Soil and Climate Initiative partner with IPM Institute

The Soil and Climate Initiative (SCI) and the IPM Institute of North America announced a partnership to advance sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.

The collaboration aims to support farmers in reducing pesticide risk, improving soil health and building resilience in agricultural systems. Both groups plan to align efforts through information sharing, research and engagement with growers and supply chain partners.

“This collaboration is the natural next step in our shared commitment to regenerative agriculture,” said Adam Kotin, managing director of SCI. “Our partnership with IPM Institute positions us to better support growers in implementing feasible, meaningful improvements, regardless of where they are in their regenerative journey.”

SCI and the IPM Institute previously worked together on a framework for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) planning and pesticide risk reduction in SCI’s Soil and Climate Health Commitment and Verification Standard. The standard provides a science-based, third-party verified approach to soil health and measurable sustainability outcomes.

Their jointly developed measurement system for pesticide intensity calculations offers an alternative to traditional certification models. Instead of binary restrictions, it tracks active ingredients by EPA signal word categories, giving farmers clearer pathways to reduce synthetic inputs while maintaining farm viability.

Christopher Stevenson, executive director of the IPM Institute, said the partnership will help integrate regenerative and IPM practices at scale, delivering benefits for soil, water, biodiversity and farm profitability.