Carbon farming: The Next Big Saviour of the Planet?

Carbon Emission has been a prime problem in the modern-day world. The earth is sinking much faster than we thought it would be. However, the majority of the carbon emission has been done by us, Humans.  

Agriculture is arguably the most crucial sector in the world. But little did we know that the amount of carbon from our fields is killing us? Yes, that is right. We now harvest crops on 1.5 billion hectares of land, with the remaining 3.5 billion hectares of agricultural land consisting of meadows and pastures for grazing livestock. Agriculture accounts for almost one-quarter of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IPCC – that is huge. 

Only in the US, carbon emission from agriculture crossed over 6.6 billion metric tons. The USA is the 2nd largest country to contribute to carbon emission just after China. (Farm Bureau, 2021) 

Among this chaos, can we shift the fortune? That is very difficult to answer. However, we can turn down the volume by exploring new ideas.  

Such an idea is Carbon Farming. Today, we will be exploring all the new possibilities of carbon farming and regenerative agriculture. We will also look into various innovations in agricultural productivity and food production. So, stay tuned to learn more. 

What is Carbon Farming? 

Carbon farming has been the new talk of the town. The term seems to be relevant to capturing carbon. And for your information, it is precisely that. Carbon Farming refers to a process of developing agriculture in such a way that it can reduce the amount of carbon from the atmosphere. To put it another way, it's about growing crops utilizing regenerative agriculture techniques (e.g., no-till farming) to minimize agricultural carbon emissions while also absorbing additional carbon from the atmosphere. Despite how straightforward it seems; it proves to be significantly more challenging than we thought. 

People have been on this planet for centuries. Agriculture has allowed us to cultivate our food for many years but, it came with a hefty price. Today, due to excessive chemical usage and unregulated fertilization practices, the cultivating lands have quickly become polluted, but the agricultural soil has also trapped a lot of greenhouse gases and other stimulants. 

When farmers plow the land, the carbon gets released from the soil into the atmosphere. Soil tillage has been one of the prime reasons for releasing carbon. This very carbon gets oxidized and form Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Farming allows the farmer not only to prevent such carbon loss from the agricultural soil but also to help capture additional carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.  

How Can You Start Carbon Farming? 

Carbon farming may seem easy, but in practice, it is hard to implement. Several searchers have found dozens of management methods that can minimize agricultural carbon emissions while also increasing carbon sequestration. However, only a handful of them may have a considerable influence, and they can be divided into four categories. These are: 

• No-Till Farming 

• Cover Crops 

• Fertilizer application management 

• Crop Rotation

No-Till Farming: Farming without Tillage: When a farmer plows the fields, the disturbance that is created amongst the soil allows the carbon to leak out into the atmosphere. However, we can directly plant seeds with minimal to no disturbance by using agricultural drills and other viable methods. This drastically decreases carbon emissions from agricultural soil. 

Cover crops: Cover crops have been in the tradition for decades. This method increases the absorption rate of greenhouse gases. Cover crops cover the field during off-seasons. These crops soak up Carbon Dioxide through photosynthesis and lock carbon into the soil as well as prevent soil erosion. 

Fertilizer application management: Compost fertilizers can become a prime source of carbon emissions. As the majority of the compost substances come from manure and other rotten parts of plants and crops, they can produce carbon while decomposing. To make the most of it, we'll need to find methods to cut down on usage while still ensuring that it's put to good use. 

Furthermore, the worldwide nitrogen fertilizer usage efficiency is around 40%, implying that the bulk of the fertilizer applied is lost in the environment, leading to nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions - a potent greenhouse gas 300 times more dangerous than CO2. Following the 4R fertilizing principles will help you do a better job here. The 4Rs stand for right source, right rate, right time, and right location, and they serve as a guide for farmers on how to maintain nutrients on and in the field. 

Crop rotation: Crop rotation can be fruitful in many ways. Harvesting a crop repeatedly on the same field will cause several deficiencies in the overall environment. This will result in reduced total yield. However, if we rotate the crop, then we can prevent the occurrence. Suppose Crop A consumes Nitrogen and releases Phosphorus into the soil. So, next year, if we plant another type, Crop B, that intakes Phosphorus and releases Nitrogen, the overall balance will be restored. 

