An introduction to carbon farming
Currently the food system accounts for around one third of global GHG emissions. Hereby most emissions stem from land use change caused by the conversion of natural ecosystems to land for agricultural production. While soil is the largest terrestrial carbon sink, land now accounts for 23 per cent of global GHG emissions.
Resulting from this, agricultural land needs to become a net absorber of carbon again to reach the climate target set out by the Paris Agreement. Here is where carbon farming comes into play. In this blog post, we will look at carbon farming and why it is relevant to all players in the food industry value chain.
What is carbon farming?
In a nutshell, carbon farming is a systemic approach to agriculture with the aim to optimize carbon capture on production lands through the implementation of practices that improve the rate at which atmospheric CO2 is sequestered into soil and plant material. Apart from sequestering CO2, carbon farming also delivers co-benefits in terms of increased soil water holding capacity, biodiversity, and resilience, among others.
A general characteristic of carbon farming practices is that they are nature-based solutions following agroecological principles. Below you can find a brief overview of selected carbon farming practices adopted by the EU in the Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles.
Afforestation and reforestation that respect ecological principles favorable to biodiversity and enhanced sustainable forest management, including biodiversity-friendly practices and adaptation of forests to climate change.
Agroforestry and other forms of mixed farming combining woody vegetation (trees or shrubs) with crop and/or animal production systems on the same land.
Use of catch crops, cover crops, conservation tillage and increasing landscape features: Protecting soils, reducing soil loss by erosion, and enhancing soil organic carbon on degraded arable land.
Targeted conversion of cropland to fallow or of set-aside areas to permanent grassland.
Restoration of peatlands and wetlands that reduces oxidation of the existing carbon stock and increases the potential for carbon sequestration.
Why is it relevant to the food industry?
The FAO and the Global Soil Hub estimate that globally around 75 billion tons of topsoil are lost per year and around 33 per cent of soils are moderately or highly degraded because of unsustainable agricultural practices, forest management and grazing.
This in turn results in a food system that is not resilient, particularly in the light of climate change and more frequent and extreme weather events. Hence the most important aspect of implementing carbon farming practices is to achieve food security and enable stable supply chains.
Moreover, governments globally are slowly taking action to decarbonize the agricultural sector and reverse the trend of deforestation. The EU, for example, aims to actively promote carbon farming practices under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). As a result, carbon farming can also present an interesting business opportunity while also reducing the sensitivity to future carbon price changes. The Commission is currently working on a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals.