We’re excited to announce that Delta Institute has been named a 2026 Keeling Curve Prize Winner for our work advancing climate solutions.
Selected from more than 600 applicants worldwide hailing from nearly 100 countries, we are proud to be one of just 10 organizations recognized this year and one of two winners in the Finance category. The Keeling Curve Prize celebrates innovative, high-impact solutions with the potential to accelerate climate action around the world.
Seth Meyers hosts the 2026 Keeling Curve Awards in Aspen, CO. Photo: Climate Curve.
Delta Institute announced as a Keeling Curve Laureate in 2026 in the Finance category. Photo: Climate Curve.
For decades, farmers have known that practices such as cover cropping, reducing soil disturbance, and increasing crop diversity can improve soil health and deliver environmental benefits. Yet adoption has remained limited because the financial value of healthier soils is rarely reflected in farmland markets. We at Delta Institute are addressing this challenge by developing new ways to connect soil stewardship with land valuation, creating economic incentives that reward long-term investment in healthier, more resilient agricultural landscapes.
By aligning conservation outcomes with financial decision-making, Delta Institute is helping demonstrate that climate-smart agriculture can be both environmentally beneficial and economically viable. Our work offers a pathway toward scaling regenerative farming practices across entire agricultural regions while strengthening farm resilience, improving water retention, and increasing carbon storage. Being recognized as a Keeling Curve Laureate this year is an honor that acknowledges the hard work that has gone into developing our soil health land valuation methodology — and it is also an investment toward scaling our impact across the Midwest US and beyond.
Lucas Chamberlain (left) and Gillian Chesnut (right) instructing a group on Delta Institute’s soil health land valuation methodology.
Delta Institute and project partners collecting soil samples in Illinois.
As a Keeling Curve Prize winner, we will receive a $50,000 award, along with opportunities to connect with investors, increase our global visibility, and join a community of organizations working to scale climate solutions.
Thank you, Climate Curve, for your support and recognition of our work!