Carbon Intensity Score (CI score)
What is Carbon Intensity
The amount of energy that goes into producing one bushel of grain.
CI Score
The carbon footprint score assigned to a bushel of grain, biofuel, or other product. The score is linked to the unit of production and is used with quantifying the total carbon footprint of a company or product. A CI score of 0 equates to carbon neutrality, the higher the score, the poorer impact the creation of the product has on the environment. Today, the estimated national average CI score for corn is 29.1g GHG/MJ, measured with units specifically for ethanol production.
Our CI Story
Our CI Score has changed over the past 5 years. We have transitioned from a conventional tillage, high synthetic fertilizer user (CI score of 29). To a microbiology aware farm that has reduced tillage, reduced synthetic fertilizer use, and implemented the use of cover crops all while increasing our yields. These practice changes have driven our CI Score to an estimated -2.9. We are working to have a certified CI Score for 2024.