Neutral Foods partners with FarmRaise to help distribute $1 million in funding toward carbon-reducing farm projects over the next year
Neutral milk cartons on farm
"This opportunity enables us to surface new and innovative financial incentives to farmers who need support transitioning to climate-smart agriculture practices," says Sami Tellatin, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB) November 02, 2022
Neutral Foods, the nation’s first carbon neutral foods company, is partnering with FarmRaise, a startup that has developed an end-to-end farm funding software platform dedicated to scaling regenerative agriculture through financial access. Neutral is the first partner to offer private grants via the FarmRaise platform, which typically assists farmers in navigating and applying for funding opportunities such as conservation grants and operational microloans.
Neutral Foods is committing $1 million to scale the adoption of climate-smart practices through 2023. In addition to providing financial support, Neutral provides advisory services and monitors the effectiveness of diverse solutions shown to reduce a farm’s carbon footprint, including manure management solutions, using feed supplements, and planting tannin-rich forage grasses that reduce methane. FarmRaise, a U.S.-based remote company, helps farmers apply for funding quickly and efficiently and keeps them updated with alerts tailored to each farmer’s goals.
"This partnership will help to radically reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by providing more financial access and advisory services to conservation-driven dairy farmers," said Ann Radil, head of carbon reduction, Neutral Foods. “FarmRaise’s platform is aligned with Neutral's personalized approach that tailors every climate solution to the needs of the individual farm.”
Through its robust lifecycle analysis, Neutral knows approximately 72% of its dairy products’ greenhouse gas emissions occur on farms. Neutral organic milk is the first dairy milk in the U.S. to measure and eliminate its climate impact. Its whole milk, 2% milk, half-and-half, and butter products are 100% carbon-neutral throughout the products' lifecycle from farm to fridge.
"We at FarmRaise are thrilled to share Neutral's mission and financial support with the farmers in our network," says Sami Tellatin, chief operating officer and co-founder, FarmRaise. "This opportunity enables us to surface new and innovative financial incentives to farmers who need support transitioning to climate-smart agriculture practices. We look forward to engaging our farming community in this opportunity and empowering eligible farmers to apply.”
Neutral will focus on funding projects near its existing supplier sheds in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California with the intent to expand beyond these regions. Once a complete application is received, the company will conduct a feasibility study and make funding decisions within 30 days. Applications will be considered based on each project's climate impact, financial feasibility, and other environmental, social, and economic benefits.
About Neutral Foods
Neutral Foods, the first carbon neutral food company in the United States, backed by Bill Gates founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures, offers carbon neutral dairy products nationwide. It’s on a mission to radically reduce the nearly 37 percent of global emissions the agriculture industry produces. Started in 2019 in Portland, Oregon, Neutral is a national brand that works directly with farmers to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy products - for good. Neutral has organic and conventional carbon neutral dairy solutions, including whole milk, 2 %, half-and-half, and butter. Neutral milk is available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target on the West Coast, The Fresh Market, Giant Eagle, Imperfect Foods, Fresh Direct, and several regional and local chains and independent grocers.
Additional Neutral investors are Mark Cuban and David Adelman’s Darco Capital, which led a celebrity round of investors, including LeBron James, John Legend, and Questlove. Japanese firm Global Brain, its CVC partners Kirin Holdings Company, Limited and Norinchukin Bank, and Craig Shapiro of the New York-based Collaborative Fund have also invested in Neutral and its vision of a more sustainable food system.
About FarmRaise
FarmRaise delivers digital tools for farmers to master their farm finances and access farm funding. Since early 2020, FarmRaise has connected over 15,000 farmers with grant and loan opportunities and submitted applications for hundreds of farmers to conservation grants and operational microloans. Founded by a team spanning experience on family farms, at robust technology companies, and USDA grant agencies, FarmRaise executes towards a vision of “vital farming communities.” By providing farm-appropriate financial tools, FarmRaise is supporting agriculture that is profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound.