How new carbon offset scheme for regenerative ag works
The first UK-certified soil carbon offsetting scheme is available to farmers who use regenerative agriculture practices, offering them a commercial opportunity worth up to £100/ha from sequestering carbon in their soils.
Called Gentle Farming, the fledgling system allows participating farmers to track carbon sequestration throughout the year, look at ways to change the eventual outcome and take steps to improve it.
Once harvest is over, soil carbon storage measurements are independently verified, with certificates issued, allowing farmers to sell these certificates and get financially supported and rewarded for their environmental practices.
It has been developed by Thomas Gent of Gentle Farming in partnership with Commodicarbon, a Denmark-based platform, which has a carbon certification programme that quantifies the soil carbon sequestration associated with reduced tillage and its changing crop management.
Income boost
With the potential to boost farm incomes by an estimated £90-£150/ha, the system works for each crop year and will continue to evolve as new methods and technologies become available, explains Mr Gent.
“Every farm is different and there are a number of factors to take into account, but an average figure for a no-till farm is 2-3t carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare,” he says.