CIBO Technologies and Sand County Foundation Team Up for $14M Conservation Initiative in Wisconsin and Illinois

CIBO Technologies and Sand County Foundation Partnership

CIBO Technologies, a leader in agricultural sustainability software, recently announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the Sand County Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to boosting environmental improvement initiatives in farming. This partnership marks a significant advancement in farmer-led conservation efforts across Wisconsin and Illinois, backed by a substantial $14 million allocation from the USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

Looking Forward with Purpose

The Sand County Foundation has been awarded approximately $13.8 million specifically to create new farmer-led groups in Illinois and to broaden existing initiatives in Wisconsin, alongside complementary activities in parts of Iowa. The core focus of this funding is to implement farmer-led conservation practices, prioritizing soil health and cover cropping, all facilitated through locally tailored financial incentives.

Technological Innovation for Enhanced Data Management

In this alliance, CIBO Technologies is set to provide its cutting-edge program management platform, which is specifically designed to overcome data collection hurdles encountered in agricultural practices. By leveraging CIBO's expertise and innovative solutions, the partnership will focus on adaptable program configurations suitable for various states, enhancing centralized data collection and reporting for both the Sand County Foundation and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

CIBO Impact, their specialized platform, allows partners to efficiently upload field boundaries, qualify and enroll growers with ease. The platform’s flexibility means that eligibility requirements can be tailored to meet different state regulations. Real-time dashboards offered by CIBO Impact will deliver insights on enrollment rates and practice adoption metrics, enabling customizable digital submissions to local USDA NRCS offices. This standardization across various locations will streamline management processes for multi-state conservation initiatives.

A Game Changer in Sustainable Agriculture

With CIBO’s data-driven solutions, the collaboration aims to set new benchmarks for tracking and verifying farmer-led conservation practices. Manual processing, which typically hampers speed and efficiency, will be dramatically reduced. Craig Ficenec, Senior Director of Agricultural Conservation at Sand County Foundation, emphasized that this partnership provides a unified source for data management, crucial for executing complex, multi-state programs effectively.

Dan Ryan, CEO of CIBO Technologies, commented on the impact of their platform in facilitating access to essential funding and making data collection workflows more cohesive. This technology not only enhances visibility for various stakeholders but also supports the integration of outcomes modeling, including greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Furthermore, the platform accommodates evolving program infrastructures that may bridge private initiatives with public funding efforts.

About the Sand County Foundation

The Sand County Foundation is committed to fostering an agricultural sector that values environmental stewardship. It embodies the philosophy of Aldo Leopold's land ethic, providing farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to enhance natural resources, improve soil health, and support wildlife habitats. The organization also honors exceptional land management through the Leopold Conservation Award, presented to deserving farmers, ranchers, and forest owners across 28 states.

About CIBO Technologies

CIBO Technologies utilizes technology and artificial intelligence to revolutionize sustainable agriculture, making it both profitable and scalable. With a comprehensive program management platform, an expansive Trusted Advisor Network, and advanced analytics capabilities, CIBO enables governments, corporations, and nonprofits to scale conservation practices efficiently, while demonstrating tangible environmental and financial benefits. Ideated by Flagship Pioneering, CIBO has gained recognition as one of TIME’s Top 100 GreenTech Companies in America.

As both organizations embark on this vital initiative, they aim not just to implement conservation practices but to fundamentally change the way agricultural data is collected and utilized, paving the way for an eco-conscious future in farming.