. But more than just financial resources, there’s also the relationships,” said Robert James, President and CEO of Carver Bank in Savannah, Georgia. “Now we have access to their ATM network to further serve our customers and we’re talking with leaders who are helping us design products and services that can extend our impact into the community.”

Watch the above brief video to hear more from Regions Bank and CDFI leaders about how their relationships are impacting local communities.

Noel Kinder, chief sustainability officer at Nike, and Brian Matt, head of ESG advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, join Workiva’s Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. The trio talk about ESG as a catalyst for product innovation and finding value in collaboration and learning from others.

Listen Now

Looking for more? Subscribe to the ESG Talk podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and YouTube.

“Doing what you love, and loving what you do.” Listen to Keith Dula, supply chain manager at our Dixie plant in Lexington, Kentucky, explain the importance of being a lifelong learner, exploring your passions and pushing yourself while creating value personally, for the company and your community.

Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us . For news, visit: gp.com/news

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Words make Worlds. That’s why I’m continuing this blog series to raise awareness about the power of Inclusive Language.

Having a sense of identity is critical to all of us. In sharing our identities with the world, we seek to feel seen and accepted. This is certainly the case for the LGBTQ+ community.

I’m joined by two colleagues in this conversation: Jennifer Rideout (Global Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community) and Abhinav Shikhar (APJC Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community). They share stories and thoughts about identity, acceptance, and the power of words.

Jennifer: “When people feel that their identity is threatened, it’s human nature to react negatively.

Remember, for people for whom language has always been inclusive — notably heterosexual, cis-gendered people — the shift to non-gendered words can feel challenging at first.

For example, I know someone who attended a conference where, in conversation, someone asked about their spouse. This person was upset because they had a husband and were used to always being asked about their husband. Specifically, the word “spouse” was used.

To them, it felt as though their identity wasn’t seen. It was eye opening to realize that this person — and others who have enjoyed the privilege of language that caters to their identity — could feel excluded. Now their identity wasn’t the only one being acknowledged through words.”

While the feeling of being excluded because of language may have been a unique experience for that person, it’s unfortunately common for those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Suppose you grew up and lived in a society with language consistent with your identity. Now you’re asked to change how to speak and incorporate inclusive language. You may feel newly excluded or threatened.

Jennifer: “Inclusive language is not intended to remove anyone’s identity.

Instead, the point is to expand respect and inclusion from some people to everyone. In individual conversations, you can be more specific and talk about your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or being single — whatever aligns with who you are.

Your identity out to the world does not change, and you are still part of the whole; with inclusive language, we, the LGBTQ+ community, are simply saying: “We want the same thing. We want language to include us, too.”

Abhinav: “I’ve experienced and witnessed multiple situations where people make gender-based assumptions about a significant other. I encourage people to think about how those assumptions developed over time and to question what they assume before they speak.

Language missteps from assumptions occur in other situations, such as when people mentally assign gender based on a person’s job title, role, appearance, or voice. It’s not hard to check someone’s identity, and it can make such a difference toward that person’s feeling of acceptance.”

It’s more helpful to self-check our assumptions and work to rephrase discussions until we can verify identity and pronouns.

It may seem small or unimportant, but it’s huge for those on the receiving end who are consistently misunderstood.

Jennifer: “Yes, I was told recently by a colleague that they were laughed at after sharing their pronouns in a meeting. That type of response is completely inappropriate, unprofessional, and cruel.”

It’s dehumanizing to be mocked after sharing an important aspect of your personal story. What if you shared a personal story about a parenting challenge, for example, and the listener laughed at your situation?

Respecting all identities creates a more welcoming and positive environment — personally or in the workforce. Two simple steps make an incredible difference:

Don’t assumeVerify

Before you meet for the first time, take a moment to look someone up in your corporate directory or on LinkedIn to verify their name and pronouns.

As of May 4, Cisco’s employee directory includes pronouns. We encourage you to publish your pronouns and verify the pronouns of your coworkers. If you don’t know or can’t find out, just ask.

Abhinav: “As you learn more about and practice using inclusive language, think of yourself as an ally. Don’t think of achieving perfection because there’s always more to learn. For example, when talking with a leader a few weeks ago, talking casually about families, he did not assume that the man’s partner was a woman.

He showed inclusive behavior by using “they” when referring to the partner, which was greatly appreciated. Being an ally is a journey. You can be anywhere along the journey and continue to learn more.”

Language is one of the most tangible ways to have us all feel seen. As we celebrate PRIDE month, extend your allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. It’s more than rainbow stickers and apparel, rather it’s about the everyday practice of being an ally all year long!

