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[NYCW MAIN EVENT!] Carbon Harvest: Negative Emissions, Soil Restoration & Food Security & in Global Agriculture

At NY Climate Week, Cornell University & the U.N. Climate High-Level Champions are hosting and live-streaming this multi-panel convening focused on Enhanced Weathering, Biochar and Soil Organic Carbon Enhancement's role in climate mitigation and food security. The day will also feature announcements concerning new global initiatives and state legislation aimed at advancing these critical solutions.

Author

OpenAir
September 18, 2025

Why This Event Matters

Agriculture contributes nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it also offers some of the most powerful tools we have to fight climate change while securing our food future. Practices like soil organic carbon enhancement, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering can restore soil health, build resilience, boost yields, and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a gigaton scale.

At Carbon Harvest, we’ll bring together scientists, policymakers, advocates, farmers, investors, and global leaders to explore how these practices can be scaled — from smallholder farms to state and national programs — and how they can deliver climate, ecological, and economic value.

Who will take the Stage?

This high-profile, multi-session gathering will feature:

  • Keynote

    • Dr. Gabrielle Walker (Rethinking Removals)

  • Dialogue 1 – Regional Leadership (Brazil, India, Kenya)

    • Fernando Moriya (ABREFEN, Brazil)

    • James Mwangi (CAP-A, Kenya)

    • Asitava Sen (CRIA, India)

    • Moderator Tannis Thorlakson (Cascade Climate)

  • Dialogue 2 – Agricultural Value Chain: Growers to Global Buyers

    • Sparsh Agarwal (Alt-Carbon)

    • Autumn Fox (Mars)

    • Aadith Moorthy (Boomitra)

    • Diana Fox Carney (Agricultural Economist & Green Transition Advisor)

    • Moderator: Meghan Edge (Indigo)

  • Dialogue 3 – Catalyzing New York State’s Carbon Farming Future

    • Jason Dodier (Grain Ecosystem)

    • Bill Hilgendorf (NY Carbon)

    • Aaron Ristow (American Farmland Trust, NY)

    • Yiqi Luo (Cornell CALS)

    • Brian Steinmuller (NY State Dept. of Agriculture & Markets)

    • Moderator: Chris Neidl (UN Climate High-Level Champions)

Breaking News & Announcements

Carbon Harvest will also be the stage for major announcements:

  • The launch of new global initiatives linked to COP30

  • First-ever New York State legislation to support carbon-removing agriculture

These groundbreaking steps will signal momentum for scaling soil-based carbon removal as a mainstream climate and food security solution.