Frequently Asked Questions
How can I participate as a producer or land manager?
You can express your interest through our website’s Producer/Land Manager Expression Of Interest Form. If your land management practices are regenerative and can be verified to show ecological improvement, you may qualify for a PIE assessment. Once assessed, the PIE Points generated can be sold to Earth Returns Mutual for financial recognition of your ecological stewardship.
What kind of management practices qualify?
The PIE system is designed to recognise a wide range of regenerative practices including but not limited to:
- Regenerative agriculture
- Holistic management
- Traditional/Indigenous ecological knowledge practices
- Forest restoration and management
- Wetland and riparian zone protection
- Marine stewardship
- Watershed management
- Conservation of vulnerable and high-risk value ecosystems that can be managed to protect their high ecological condition
How much can I earn from my PIE Points?
PIE Point values are based on the ecological improvement achieved and the context of your land/ecosystem. The system recognises that improvements in more vulnerable or ecologically significant areas may have greater impact. The financial value will depend on the extent of your ecological work, the area managed, and the duration of management.
Do I need to change my current practices to participate?
Not necessarily. If you’re already engaging in regenerative practices that improve ecological conditions, you may already qualify. The PIE assessment evaluates work already done, not future promises. The system is designed to recognise existing good stewardship, not impose new practices.
Earth Returns also welcomes people who are just starting their regenerative practices. We can measure early and relatively small improvements and track the ongoing improvement that can be funded by PIE Point sales. This creates a positive feedback loop where initial ecological improvements generate PIE Points, which fund further regenerative work.
What documentation do I need to provide?
The PIE assessment will ask you for a lot of information that you can supply during the assessment process itself. While not required in advance, the following documentation can strengthen your assessment if available:
- Before/after photographs
- Soil tests
- Biodiversity surveys
- Water quality measurements
- Production records
- GIS/mapping data
What is a Ecological Assessment Coach (EAC) and what role do they play in my assessment?
Ecological Assessment Coaches (EAC) are professionally trained individuals with local ecological knowledge who verify the ecological work on your land. They conduct site visits, document observations, and help interpret your management practices within the PIE framework. EACs help ensure that local context and knowledge are properly incorporated into the assessment.
EACs serve a role similar to accountants in the financial world. They work for you, the producer, to ensure you claim the correct and fair full extent of your ecological work, while also overseeing that the final claim conforms to the PIE System regulations and guidelines. Like good accountants, they help you maximise legitimate value while maintaining integrity and compliance with the system’s standards.