Explore additional resources to boost your understanding and use of inclusive language:

Inclusive Leadership via Language – Cisco Blogs

Undertsanding Inclusive Language: A Framework Berkeley Haas

A perspective on “Words make Worlds”

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If LinkedIn is anything to go by, general interest in all things sustainability related has clearly reached an all-time high. At any given moment, my newsfeed is full of posts advocating for new solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

This constant call for action to shape a sustainable future is a good thing. But sometimes it can be really hard to picture what such solutions actually look like.

Not so in the case of agriculture. The future of farming lies in regenerative agricultural systems. Put simply, regenerative agriculture aims to increase production with fewer inputs while leaving more of our natural world intact. The goal is to allow farmers to benefit from higher yields, higher incomes, and improved livelihoods – and for nature to recover and thrive.

In fact, what I find exciting about this transformation in farming is that a number of solutions are already there for everyone to see. When different innovations are put together to form an entire system of solutions and tailored to the specific conditions of each farm, they can have real impact on the ground. And when brought to scale, they could have the potential to radically transform how we grow and produce our food – ultimately, making our food system more resilient and sustainable and regenerative.

The following farming solutions are currently five of my absolute favorite innovations in agriculture. And here’s why.

1. Carbon Farming

Carbon farming is a method aimed at reducing carbon concentrations by sequestering it in the soil. The Bayer Carbon Initiative is a carbon farming program created in 2021 that has been going from strength to strength. The idea behind it is to reward growers for adopting climate-smart farming practices like using cover crops, tillage reduction, crop rotations and precision nitrogen applications.

Such methods not only reduce carbon emissions but can pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil where it benefits soil health, crops and the environment.

It’s really motivating to see the difference that practical tools and real-life solutions like this one can make in the lives of farmers and for the well-being of our planet. At Bayer, we’re working with our partners to bring them to scale and make them more widely available to more farmers around the world.

2. CoverCress

Cover crops – which are crops planted between seasons – have enormous potential for regenerative agriculture. They limit erosion and keep valuable nutrients from blowing away. At the same time, they are vital in making sure that carbon that was stored in the soil remains there when no other crop is growing – for the benefit of microorganisms as well as our planet.

For all these reasons, CoverCress belongs on my list of favorite agriculture innovations. What sets CoverCress apart from other cover crops is that it can be also harvested as a renewable fuel feedstock. Some farmers are hesitant to use cover crops due to the lack of financial incentive to plant something that doesn’t generate revenue. CoverCress addresses this issue and offers a potential revenue stream without using new land, new equipment, or new resources. It’s a win-win both for farmers and the planet and I would be happy to see more CoverCress fields on my runs during the off-season.

3. Hybrid wheat

Climate change, extreme weather and disease increasingly pose a threat to harvests around the world. Wheat, for example, contributes to about 20 % of dietary calories and proteins of the world population, but harvests are taking a hit in a hotter, drier climate. That’s why farmers are increasingly looking for crops that can withstand the impact of climate change. This brings me to another one of my favorite Ag Innovations: hybrid wheat.

State of the art genomic tools have enabled us at Bayer to develop a new crop that is expected to provide higher yield and yield stability as well as to be more resilient. This form of resilience will help farmers save inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and crop protection while contributing to global food security at the same time. Hybrid wheat is a great example of how innovation in agriculture can secure business for farmers, support the global food production, and promote sustainability at the same time. It’s about helping farmers produce more with less, and to make agriculture part of the solution to restore nature along the way.

4. Biologicals

Biological alternatives to conventional crop protection products are another important tool in our suite of sustainability solutions. Biologicals have a better environmental profile and a lower impact on natural habitats than conventional products, and that’s why they feature on my list of favorite agriculture innovations.

To keep it simple, biological crop enhancement products act like nutritional supplements for soil, providing nourishment while boosting health and performance. At Bayer, we are proud to be a leader in agricultural biologicals with global expertise in field testing and registration, moving innovation to products quickly and efficiently.

5. Digital solutions

Last but by no means least, I’d put digitalization down as a favorite agricultural innovation of mine. Digitalization will transform our industry more profoundly than any other technology of the past 40 years. It will contribute to a more innovative, more efficient, and more sustainable form of agriculture – enabling a regenerative transformation.

Digital farming tools help farmers work smarter by combining their expertise and knowledge of their land with modern, digitally enabled tools that collect and organize more data, enabling farmers to make the best decisions possible for every acre of land they farm. The FieldView platform, for example, helps farmers use weather data, field-level analysis, and satellite imagery to optimize decision making.

All five of these innovations are part of a bigger picture. In order to advance regenerative agriculture and make our global food system more sustainable and resilient, we need different tools and solutions at different points of the agricultural value chain and tailored to the specific condition of each farm.

At Bayer, we are addressing agriculture as a whole and are committed to transforming the industry from end to end. Our journey towards a regenerative future in agriculture is in full swing and I’m excited to be a part of it. Perhaps you might be too. 
If you’re curious to learn more and join our efforts, find out more here: Regenerative Agriculture | Bayer

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