Indigo Ag, a global player in sustainable agriculture and biological solutions, has secured a US$ 1.5 million contribution from Google to support a regenerative agriculture program aimed at enhancing water conservation in Oklahoma. The initiative is expected to replenish approximately 1.5 billion gallons of water over the next seven years by encouraging local farmers to adopt agricultural practices that improve soil-water retention and groundwater recharge.
The partnership will directly support farmers in the Arkansas-Keystone and Lower Cimarron Basins in North-Central Oklahoma, providing them with incentives to implement conservation techniques such as cover cropping and no-till farming. These methods are designed to increase soil moisture, reduce irrigation needs, and improve crop resilience, thereby fostering more sustainable farming ecosystems.
Supporting Google’s Water Stewardship Goals
The program aligns with Google’s broader commitment to replenish 120% of its freshwater consumption across its offices and data centers by 2030. By investing in regenerative agriculture, Google aims to enhance watershed health in the communities where it operates, including Pryor, Oklahoma, where one of its data centers is located.
“This collaboration between Indigo Ag and Google demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting healthy watersheds in the communities where we operate,” said Ben Townsend, Head of Infrastructure Strategy & Sustainability at Google. “By providing farmers with the necessary resources to adopt water-saving practices, we’re demonstrating how sustainable agriculture can create tangible, positive change for watersheds in Oklahoma.”
Implementation and Measurement Approach
The program is set to launch this fall and will continue through 2032. Indigo Ag will use its existing measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) platform to track progress, ensuring that water conservation outcomes are both measurable and independently verifiable. The initiative follows a widely accepted process-based model that assesses the impact of various agricultural practices on water quantity. It is also aligned with the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting guidance for corporate water stewardship.
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Dean Banks, CEO of Indigo Ag, emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering effective sustainability solutions through strategic partnerships.
“Our ongoing focus on quality and reliability, and working with our network of outstanding partners will enable us to quickly engage farmers to effectively meet Google’s needs. Our collaboration is another step toward verifiable positive impact on natural resources, the environment, and climate through our robust and trusted mitigation strategies. We look forward to working with Google and other tech companies to ensure the environmental sustainability of data centers here and across the world.”
Ewan Lamont, Head of Sustainability Solutions at Indigo Ag, highlighted the broader implications of the initiative. “We are thrilled to work with Google in bringing agriculture to life as a water and climate solution and we believe this initiative can serve as a useful model to enable technology leaders to meet their climate and stewardship goals,” he said.
A Model for Future Sustainability Efforts
This initiative marks a significant milestone for Indigo Ag as it continues to expand its sustainability solutions in collaboration with major technology companies. By leveraging regenerative agriculture to address water scarcity, the partnership not only benefits Oklahoma farmers but also contributes to the long-term resilience of agricultural and water ecosystems.
The project serves as a potential model for similar sustainability efforts worldwide, demonstrating how collaboration between agriculture and technology sectors can drive meaningful environmental progress.