有機商店已經不稀奇了。美國加州新興的「零碳餐廳」，以零食品碳足跡為目標，消費者來這裡消費，就能實質資助當地的農場實施氣候智慧農法。新研究顯示，這項由加州政府與民間合作的計畫，減少農業用地的溫室氣體排放，這樣的改變就可以扭轉氣候變遷。
加州食品與農業部（California Department of Food and Agriculture, CDFA）和加州空氣資源委員會（California Air Resources Board, CARB）表示，他們將為食品和纖維供應鏈中的企業建立機制，直接為加州農場和牧場的氣候計畫提供資金。
農業用地在因應氣候變遷上扮演關鍵性角色。這種合作將使私人資金能夠用於支持國家氣候智慧農業計畫。
「碳耕法」指的是各種能把碳擠入土壤中的農法，能將溫室氣體二氧化碳封存到土壤中，增加土壤碳含量有助於植物生長，增加土壤有機質，提高土壤保水能力，並減少肥料使用。
土地管理上的小變化也可以稱為碳耕法，如引入零耕農業、保留殘株、混農林業或使用能減少甲烷的飼料添加劑。大規模的碳耕法可能是涵蓋整個農場的減排和吸碳綜合性計畫。
CARB和CDFA打算召集專家小組來設計一套方法，吸引私人投資資金用於氣候智慧農業計畫。
為發展合作關係，CARB和CDFA將與加州非營利組織「多年生農業計畫」和其下的「零食品碳足跡計畫」合作，推出「重建加州再生餐廳」（Restore California Renewable Restaurants），消費者可透過選擇「零碳餐廳」為農場提供資金。
「零食品碳足跡餐廳」透過自願性資助氣候智慧農法，建立再生食品系統。透過直接增進土壤健康和提供優質營養成分來吸引各級餐廳加入。新研究顯示，這些改變可以扭轉氣候變遷。
餐廳有60％到70％的碳足跡來自食物本身。零食品碳足跡計畫將指導餐廳如何選擇供應商、設計菜單和控制份量來減少食物排放。
到2030年，這些再生餐廳可以幫加州農場和牧場減少數百萬噸的碳排。
The California Department of Food and Agriculture, CDFA, and the California Air Resources Board, CARB, have formed a public-private initiative to advance climate-smart agriculture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on agricultural lands.
The two state agencies say they will create a mechanism for businesses in the food and fiber supply chain to directly fund climate projects on California farms and ranches.
Agricultural lands play a pivotal role in fighting climate change. This collaboration will enable private dollars to support state priorities and practices that the state uses in its climate-smart agriculture programs.
Carbon farming takes in a variety of agricultural methods aimed at sequestering the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the soil. Increasing the carbon content of soil can aid plant growth, increase soil organic matter, improve soil water retention capacity, and reduce fertilizer use.
Carbon farming can cover small changes in land management, like introducing no-till cropping, stubble retention, agroforestry, or methane-reducing feed supplements.
At the large end of the scale, it can mean an integrated plan for the whole farm to reduce emissions and maximize carbon capture.
CARB and CDFA intend to convene an expert working group to design an approach that will attract private investment dollars to climate-smart agricultural projects.
In developing their partnership, CARB and CDFA will work with an established California non-profit, the Perennial Farming Initiative and its Zero Foodprint Program, to launch Restore California Renewable Restaurants.
Through this voluntary initiative, diners can choose zero carbon restaurants that are funding real on-farm emissions reductions.
Zero Foodprint restaurants are creating a renewable food system by voluntarily funding climate-friendly farming practices. This engages restaurants at all levels by directly increasing soil health and the supply of great ingredients. New research also shows that these changes could reverse climate change.
Sixty to 70 percent of a restaurant’s footprint typically comes from the food itself. Zero Foodprint advises restaurants on how to think about minimizing food emissions through tools such as vendor selection, menu design and portion control.
By 2030, Restore California restaurants can deliver millions of tons of carbon reductions on California farms and ranches.
※ 全文及圖片詳見：ENS
