Smart Net-Zero

September 12, 2025 | CarbonCredits.com |

New analysis shows that shade-grown coffee—long recognized for biodiversity benefits—may also represent an undervalued carbon sink within agroforestry landscapes. However, experts caution that most existing carbon credit methodologies capture only a portion of this climate value due to inconsistent measurement boundaries, limited accounting of soil carbon, and undervaluation of co-benefits. As demand for nature-based solutions grows, researchers emphasize the need for robust MRV systems capable of quantifying carbon storage across canopy, root biomass, and soil layers. Strengthening these metrics could enable farmers to access higher-value agroforestry credits and support premium supply chains. The article notes that without improved quantification standards, smallholders risk missing emerging markets despite delivering measurable ecological services.