WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced appointments to the newly formed
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, informally referred to as to the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council. At least fifty-one percent of the council must be active farmers, ranchers, or private forest landowners.
Mark Isbell, an Arkansas rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Council, which will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on current methods used in voluntary environmental credit markets to quantify and verify the prevention, reduction, or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions; and ways to reduce the barriers to entry and transaction costs associated with such markets.
Isbell, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Lonoke County, is very involved in conservation and sustainability efforts across the industry. In addition to leading the USA Rice Sustainability Committee, he also serves on the USA Rice Farmers Conservation Committee and represents USA Rice on the Field to Market Board of Directors.
Active in ag-related professional organizations, Isbell is a member of the Ag Council of Arkansas Board of Directors as well as the American Carbon Registry US-SRP Steering Committee and other industry-related boards and committees. He is also a founding board member of Arva Intelligence. Isbell is a 2015 graduate of the Rice Leadership Program.
“USA Rice congratulates Mark Isbell on his appointment to the USDA Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council,” said USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann. “This appointment is a testament to his expertise and dedication to sustainable rice production. We are proud to have Mark represent the rice industry and look forward to the positive impact his contributions will have for rice farmers across the nation."