SecondCrop

SecondCrop is Loam Bio's soil carbon program for row crop farmers. Unlike carbon programs that pay for practice change, SecondCrop is built around a product: farmers apply Loam's CarbonBuilder microbial seed treatment at planting and build stable soil carbon without introducing new practices.

CarbonBuilder uses naturally occurring endophytic fungi to boost the plant's ability to draw down carbon. Loam states farmers can store 1-2.5 tonnes CO2e per acre per year, with statistically significant increases in soil organic carbon starting in year one, alongside improved soil structure, nutrient retention, and water infiltration.

The distinguishing feature is credit ownership: farmers own and control the carbon credits generated on their fields, with the option to bank them or work with Loam to sell them to buyers. Loam says it helps growers secure above-market pricing for premium credits. Credits are tracked on a third-party registry until retired or sold at the farmer's request.

SecondCrop is open to all row crop farmers, whether they farm conventionally or introduced regenerative practices years ago.

Applying CarbonBuilder is the participation requirement. Loam states: "No. Simply using our CarbonBuilder microbial seed treatment at planting satisfies the additionality clause (i.e., requiring new practices that increase soil organic carbon and/or abate GHG emissions)." No other practice change is required.

• Open to row crop farmers, conventional or regenerative, regardless of when practices were introduced.

• Two years of historical data are required.

• CarbonBuilder must be applied on enrolled fields.

Note that participation carries an upfront cost to the farmer that most funding-library programs do not: CarbonBuilder is a purchased product.

Contract term. Loam states: "Your initial commitment is 5 years and ongoing participation is renewed in 5-year increments." Loam separately advertises the option to leave in the first two years, and at years six and ten.

Cost. Loam states: "There are no direct program fees to participate outside the purchase of CarbonBuilder. SecondCrop retains a small percentage of your total credit volume to meet buffer pool allocations, cover reversals, and offset program costs. If no credits are generated, Loam bears this cost, not the farmer."

How payment works. Loam states: "You earn credits based on the amount of carbon captured in your soil (1 metric ton/CO2e sequestered = 1 carbon credit). You own your carbon credits and have the option to bank them or to work with Loam to sell your credits to buyers. They will be tracked on a third-party registry until they are retired/sold at your request."

No per-credit price is published; Loam describes securing above-market pricing for premium credits.

Start with Loam's grower interest survey on the SecondCrop program page. Loam's agronomic team then works with the grower on which practices and fields make sense before a contract is signed.

Enquiries can go to Terry Hansen (Director of North America Sales), Jason Horne (Senior District Sales Manager), or Josh Shaeffer (Global Head of Carbon Markets); general enquiries to info@loambio.com.