Press Release

MALT Awards $200,000 to Five Local Ranches to Supercharge Climate Resilience Across Marin County

November 13, 2024

POINT REYES STATION, Calif., – Oct. 30, 2024  — Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) is pleased to announce the awarding of $200,000 in small grants to five local agricultural producers. This funding, part of MALT’s ongoing commitment to climate-smart agriculture, supports initiatives that will enhance water security, improve soil health, increase renewable energy use, and promote sustainable land management practices across Marin’s agricultural landscape.

“Climate change is presenting Marin’s farmers and ranchers with urgent challenges, from prolonged droughts to the risk of wildfires and shifting growing seasons,” said Lily Verdone, MALT’s executive director. “This grant round is our third in support of projects that will create lasting climate resilience and sustainable growth in our local food system.”

The 2024 Climate Resilience Grant Recipients:

  1. Lanatti Ranch, Tomales – Awarded $35,000 for water resilience and habitat restoration. This project will install a bentonite clay liner in an existing pond to prevent water loss and introduce strategic tree plantings to foster biodiversity.
  2. Gallagher North Bend Ranch, Point Reyes Station – Awarded $35,000 to implement sustainable soil management through the use of a no-till seeder and innovative waste wool pellets, enhancing both carbon sequestration and pasture quality on 100 acres.
  3. Leger Ranch, Tomales – Awarded $45,000 for an advanced rotational grazing system, designed to improve pasture health, control erosion, and promote soil carbon storage through a precision water distribution network across 10 paddocks.
  4. Gilardi Family Farm, Petaluma – Awarded $45,000 to integrate poultry into regenerative practices with a mobile “chicken tractor” and solar-powered system, reducing the environmental impact of egg production.
  5. Silva Family Dairy, Tomales – Awarded $40,000 to install a solar array for renewable energy use in dairy operations, dramatically reducing the farm’s carbon footprint while enhancing economic sustainability.

Building Climate Resilience from the Ground Up

These projects showcase Marin’s agricultural community as a model for addressing climate impacts through regenerative agriculture and sustainable land stewardship. Marin’s farmers and ranchers play a critical role in climate adaptation and mitigation, and these grants ensure the region remains at the forefront of climate-smart practices.

An Investment in Our Shared Future

The recent grant cycle is part of a broader initiative by MALT to equip Marin’s agricultural community with the tools to navigate climate change’s impacts. As these climate-smart projects take root, they will also serve as replicable models for other agricultural producers, fostering a resilient and sustainable local food system for generations to come.

This small grants program builds on the success of distributing nearly $3 million through MALT’s Stewardship Assistance Program and Drought Resilience and Water Security (DRAWS) initiative to farmers and ranchers throughout Marin County. 

MALT’s next grant cycle is scheduled for Spring 2025, with a focus on initiatives that preserve farmland, enhance biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and promote community connections.

For further information about MALT’s climate resilience initiatives and the next grant cycle, please visit MALT’s website.

Contact: Marin Agricultural Land Trust
Email: pvega@malt.org
Website: www.malt.org