WO2024050536A1

WO2024050536A1 - System incentivizing tropical rain forest replanting

Info

Publication number: WO2024050536A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/073347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank T. O'KEEFE
Original assignee: Okeefe Frank T
Priority date: 2022-09-02
Filing date: 2023-09-01
Publication date: 2024-03-07

Abstract

A system to improve the environment by returning a portion of arable land to tropical rain forest is disclosed having a plurality of fields of arable land growing a crop, an association combining the crops grown into a yield for sale, a computer receiving a signal indicative of the amount of arable land restored to tropical rain forest on said plurality of fields in said association, a carbon offset credit calculated by said computer and owed to said association reflecting the CO2 stored by the tropical rain forest restored on said plurality of fields of formerly arable land, and a quantity of a higher yield version of the farmer's crop calculated by the said computer for provision to said association to replant the remaining arable land in said plurality of fields to at least meet the yield for sale before a portion were restored to tropical rain forest.

Description

SYSTEM INCENTIVIZING TROPICAL RAIN FOREST REPLANTING

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel system incentivizing tropical rainforest replanting. Specifically, the system is used to incent farmers to replace a portion of their arable land with tropical rainforest.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Rainforests present one of the best environments for natural carbon utilization and sequestration. However, humanity has continuously destroyed its rainforests. For example, estimates showing that twenty percent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost in the last fifty years.

[0003] There is a growing need for a plant in reclaim rainforest, in part because of the need to sequester CO2. However in many countries around the world, depleted rainforest land has been put to use by farmers to grow crops. Without adequate incentive, these farmers cannot cede their land to the rainforest.

[0004] In addition, new crops are being grown that produce higher yields than traditional crops. However, the seeds for these new crops are often expensive and beyond availability to many farmers.

SUMMARY

[0005] For these and other reasons known to a person of an ordinary skill in the art, what is needed is a system incentivizing tropical rainforest replanting.

[0006] A goal of the present invention is to promote tropical rainforest replanting and recovery. [0007] Another goal of the present invention is to provide a lower cost of entry for sustainable and environmentally-sound practices.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a system incenting farmers to improve the environment by returning a portion of their arable land to tropical rain forest is taught. The system includes a plurality of fields of arable land growing a crop. An association combines the crops grown on each of said plurality of fields into a yield for sale. A computer receives a signal indicative of the amount of arable land restored to tropical rain forest on said plurality of fields in said association. A carbon offset credit is calculated by said computer and owed to said association reflecting the amount of CO2 stored by the tropical rain forest restored on said plurality of fields of formerly arable land of said association. A quantity of a higher yield version of the farmer’s crop calculated by the said computer for provision to said association to replant the remaining arable land in said plurality of fields to at least meet the yield for sale before a portion of them were restored to tropical rain forest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the presently disclosed system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The presently disclosed system will now be described by referencing the appended figures.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1 , the present disclosure describes a system 10 for incentivizing improvement of the environment.

[0012] The system 10 includes a farm co-op 1 , a green bank 2, and a plurality of farmers 3.

[0013] The farm co-op 1 may be a group of farmers, or a farming organization. The farm co-op 1 may have a computer or other electronic device for communication with the system 10. The farm co-op 1 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0014] The green bank 2 may be an organization or multiple organizations the facilitate improvement of the environment. The green bank 2 may have a computer or other electronic device for communication with the system 10. The green bank 2 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0015] Farmers 3 may be individual farmers or groups of farmers. Farmers 3 belong to the farm co-op 1 . Farmers 3 own and operate fields 31 . Fields 31 may be used to grow crops, such as but not limited to corn or soybean. Fields 31 maybe adjacent to or reclaimed rainforest.

[0016] The farm co-op 1 may combine the crops grown on each of the fields for sale. While the farm co-op 1 or the farmers 3 may replant the fields with the seeds from the harvest, green bank 2 may offer high yields seeds to the farm co-op 1 or the farmers 3.

[0017] The green bank 2 may offer high yield seeds to the farm co-op 1 or the farmers 3 for free or at a heavily discounted price based on the acreage of the fields that the farm co-op 1 or the farmers 3 dedicated to becoming tropical rainforest.

[0018] The farm co-op 1 may propose that a portion of the fields (i.e., an acreage) is dedicated towards becoming tropical rainforest. The farm coop 1 may calculate the crop yields lost to the dedication of that acreage. The farm co-op 1 may provide the acreage and the crop yields lost information 11 to the green bank 2.

[0019] The green bank 2 may calculate a carbon offset credit 21 based on the acreage restored/yield loss information 11. The green bank 2 may also calculate a quantity of high yield seeds 22 based acreage restored/yield loss information 11 , and the increased crop yields associated with replanting the remaining portions of the fields 31 with high yield crops.

[0020] The carbon offset credit 21 and/or the quantity of high yield seeds 22 may be provided to the farm co-op 1 . The carbon offset credit 21 may be used to pay for the quantity of high yield seeds 22. Any carbon offset credit 21 provided to the farm co-op 1 may be distributed to each farmer 3 as a carbon offset share 14.

[0021] The farm co-op 1 restores 12 a portion of the fields 31 to the tropical rain forest, and replants the high yield seeds 13.

[0022] In compliance with the statute, the present teachings have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the present teachings are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the systems and methods herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the present teachings into effect. The present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to a specific embodiment illustrated by the figures above or description below.

[0023] For purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. to provide a thorough understanding. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description with unnecessary detail.

[0024] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. The use of “first”, “second,” etc. for different features/components of the present disclosure are only intended to distinguish the features/components from other similar features/components and not to impart any order or hierarchy to the features/components. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the term “application” is intended to be interchangeable with the term “invention”, unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0025] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant that it does not intend any of the claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

[0026] While the present teachings have been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that they are not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to those skilled in the art to which this pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is intended that the scope of the present teachings should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings. In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits and each can also be used in conjunction with one, more, or all of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description refrains from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A system incenting farmers to improve the environment by returning a portion of their arable land to tropical rain forest, comprising: a plurality of fields of arable land growing a crop; an association combining the crops grown on each of said plurality of fields into a yield for sale; a computer receiving a signal indicative of the amount of arable land restored to tropical rain forest on said plurality of fields in said association; a carbon offset credit calculated by said computer and owed to said association reflecting the amount of CO2 stored by the tropical rain forest restored on said plurality of fields of formerly arable land of said association; and a quantity of a higher yield version of the farmer’s crop calculated by the said computer for provision to said association to replant the remaining arable land in said plurality of fields to at least meet the yield for sale before a portion of them were restored to tropical rain forest.

2. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which the crop is palm oil.

3. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said association divides the carbon offset among the farmers of said plurality of fields of arable land.

4. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said association divides the carbon offset according to the amount of arable land that has been restored to tropical rain forest on each of said plurality of fields.

5. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said computer is associated with a financial institution that deals in carbon offsets.

6. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said computer sells carbon offsets to fund the credits paid to said association.

7. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said computer is associated with a source of the higher yield version of the farmer’s crop.

8. The farmer incenting system of claim 1 in which said computer sells carbon offsets to fund purchase of the higher yield version of the farmer’s crop.