The “Improving Soil Health Through Potato Supply Chains” project is a $10.4 million initiative, funded with $6.9 million from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), along with contributions from McCain Foods, the lead partner, and Campbell’s Soup. Over the next five years, the project will provide potato growers in Wisconsin and Maine with financial and technical support to adopt soil health practices such as pest management conservation systems, nutrient management, soil carbon amendments, and more.
What sets this project apart is its focus on streamlining regenerative agriculture efforts by bringing together government, private industry, and non-profits. The project will collaborate to leverage each partner’s strengths, capitalizing on available funding and delivering it directly to potato growers. The goal is to help secure long-term supply while uniting the industry to tell a powerful story about potato sustainability.
Moderator: Hanna Ellis-McKinney, Grant Lead, North America Agriculture, McCain Foods
Panelists: Erica Peabody, Fitzpatrick & Peabody Farms
Cameron Ogilvie, Soil Health Educator, Soil Health Institute
Brandi Richter, Wisconsin RCPP Coordinator, NRCS