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Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, & ReinAgri Announce ReinPower Climate-Smart Poultry Joint Venture
Transforming South Africa's Poultry & Energy Sectors with Climate-Smart Innovation 'ReinPower is not just a solution—it's a revolution. We're creating a future where innovation, nature, and humanity thrive in harmony. This is more than progress—it's a promise to future generations.'— Amy McCrae Kessler, Esq. CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA, June 1, 2025 / / -- Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, and ReinAgri have joined forces to launch ReinPower, a joint venture revolutionizing South Africa's poultry and energy sectors. Through deployment of Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems, ReinPower is addressing the critical challenges of energy insecurity, agricultural sustainability, and economic resilience, while empowering farmers and communities with innovative solutions for a sustainable future. A Vision for the Future: ReinPower's Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems convert poultry litter into decentralized, carbon-negative baseload renewable electricity and biochar, a soil-enhancing byproduct that promotes regenerative agriculture and permanently removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These systems provide farmers with stable, affordable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new economic opportunities, supporting South Africa's transition to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. By fostering collaboration between farmers, innovators, and investors, ReinPower is driving a new era of climate-positive agriculture and energy independence in Southern Africa. Key Benefits of ReinPower's Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems:. Climate Resilience: ReinPower equips farmers to combat climate change by delivering dependable, carbon-negative renewable energy and biochar solutions that actively reduce emissions, restore ecosystems, and improve soil health. Energy Security: ReinPower ensures uninterrupted operations by providing stable, cost-effective, and decentralized baseload renewable energy, addressing challenges from load shedding and outdated infrastructure. Economic Empowerment: Farmers achieve energy independence, cost stability, and additional revenue streams, and access to global carbon markets, fostering long-term financial resilience. Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: By enhancing soil fertility and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, ReinPower supports sustainable poultry farming, ensuring a reliable and affordable food supply for South Africa and beyond. Environmental Impact: ReinPower's systems actively remove carbon, conserve water, regenerate soil, and support biodiversity, delivering a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. Phase I Projects: ReinPower's first phase will deliver six renewable electricity projects, each ranging from 1MW to 3MW, across the Free State and Western Cape regions of South Africa. These scalable projects are designed to address the immediate challenges of load shedding and energy insecurity while laying the foundation for regional expansion and long-term sustainability. Phase II is in planning. . Leadership Perspectives Amy McCrae Kessler, CEO of Facet Power, shared: 'At Facet Power, we believe that solving the climate crisis requires bold, systemic action. ReinPower is not just a solution—it's a revolution. By transforming poultry waste into renewable energy and biochar, we are empowering farmers to become leaders in sustainability, revitalizing their land, and driving economic resilience. Together, we are making transformative investments in the long-term health of our communities and our planet, creating a future where innovation, nature, and humanity thrive in harmony. This is more than progress—it's a promise to future generations.' Tom Elliot, CEO of Kalulu Resources, added: 'ReinPower is about unlocking the potential of South Africa's farmers and communities. By integrating renewable energy with agricultural operations, we are providing farmers with the stability they need to grow, adapt, and succeed. This is not just about solving today's problems—it's about building a foundation for a sustainable, resilient future for generations to come.' Ryal de Waal, CEO of ReinAgri, shares: 'At ReinAgri, we are not just solving problems; we are rethinking the way agriculture interacts with the environment. By prioritizing sustainability and ethical practices, we aim to create solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the planet alike. Together, we can reinvent agriculture for a cleaner, greener future.' Join Us at AVI Africa 2025 ReinPower will showcase its transformative solutions at the AVI AFRICA 2025 Conference, the continent's largest poultry industry gathering where industry leaders convene to explore sustainable innovations. This event, June 3–5, 2025, at Emperors Palace, Gauteng, South Africa, offers the perfect platform to explore how ReinPower is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture and energy in South Africa and beyond. ________________________________________ About ReinPower ReinPower is a joint venture between Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, and ReinAgri, committed to transforming Southern Africa's poultry and energy sectors through innovative, sustainable solutions. By integrating renewable energy, agricultural innovation, and carbon market access, ReinPower empowers farmers and communities to build a sustainable, climate-resilient future. About Facet Power Facet Power is a pioneering force in the climate sector, specializing in developing and deploying innovative Climate Solution & Energy EcoSystems that transform biomass waste into high-impact products like renewable electricity and biochar. By integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices, Facet Power is leading a trillion-dollar climate revolution, redefining what's possible in the fight against climate change. About Kalulu Resources Kalulu Resources is committed to harnessing natural resources responsibly to drive sustainable development across Africa. With a focus on renewable energy and landscape restoration, Kalulu Resources collaborates with local communities and international partners to create solutions that empower economic growth while preserving environmental integrity. About ReinAgri ReinAgri, provides sustainable, innovation agricultural solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. By focusing on clean, cost-effective alternatives, ReinAgri strives to reinvent traditional agricultural practices, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. Media Inquiries Facet Power, Inc. email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Odisha govt, Gates Foundation sign MoU to promote science-smart agriculture