Carbon Farming: Seeing from the Leaders’ Eyes 

Carbon farming is a relatively new and innovative concept. So, seeing it from a profitable point of view is going to be a tough ask. For that, the global leaders from the agriculture industry still have a mixed opinion on this particular initiative. 

The World Bank Group is taking drastic measures to improve livestock and agriculture processes while lowering carbon emissions. They have been promoting climate-smart agriculture in countries like China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Kenya, Uzbekistan, and more.  

Another Agri-Giant, Cargill Inc., is signing up farmers for their RegenConnect program to limit carbon emission and promote carbon farming. This program will use soil sampling, farm data, and remote sensing to distinguish the environmental benefits. This data and analysis will allow the farmers to prepare a low carbon-emission agricultural plan. Not only that, as the movement will hit the complete phase, Cargill Inc. will pay the farmers 20 Dollars for every ton of carbon sequestered.  

Current Carbon Sequestration Quantification Methods: Maintaining the Standards?  

It is tough to predict the amount of carbon being sequestered from a particular field, even though this is one of the first problems to overcome when it comes to monetizing carbon sequestration. Why should farmers change their current practices and adopt regenerative agricultural practices, if there are no incentives? However, some businesses and organizations claim to be able to administrate this with great precision. 

One of the organizations is VERRA. Their Soil Carbon Quantification Methodology is designed to quantify and monitor changes in carbon emission. They monitor the facts and suggest to you the best agricultural practices and motives curve down the emissions. But as this is an almost a decade old proposition, the methodology's factors and proceedings do not align with the current prospects. Many agriculturists and organizations still follow this methodology where some question its creditability due to lack of adaptation. 

Gold Standard is yet another organization to seek input on plans to align the voluntary carbon market. They believe that the companies responsible for carbon footprint should take full responsibility for that.  

However, in the recent Agricultural Tech Summit 2021, Global Agri-Leaders are urging to make a standardized form or methodology for carbon monitoring. 

VERRA is good, but it applies to some, where others deny it. Leaders are on a quest to search for the best and standard methodology to fight the war against time. 

Climate Change & Food Security: Race against Time! 

The climate is changing faster than we anticipated. If we do not take drastic measures at this very time, it will be the prime cause of human extinction. Now, as we are working hard to have a healthy and prosperous living, it is crucial to make the world healthier. Every year, we generate an enormous amount of Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. The trees and plants absorb almost 30% of the generated carbon. However, due to mass deforestation and other calamities, carbon sequestration is being slowed down. For that, the climate is getting warmer, and we are running out of time. 

So, how can we flip that? To understand the carbon emission and impact, we will have to look into the soil carbon integration. Researchers and scientists have found that if we can increase soil carbon storage by 0.4% a year, we can stop the increase of carbon in the atmosphere. This 4/1000 initiative can only be achieved by mass forestation, carbon farming, and awareness. The world is crying for help. And this initiative can save food security as well.  

Increasing the carbon storage of the soil will make the soil more ‘plant-friendly. In this way, the plants will get enough nutrition. We will see a significant surge in food production and food security.  

What to Expect from Agri-Leader? 

As we come down to this part of our discussion, we can agree on the fact that carbon farming and regenerative agriculture can be a good chance to answer problems like climate change, food security, and productivity. Now, can we be the change? Yes, we can indeed. But, to take this motive to the implementing stage, the global leaders in agriculture should step in with their socks pulled up. 

Carbon Market has been there before. But, various loopholes and lacking has made this market sublime. Leaders should promote groundbreaking technologies and methodologies to influence the farmers in more sustainable agriculture.  

Not only that, the farmers should start developing the mentality to embrace change. Everyone should start playing their bit. It should be us to make the change possible. 

Final Thoughts 

Carbon farming can become the next big shield in preventing climate change. Global warming has risen by 2 degrees since 1900. It is high time that we react to these factors.  

Agriculture has been the only sector that has been under the radar when it comes down to carbon emission. Global leading organizations like the European Union have taken the Carbon farming initiative into motion. But, will it work? Only time will tell.