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What is carbon farming, definition, what is its purpose, carbon credits
Carbon farming – the „new” trend in agronomy
Carbon farming has recently gained significant attention, closely associated with climate change and atmospheric warming. Greenhouse gases contribute to the rising temperatures on our planet. It is estimated that agriculture accounts for 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These gases are the primary focus of carbon farming.
Its definition may be articulated as follows: "carbon management at the farm level to mitigate ongoing climate change." This management encompasses both animal production, where the greenhouse gas is methane (CH4), and field production, where this gas is carbon dioxide (CO2). Essentially, it involves capturing carbon (sequestration) from these gases and, in the context of crop production, incorporating it into the soil cycle (CO2).
European Union reality EU legislation emphasizes practices that mitigate agriculture's environmental impact. The European Green Deal, designed to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050, encompasses various initiatives, including those targeting agriculture. These initiatives impose restrictions on the use of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products. Actions to comply with these requirements are incorporated into eco-schemes applicable to Polish farmers from 2023. The largest is the eco-scheme titled "Carbon Farming and Nutrient Management".
The goal of carbon farming
Emission reduction through altering agricultural practices includes minimizing tillage, utilizing precision fertilizers, and enhancing livestock management. Carbon farming targets the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions linked to crop production. Carbon sequestration is achieved by promoting soil health, implementing crop rotations, practicing conservation agriculture, and through forestation, among other methods. Carbon farming boosts the amount of carbon stored in soil and plants, thereby effectively extracting CO2 from the atmosphere.
Nothing new
It must be clearly emphasized that farmers have utilized carbon farming practices for years. These actions primarily aim to improve soil quality by increasing organic matter content. Organic matter, from which humus can subsequently form, is essential for:
- retaining valuable water
- storing nutrients that are not washed out of the sorption complex during heavy rains
- intensifying soil microbiological life
- improving the structure, enabling better root penetration and access to deeper water and nutrient resources.
Carbon credits
Carbon credits are a market mechanism enabling farmers to financially benefit from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon. Farmers adopting carbon farming practices can generate emission reduction units, known as carbon credits, which they can sell to businesses and organizations aiming to offset their carbon emissions. This creates an economic incentive for farmers to transition to more sustainable production methods while contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts.
Summary
Carbon farming, also known as low-emission farming, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration in soil and plants. It is part of regenerative farming, which seeks to reverse the negative impact of traditional farming methods on the environment. Carbon farming extends the range of practices used on farms for years. Detailed in eco-schemes, their selection will affect subsidy rates per hectare. Some practices, like sowing cover crops, mixing straw or manure with soil, or simplified cultivation, are easier to meet when choosing eco-schemes. Others, such as a diversified crop structure, require planning. For instance, the dominant crop cannot cover more than 65% of the farm's cultivated area, whereas cereals occupy 70–80% of the area on many farms.
