Japanese automotive giant Honda has joined the Carbon by Indigo program, supporting U.S. farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
As part of the program, Honda is investing in soil carbon credits generated through sustainable farming that will help improve the local environment and introduce benefits for the participating farmers.
In detail, Honda is supporting projects that are expected to deliver 1,800 metric tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which will be applied towards the company’s “net-zero by 2050” strategy.
The Carbon by Indigo program navigates farmers on the adoption of climate-friendly practices such as planting cover crops, reducing tillage, diversifying crop rotations, and optimizing nitrogen application.
These activities remove atmospheric CO2 emissions, improving the air and soil quality and reducing the surface soil water runoff. According to Indigo, the program has conserved approximately 69,000 gallons of water on average for every metric ton of CO2 removed, with results varying by specific location.
The program generates high-quality ag soil carbon credits that are verified by Aster Global Environmental Solutions and issued by the independent third-party registry Climate Action Reserve (CAR).
Partnering farmers gain a standard program return of 75% of the carbon credit purchase price, accessing an additional income source from their ag activities.
Honda’s investment will support a network of U.S. agriculture workers that includes approximately 150 farmers active near the company’s operations in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina.
With the help of Carbon by Indigo and Honda, these farmers are expected to implement sustainable agriculture on a combined territory of 214,000 acres of farmland.
Besides carbon removal investments, Honda’s climate strategy also envisions a transition towards 100% battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, tree planting at its Ohio sites, home and vehicle energy optimization solutions, energy use reductions, and hydrogen-powered technologies.
Relevant: Microsoft Buys New 60,000 Soil Carbon Credits From Indigo Ag
Mahjabeen Qadir, sustainability strategy lead at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC, stated,
“For over 40 years, Honda has supported farmers near our Ohio operations through conservation programs that protect farmland and help expand access to markets for their crops. Now, Honda is building on that history by supporting regenerative agriculture practices that help farmers manage climate challenges and maintain healthy farmland for future generations.”
