ODA and Indigo Ag Partner to Boost H2Ohio Conservation Incentives
COLUMBUS, Ohio — June 23, 2026 — Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge and Indigo Ag have announced a new public-private partnership aimed at providing additional financial incentives to Ohio farmers implementing conservation practices through the statewide H2Ohio water quality initiative.
The collaboration connects Ohio growers participating in H2Ohio with Indigo Ag, a leading sustainable agriculture technology company, to provide additional financial support that helps offset the costs of implementing best management practices (BMPs).
How the Program Works
More than 3,200 Ohio farmers are currently implementing H2Ohio BMPs to limit nutrient runoff and protect regional waterways. Through this partnership, farmers can leverage the regenerative practices they have already adopted:
- Verification: Indigo Ag verifies the farmers' conservation work on the cropland.
- Credit Generation: The carbon captured in the soil is quantified and converted into high-integrity carbon credits.
- Corporate Buyers: Companies, including Honda, purchase these carbon credits to support corporate decarbonization goals.
- Farmer Payments: Revenue from the carbon credit sales is returned to the farmers, creating a secondary revenue stream for stewardship.
"Ohio farmers have shown that conservation and agricultural productivity can go hand in hand," said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. "This partnership rewards stewardship and strengthens the H2Ohio program, ensuring our state continues to lead in conservation."
Corporate Support
Honda, which has operated the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio for over 40 years, is supporting the initiative. “We’re supporting farmers in adopting regenerative practices that protect their land, tackle climate challenges, and keep farmland healthy,” said Mahjabeen Qadir, Sustainability Strategy Lead at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC.
“H2Ohio and Honda are demonstrating strong leadership in protecting Ohio's natural resources,” added Russell Booth, Ecosystems Development Manager at Indigo Ag. “At Indigo Ag, we’re proud to help bring this work to life by connecting farmers to science-based solutions and outcome-driven incentives that reward regenerative practices.”