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government and the Gates Foundation on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on areas that will drive growth, such as AI-enabled use cases, precision agriculture, climate-smart innovations and enhance the productivity of dairy and fisheries. The MoU sets the stage for a multi-year collaboration focused on technical support, research and on-ground implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices in Odisha. This strategic partnership, anchored by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment (DAFE) and the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department (FARDD), will drive science-based, ground-level interventions to promote Climate Smart Agriculture. Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo emphasised that the signing of MoU with the Gates Foundation marks a significant leap toward future-ready agriculture in Odisha. 'It reaffirms our government's commitment to invest in knowledge, innovation and partnerships that benefit farmers across the State,' said Singh. Alkesh Wadhwani, Director, Poverty Alleviation, Gates Foundation, said the newly launched alliance will serve as a catalyst that will bring together the best of innovation and farmer adoption at scale, placing Odisha at the forefront of sustainable agricultural growth. The State government agencies - DAFE, (FARDD) and Gates Foundation also launched the Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance Odisha. It will serve as a collaborative platform bringing together government agencies, research institutions, start-ups, civil societies, NGOs, farmer institutions and the private sectors to accelerate climate-smart technology and strategy adoption and innovation. The event marked the release of a Scoping Report Series on 'Data-Driven Prioritisation of Districts for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha' by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The report series presents a district-level assessment of climate risks, resource use patterns and emissions from agriculture, providing a blueprint for developing District-Level Climate Action Plans and piloting CSA practices tailored to local conditions. Besides, a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) titled 'Transforming Fallow Lands - An Impact Evaluation of the Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management Program in Odisha (CRFM)' was released. The IFPRI report evaluates the impact of the Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management (CRFM) programme in Odisha, focusing on the conversion of fallow lands and its effects on acreage and yields of pulses and oilseeds. The study provides strong evidence of increased land utilisation and productivity, demonstrating how integrated data systems can effectively guide inclusive, data-driven agricultural planning and policy. Further, the department released Odisha Agriculture Statistics 2023-24, which is a mirror of agricultural activities in the State. Statistical information is a crucial input for policy planning.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vilsack says farms, not farmers, should work harder to grow rural communities
Former Iowa Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack chats with Iowa farmers in Warren County on April 29, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) WARREN COUNTY — Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor and the U.S. secretary of agriculture during the Obama and Biden administrations, spoke Tuesday with farmers and rural Iowans about his ideas to grow rural communities. In the pine-paneled Middleswart Lodge, looking out over Lake Ahquabi State Park, Vilsack explained policies he started, and hoped would continue, that make a farm — rather than a farmer — work harder. This means programs like the Climate Smart commodities program, which pays farmers a premium for using sustainable agriculture tools, or practices that make use of other farm products, like an anaerobic digester that turns animal waste into renewable energy and a check for the farmer 'You could combine the marketplace and the private sector and government to do right by the environment and to do right by the small and mid-sized (farms),' Vilsack said. 'The farm would work harder, not the farmer.' Don and Mary Mitchell, Warren County farmers who attended the program, said they had 'never thought' of some of the ideas Vilsack mentioned. As farmers in their later years, the Mitchells said they wouldn't implement those strategies today, but would have benefited from such options earlier in their lives. 'We might have saved a lot of miles driving back and forth from our place to Des Moines,' Mary Mitchell said with a laugh. Don Mitchell was a farmer that had to 'work harder' to keep his family afloat when the small family farm wasn't enough. For him, that meant commuting to Des Moines for an off-farm job for many years. U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show that the majority of farmers in the U.S. have off-farm income and small farms depend on non-farming income to survive. Vilsack said he realized after his first stint as agriculture secretary that the system was set for farmers to either 'get big or get out' which has led to a loss in the number of farms and dwindling rural communities. Vilsack said he's not 'bashing the big guys' but said he wanted to try and find a way to make it so small and mid-sized farms could also make it. He said the same solutions would also create a circular, rather than extractive, ag economy and support rural communities. 