2020

EFC worked with partners in the Delaware River Basin to develop a proposal for an upcoming Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding opportunity. This process included reviewing the original Delaware Basin RCPP project, providing comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on new RCPP rules, identifying and engaging stakeholders, assessing stakeholder capacity and project feasibility, and developing an implementation plan.

2021

The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC) partnered with TeamAg to promote business plans for regenerative farming practices targeting Pennsylvania farms that are interested in expanding soil health practices. These farm business plans combine current U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) protocol with carbon tracking protocols such as COMET-Farm to help document carbon sequestering practices that can be converted to new revenue.

2011 (September)

The Environmental Finance Center investigated market opportunities for switchgrass as an alternative energy source on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This investigation included an extensive series of interviews hosted by the EFC with resource experts who had first-hand experience with the science behind switchgrass production and the economics of agricultural operations, as well as expertise in biofuels production.

2023 - Present

Urban agriculture is growing quickly across the U.S. to address food insecurity and climate change. Rainwater harvesting could provide reliable, high-quality water for urban farms, yet there is currently low adoption due to water quality concerns and uncertainty about costs and benefits. There is an immediate need to increase rainwater harvesting in urban agriculture to produce safe and nutritious foods for underserved communities and address climate change’s stress on water sources.

2025 (April)

Dear Friends and Supporters,