The USDA seeks public input for a proposed rule to establish a new Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program. It is part of the Growing Climate Solutions Act.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “High-integrity voluntary carbon markets offer a promising tool to create new revenue streams for producers and achieve greenhouse gas reductions from the agricultural and forest sectors. However, barriers have hindered agriculture’s participation in voluntary carbon markets and we are seeking to change that by establishing a new Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program.”

The program would provide a list of qualified technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers who work with producers to generate credible carbon credits. The USDA would also list widely accepted voluntary carbon credit protocols to ensure consistency, reliability, efficiency and transparency.

The USDA’s Request for Information will be published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2024. Interested parties may submit comments during the 30-day public comment period at www.regulations.gov.

Read more on the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance and Third-Party Verifier Program here.