In this issue's Living Green column, Elizabeth Svoboda talks to winemakers who are looking to find ways to adapt to climate change. As a senior policy specialist in the San Francisco office, Jonathan Kaplan knows California's winemakers well: his job involves helping growers of all kinds find ways to improve the sustainability of their operations. OnEarth chats with NRDC's go-to guy for all things agricultural.

OE: Winemakers' efforts to adapt to climate change is one thing, but what about preventing it?

Kaplan: On most farms, nitrogen-based fertilizers are the largest source of greenhouse gases because they emit nitrous oxide, which is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Grapes require less fertilizer than other crops, but irrigation is energy-intensive, so wine growers can cut emissions by minimizing water use.

OE: How do wine growers stack up in other respects?

Kaplan: They're very proactive. In terms of a particular commodity that's out ahead, it's difficult to think of a better example than the winegrape growers in California. The California Association of Winegrape Growers has developed a system for promoting sustainable practices, including things like planting grasses between vines to prevent soil erosion and to improve soil water retention. Winegrape growers have also partnered with non-profit organizations to create third party sustainability certifications for their industry in California. More broadly, certified organic growers also have a leg up. Organic growers typically have to rely on improved soil health, cover cropping, crop rotation and other practices in lieu of chemical inputs. As a result, organic farms are more reliant on and integrated with natural systems.

OE: How do you go about trying to help growers develop more sustainability practices?

Kaplan: Like anyone else, growers need a good reason to change practices, especially if the new practice increases their costs or risk. That reason might come from a more targeted government payment program, a more savvy customer asking for stewardship, better economics, or increased accountability for farming impacts to communities and the environment. Of course keeping growers in business -- making sure they remain profitable -- has to be part of this mix, too.  When farms fold and the fields are paved over to build subdivisions, the environment loses. It's not a one-tool job. NRDC promotes more sustainable practices through outreach and education, market-based initiatives, and government advocacy.

OE: Can you give me an example of one of the tools you're using to accomplish these goals?

Kaplan: We're working with growers and food buyers to develop what we call a stewardship index. The goal is to provide a tool that lets anyone in the produce industry -- food processors, retailers, and distributors, as well as food service providers -- score the sustainable performance of their own operations. NRDC expects that the current group of growers, food buyers and NGOs governing the project will create an on-line platform to enable industry-wide benchmarking, comparing and, reporting. So rather than a pass/fail standard, the Stewardship Index will provide a way to assess relative performance in the industry.

If successful, the system will eventually be used by companies for self-assessment purposes and to make data-backed claims in the marketplace. It may also be used by third-party certifiers, socially-responsible investors, and policymakers.

OE: Why would a grower want to be a part of this process?

Kaplan: There is widespread interest in being "green" in business today, and it is already resulting in the proliferation of sustainability initiatives. Growers who sit on the sidelines will find that they missed the window to participate in developing the certification or program requested by their customers. Growers also have an interest the development of a single reporting or regulatory system rather than having to deal with many different systems established by various retailers or governments.