In May 2024, Meridian Institute assembled six technical work groups (TWGs) focused on nutrient management, manure management, enteric methane, soil carbon, agroforestry, and grazing lands practices to provide up-to-date scientific analysis of the impact of conservation practice adoption on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The TWGs also made technical recommendations regarding how best to achieve climate mitigation through those practices. The TWGs were comprised of academic scientists who are well regarded in their chosen field as well as scientists working within nongovernmental organizations focused on one or more of the chosen categories of interest.
The technical work groups first identified agricultural practices in the six areas of interest for which evidence indicates considerable potential to reduce GHG emissions based on raw mitigation potential and adoption considerations. In August 2024, Meridian entered into a formal agreement with NRCS to conduct literature reviews of the GHG emissions impacts of 39 practices, individually and in commonly practiced combinations. Meridian staff and TWG chairs and members worked with NRCS to scope the reports and refine technical guidance regarding how best to implement practices to achieve GHG mitigation. The TWGs then conducted literature reviews, first and second-order meta-analyses, and modeling scenarios to identify the circumstances in which there is strong scientific evidence that the agricultural practices identified are likely to have net GHG benefits as well as implementation guidance for maximizing those benefits. The TWGs generated more than a dozen reports, which were delivered to NRCS in June 2025.
With the closing of Meridian Institute in mid-2025, the six technical working groups assembled by Meridian decided to establish the Technical Advisory Network for Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices to provide a platform for sharing the work undertaken with a diversity of interested stakeholders and to support future collaboration within and/or across technical working groups. This is not an official Federal Advisory Committee. The reports delivered to NRCS can be found on this website, as well as briefs that summarize findings and technical recommendations for field conservationists, technical assistance providers, and other interested stakeholders. The technical findings from several groups will also be published in academic journals in 2025-2026.