The Monarch Challenge is a grassroots movement to save the Monarch butterflies

The Monarch Challenge

The Monarch Challenge is a grassroots movement to save the Monarch butterfly and educate farmers on the importance of sustainable farming starting in Sonoma and Napa Valley. 

The Monarch butterfly populations are down by over 90% due to a massive decrease in their primary source of food: milkweed. The reason milkweed is so sparse is mainly caused by the habitual use of herbicides (primarily round-up, aka glyphosate). Fortunately, there are solutions and there is still time. Amorim Cork America is teaming up with wineries, suppliers and individuals to reach the Monarch Challenge goals which are dedicated to educating farmers and viticulturists about the dangers of herbicides along with solutions about how to farm successfully without them. 

Amorim’s dedication to the environment has been seen throughout its’ history of working with farmers in the cork forest to farm more sustainably in our Sustainable Forest Management Movement and Forestry Intervention Program. Amorim’s Forestry Intervention Program was developed in partnership between Amorim, forestry producers, research institutions and local authorities  to ensure the maintenance, preservation and enhancement of cork oak forests and has guaranteed continuous production of high-quality cork. The Montados (cork oak forests) are an important environmental, social and economic pillar in Mediterranean countries. They support a unique and fragile ecology which constitutes a habitat for rare and endangered species. It is estimated that every year cork oak forests retain up to 14 million tonnes of CO2, a sizeable contribution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate change. Amorim Cork America wanted to apply this same concept of education and dedication towards our local communities as well by supporting the Monarch Challenge.

Few of the points in educating our local farmers are: the environmental impact of herbicides, not just for monarchs but also on soil, air and water quality, the human health impact of herbicides and long term effects of exposure, the economic impact of herbicides and the potential economic gains to farm without them and the impact herbicides have on wine quality.

The transition away from herbicides will ultimately renew parts of the Monarch's habitat and protect human health while still benefiting businesses' bottom line. Right now, the Napa Valley has roughly 45,000 acres of vineyards and Sonoma has 110,000 acres. Much of the land is already farmed organically, biodynamically and herbicide-free. These leaders of organic farming have the answers to a successful transition and we as activist are helping provide the models for success. As we chip away at the thousands of acres in the region, we will help document and promote its transition.  By supporting this platform we are benefitting not just Napa and Sonoma but eventually many other small farming regions. Also, with the momentum, we would also like to find a way to help bring this higher level of sustainable farming to corn and soy in the United States as well.

To learn more about the Monarch Challenge check out their website at: www.themonarchchallenge.org 

As Rosé Season Heats Up, Learn About This Winery's Crusade To Change Farming Practices

Article by Matthew Kaner | Will Travel For Wine

On Earth Day I want to ask a pointed question: were you aware that each time you pull a natural cork from a bottle, you're helping to combat the global climate crisis? I want you to read that line again and let it sink in. Now let's zero in on a bottle of wine that takes the good work of the cork one step further. Enter RAEN Winery , based in the Sonoma Coast of California and owned by brothers Carlo & Dante Mondavi (yes, that Mondavi lineage.) The winery enters its 9th year of The Monarch Challenge , an initiative set to, " enlighten, encourage and connect our communities to farm and live in unison with nature and give back to the delicate circle of life ."

With the seventh rosé release from The Monarch Challenge, as well as the growth of Monarch Tractor , the progress made from these initiatives has given RAEN a lot to be optimistic about. The future looks brighter, the chance of a cleaner and more fruitful planet grows each day. While there's much more work to do, it's clear that farmers are making informed decisions that promote healthy practices, and we have these initiatives to thank. The Monarch Challenge coupled with Amorim corks cannot go unnoticed; this collaboration highlights important work being done in vineyards and the cork oak forests.

I had the chance to ask Carlo Mondavi, Owner of RAEN Winery and Pedro Fernandes, General Manager at Amorim Cork America about their collaboration for The Monarch Challenge:

Courtesy of RAEN

MK: How did the RAEN Monarch Challenge collaboration come about?

CARLO MONDAVI: The Monarch Challenge began as a movement to migrate away from harmful chemicals in agriculture like herbicides which harm our soils, waterways, our planets biodiversity and humanity as we know it... we now know what to do and the challenge is about doing those things that protect planet and humanity alike. The Monarch Challenge is a team effort with fellow activists, partners and winegrowers. Amorim has been such an incredible partner with us in The Monarch Challenge since day one. It takes this kind of team effort to impact change and make progress forward.

MK: Why is the RAEN's Monarch Challenge so perfectly aligned with Amorim's ethos?

PEDRO FERNANDES: At Amorim, our focus is promoting and protecting the natural resource of cork, which is directly related to The Monarch Challenge’s goal of restoring biodiversity to our planet. Many people don’t realize that the cork in their wine bottle is actually from the bark of a cork oak tree, which is expertly harvested about every nine years over the course of the tree’s 200-year lifespan. It is never cut down. Most of these trees exist in forests located exclusively in the Mediterranean Basin, which are home to more than 37 species of mammals, 160 species of birds and 24 species of reptiles and amphibians. These 2.2 million hectares of cork oak forests are recognized as one of the Earth’s 36 Biodiversity Hotspots, on par with the Amazon Rainforest, and serve as a barrier to desertification by improving organic matter in the soil and helping to regulate the hydrological cycles.
The wine industry fuels the cork industry, and makes the progression and preservation of the cork oak forest viable by contributing to the maintenance of forests and the populations that depend on them.

Courtesy of RAEN

MK: Are there any wine closures more sustainable than a 100% natural cork?

PEDRO FERNANDES: No, natural cork continues to be the most sustainable wine closure there is. For every 1 ton of cork harvested from the forest 73 tons of CO2 are sequestered from the atmosphere.This is a resource that renews itself in 9 year cycles with minimal to no human intervention. When you think of any alternative closure today that is sourced from mining activities or oil drilling I don’t believe that you need extensive understanding of sustainability metrics to comprehend that a natural, self renewable resource like cork is a much more sustainable solution.

MK: How effective is Amorim cork at offsetting carbon footprint?

PEDRO FERNANDES: Amorim has dedicated the past 154 years of business to the research and development of cork, bridging sustainability with technology. Taking into account the CO2 consumed by cork oaks, analyses of the manufacturing and distribution cycles of Amorim corks show that cork closures generate a significant retention of CO2. For example, a single cork in a bottle of RAEN’s Monarch Challenge Rosé is equivalent to 395g of CO2, which can contribute to the offset of CO2 emissions associated with the production of wine. How cool is it that at a time when most industries are aiming to become carbon neutral, we offer a product that is capable of offsetting carbon emissions and is already beyond the target of neutrality to begin with ?

MK: Please set the record straight: is there a shortage of natural cork?

PEDRO FERNANDES: Not at all. According to recent forecasts, there’s enough cork in Portugal alone to meet market demand for the next 100 years. Given the importance of the cork oak forests for our global ecosystem—combating climate change, satisfying an increased demand for sustainable and renewable resources in alcoholic beverages, as well as other industries application—Amorim has invested in creating a forestry division, forestry research and planting more cork oak forests.