The Land Use Change Initiative (LUCI), supported by the United Soybean Board (USB) in partnership with Carbon A List, focuses on eliminating critical inconsistencies in land use change metrics, definitions and methodologies.

This joint initiative aims to bring together stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain and make progress in developing more precise and sustainable land management solutions. The United Soybean Board responded in a recent press release.

Farmers are an integral part of this mission and play a critical role in securing natural resources through sustainable agricultural practices and prudent conservation efforts.

“Farmers have often been left out of conversations about land use change and its collective impacts on agriculture. We weren’t at the table, so we had to build a table ourselves as part of this land use change initiative,” said Steve Reinhard, USB chair and Ohio farmer, during his keynote address at LUCI’s recent Land Use Change Summit. “North American agriculture and the half million soybean farmers who represent 90 million acres of land can have a tremendous impact on climate solutions. Progress is a priority on our farm, not only in conservation but also in improving land management. For example, we started with 5-acre monitoring grids, then 2.5, and are now at acre and half-acre grids to achieve more precise input adjustments and improved soil health and crop productivity.”

Established two years ago, LUCI is entirely focused on fostering collaboration and developing sound scientific knowledge. The goal? A clearer understanding of land use change that accurately reflects modern farming practices, recognises the importance of grassland and ensures the resilience of farming systems.

Farmers are pioneers in sustainable agriculture

LUCI has made significant progress by bringing together key stakeholders from agriculture, environmental science, corporate sustainability, academia and government to address land use challenges while preserving farmland and natural ecosystems. Initiatives include:

• Farmers for Soil Health: This partnership with corn and pork commodity companies and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provides cost-sharing and technical support to farmers in 20 states with the goal of doubling cover crop acreage to 30 million by 2030.
• Seed genetics research: Investments in seed genetics research are expected to improve resilience to drought and flooding, while genomics will be used to accelerate the development of high-protein, high-quality soybean varieties.
• Biological product innovation: Educating farmers on the latest biological pest control products, fertilizers and fungicides to sustainably increase productivity.
• Communication and public relations: Actively invest in communication efforts to translate scientific evidence into actionable insights for farmers and stakeholders.

“Land use change is evolutionary, not revolutionary,” Nancy Kavazanjian, USB director and Wisconsin farmer, said in the press release. “Farmers are doing their best to protect the land, but change takes time. We need patience and partnership to tackle this complex problem together. We’re not just losing grasslands – urbanization, warehouses, housing developments and renewable energy projects are all taking away productive farmland.”

David Wessel, USB director and Illinois farmer, echoed this sentiment: “Currently, it is difficult for us to compete globally through production alone. A consistent land-use change model would level the playing field and help U.S. products gain market share while promoting environmental sustainability.”

LUCI Summit creates consensus and drives forward the next steps

In a major step forward, LUCI recently hosted its first Land Use Change Summit at McDonald’s International headquarters in Chicago. Sponsored by USB, McDonald’s, Carbon A List and Fulton Market Group, the summit brought together nearly 100 experts from across the food and agricultural value chain. The goal of the event was to find common ground, set a strategic path forward and prepare participants for action. Keynote speaker Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Agricultural Production and Conservation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, underscored the critical importance of LUCI’s work.

Summit participants identified areas of consensus, optimized data sources, and laid the foundation for the next phase of land-use change research and strategy development.

To stay updated on LUCI’s progress or to get involved, visit the Land Use Change Initiative website. There you will find an introductory report and workshop minutes, as well as a comprehensive white paper detailing key issues and opportunities.