Search
Farmer perspectives on carbon markets incentivizing agricultural soil carbon sequestration

September 25, 2023 | npj Climate Action

 Introduction: Efforts to mitigate climate change and achieve net-zero emissions involve not only reducing current greenhouse gas emissions, but also deploying carbon sequestration strategies, such as voluntary carbon offset markets to incentivise organic farmers to adopt related agricultural practices.  Researchers from Hamilton College in USA conducted semi-structured interviews of both conventional and organic farmers to collect perspectives on soil carbon offset programs that have been implemented in the USA since 2017. 

Key findings: Farmers expressed concerns about the complicated, burdensome, and unpredictable outcome of receiving offset credits. They implemented practices for their own business interests and sustainability concerns, rather than being primarily motivated by financial incentives from carbon credits. The study suggests that carbon offset credit payments for soil carbon sequestration often go to farmers already implementing these practices, and the payments are viewed as an additional benefit rather than the main motivation.

Conclusion:  This raises concerns about the effectiveness of these offset markets in ensuring true additionality, which is essential for effective climate mitigation.

 

Fig. | Activities that enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. This figure shows on-farm activities that can enhance soil carbon sequestration. In some circumstances, types of activities can be implemented to generate carbon credits under voluntary market carbon offset protocols. 

 

Viewed Articles
Farmer perspectives on carbon markets incentivizing agricultural soil carbon sequestration
September 25, 2023 | npj Climate Action |  Introduction: Efforts to mitigate climate change and achieve net-zero emissions involve not only reducing current greenhouse gas emissions, but also deployin
Read More
Climate-smart agroforestry systems and practices: A systematic review of what works, what doesn’t work, and why
May, 2023 | Forest Policy and Economics | Source | Introduction: Climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) practices offer integrated solutions to climate change, food security, and environmental degradation,
Deep-sea impacts of climate interventions
March 9, 2023 | Science | Source | Introduction: As climate interventions, such as geoengineering and carbon sequestration, are increasingly considered to combat global warming, their potential effect
Opportunities for mitigating net system greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asian rice production: A systematic review
February 28, 2024 | Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment | Source |  Introduction: Despite existing mitigation efforts, integrated approaches addressing system-wide emissions—including soil organic c
Salt marsh restoration: an overview of techniques and success indicators
January 6, 2022 | Environmental Science and Pollution Research | Source |  Introduction: Salt marshes are vital coastal ecosystems that support biodiversity, store carbon and protect shorelines. Yet,
Carbon sequestration via shellfish farming: A potential negative emissions technology
January, 2023 | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | Source |  Introduction: Achieving global climate goals requires practical, low-energy negative emissions technologies (NETs). Researchers fro
TOP