With farmers under pressure to cut their environmental footprint, global agribusiness giants as well as small tech startups are rushing to come up with ways to slash farm pollutants and make it possible for producers to cash in on carbon credits and other new forms of income.

U.S. agriculture exports are going to be stronger than first expected in fiscal year 2021 and should eclipse 2020, according to a new USDA forecast that raised sales estimates for soybeans, sorghum, corn and wheat.

A dizzying array of ongoing research projects, with sponsors ranging from the Energy Department to multinational food industry giants, may determine whether carbon credit markets can become a reliable, meaningful source of income for farmers.

Multinational giants in retail, agribusiness, meat processing and food manufacturing, along with the largest restaurant chains and leading apparel brands, want U.S. farmers and ranchers to produce food and fiber more sustainably. This is the first of a five-part Agri-Pulse series that looks in-depth at how reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could have far-reaching effects on American farmers and ranchers.

China promised to consider lifting it’s zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine residues in pork and beef as part of the “phase one” trade pact, and the country is making good on that, although more work needs to be done, says USDA Trade Undersecretary Ted McKinney.

The U.S. and the U.K. still have a lot of negotiating ahead of them, but the British will likely agree to a free trade agreement that allows for increased trade in beef, pork and poultry, says Gregg Doud, the U.S. Trade Representative’s top agriculture negotiator.