(NAFB) – The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, or FACA, delivered recommendations Monday to the Department of Agriculture regarding a potential carbon bank.

The more than 70 members of the alliance, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, says USDA should first develop a series of pilot projects. The focus areas include scaling climate solutions to help increase adoption of climate-smart practices, removing barriers to adoption, improving carbon account standards and ensuring equitable opportunities.

The alliance says information gained from the pilots will serve two critical purposes. First, it will help USDA build a durable foundation for a carbon bank that earns long-term bipartisan congressional support. Second, it will help USDA build confidence in how to verify the climate benefits delivered by specific practices and management approaches.

Read FACA’s full carbon bank recommendations and see a full list of member organizations at agclimatealliance.com.