'So now you not only have more prosperous farms, you also have more jobs, you have more reasons for people to stay in that small town,' Vilsack said. Vilsack said some of these programs have been kept by the current administration though they might live under a different name. 'There's just an enormous opportunity here if our leaders understand that we need a creative option,' Vilsack said. 'This is not a situation where it's this as opposed to something — it's this in addition to something.' The Trump administration has cancelled Biden-era ag programs like the partnerships for Climate Smart commodities and a program that allowed schools to purchase food from local farmers. Other programs, like the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, have been restructured to better align with the Trump agenda. Vilsack said there's also an opportunity for the state, counties, cities, or philanthropic groups to step in when a federal program is cancelled. Even if it doesn't do as much as a federal program, it sends a message. 'The key here is to understand the significance of doing something, and then having the state officials understand and appreciate and communicate to federal officials,' Vilsack said. 'That's how you can change and impact and affect policy.' While the event was the start of a series of forums organized by the Iowa Democratic Party to highlight its plans to 'grow Iowa,' Vilsack said he spoke in his capacity as an Iowan, not a politician. 'This is not about any political stance that I may have,' Vilsack said. 'It is about my deep concern about our state and my deep, deep concern about the state of rural America.' Vilsack said he sees a way forward, and it might as well start in Iowa. 'It doesn't necessarily have to cost a lot of money, but it is a partnership between the government, farmers, universities, food companies, energy companies, utilities, conservation groups, environmental groups — it can bring all of this together instead of this, us or them kind of thing that we've got going on.' Iowa Democrats plan to hold similar forums, with other speakers, in different areas of the state, but have not yet released a schedule. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A farmer writes: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, farmers have been played for suckers
Soybean production in Worthington. Photo by. Back in November, I wrote a column for Kansas Reflector that discussed the likely adverse effects of President Trump's proposed tariffs on U.S. farmers. The piece noted that 398 million acres of cropland has been added to the mix around the world since the start of this century, notably in tropical regions such as Brazil and India. There is increasing competition for U.S. farmers in export markets. The United States alone cannot absorb all that we produce here. Many farmers voted for Trump because he promised less regulation and greater prosperity for America's farmers. The hard truth is that, like most of the folks who voted for Trump, farmers failed to do their homework about the reality of the new administration. All of this has occurred in the context of higher input costs and tight margins for virtually all crops. We are now living and working in an environment where the only constant is chaos. Chaos produces uncertainty, and that leads to loss of trust. The buyers of U.S. farm products are not going to deal with nations that cannot be trusted. There are plenty of options in today's world for those buyers to bypass the United States. Why on God's green earth would they put up with the insanity that we have in Washington now? It is almost laughable that some Republicans have come to the defense of Trump's proposed tariffs, and that some of those same Republicans have promised to help the farmers who feel the impact. Really? We have an unelected multibillionaire who in effect bought the Trump presidency now running amok in Washington. On the one hand, we see unprecedented efforts (that is, without the advice and consent of the Congress) by some entity called DOGE to slash government spending, and on the other we hear some of Trump's cronies promise aid for farmers. The two cannot be squared. Setting aside your political views, this is an unprecedented assault on the Constitution and the separation of powers. Take your pick of programs. The Climate Smart programs designed to help farmers monetize carbon reduction practices on their farms are going away. The future of the 45Z tax credit is, well, who knows? What about export assistance programs urgently needed to help U.S. farmers counter the effects of the Trump tariffs and the rise of our global competitors, such as Brazil and India? And how about the price subsidies that featured prominently in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's farm support programs? What happens when NOAA is defunded? How about the effect of 'soft power' from the programs that USAID has provided in many impoverished parts of the world? By some accounts, USAID buys about $2 billion dollars of US farm products annually. USAID is being dismantled by the dodgy group. To his credit, Sen. Jerry Moran has spoken loudly about this travesty. Others must do the same, or our political and economic competitors will fill the gap. Who suffers? Most certainly not Trump and his band of billionaires. Farmers, small towns and Main Street businesses bear the brunt of this ill-conceived approach. Don't bet the farm on help coming your way from this administration. Remember the old saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. My fellow farmers — you've been played. This nation cannot exist as an island. But that is the path that this administration is on, and the onus is on responsible folks from all political persuasions to find common ground to stop this madness. Farmers, are you listening? These fundamental questions go to the heart of our democracy. From what we have seen this far, this nation is on a path that is at odds with our established role in the world, and the economic and social consequences could be unprecedented. Like Minnesota Reformer, Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@
