Today, the temperature of the earth’s surface is increasing rapidly. There has been a clear 2-degree Celsius increase in global average surface temperature since the pre-industrial era (1880-1900), which means a significant increase in accumulated heat at a global scale. The temperature across Africa is expected to increase by 2 – 6 oC (35.6-42.8 oF) within the current century. This increase leads to various extreme climate events in different parts of the world – both in developed and developing countries. Almost 100% of the documented temperature increase over the last fifty years has been due to increased greenhouse gas (GHGs) concentrations in the atmosphere. Studies reported that 25% of the total global GHGs emissions were produced by power stations, 10% from Industry, 14% from Transportation, 6% from Building; other energy sectors contribute for 10%, while the agricultural sector generates about 24% (IPCC (2014). At the same time, agriculture produces nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), which are more potent compared to other GHGs – such as carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 emission can be resulted from agriculture in two ways. When the forest and wetlands are converted from wetland or forestland to agricultural land, the Soil Organic carbon SOC) present in the soil over centuries get decomposed and converted to CO2. Once the agricultural practices get started, there are emissions from croplands if non-sustainable agricultural practices are followed. For example, methane (CH4) emissions can happen due to excessive flooding at rice fields and improper use of livestock, N2O emissions come from indiscriminate use of nitrogenous fertilizers.

On the other hand, a well-managed agricultural field following sustainable management practices can help to reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change. Some of the key ways that agricultural practices can reduce GHG emissions include improved soil management, manure management, nitrogen management (use of nitrogen-based fertilizers), tillage management and crop residue management. While some of these practices help in GHG emission avoidance others help in GHG sequestration. The word avoidance refers to how much addition of GHG is avoided with improved practices and the word sequestration is how much GHG is trapped or “sequestered” inside the soil from the atmosphere by following specific practice(s).

Conservation Agriculture and Carbon farming

Conservation agriculture (CA) is a farming system that aims to minimize soil disturbance and maintain or increase soil organic matter levels. It is based on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species. The CA system also helps in soil health preservation and regeneration. At the same time, this system helps in the sequestration of more carbon (C) and helps in reducing GHGs emissions by absorbing atmospheric carbon in the soil. The CA system is considered a method of agronomic management practice with the potential for sustainable intensification. The CA system also helps in soil health maintenance and regeneration. At the same time, CA helps in the sequestration of more carbon (C) and helps in reducing GHGs emissions by absorbing atmospheric carbon in the soil.

The GHG emissions can also be avoided with to better water management and crop nutrition practices compared to the existing practices. And the reduction of emissions in terms of CO2 equivalence per ton is recognized as carbon credits, more specifically, avoidance credits. The amount of carbon sequestered within the soil by practising the CA system is also measured in terms of CO2 equivalence per ton and is recognized as carbon credits, more specifically, sequestration credits.

Notably, avoidance and agricultural sequestration practices are considered superior to conventional practices and are environmentally friendly without any yield penalty. In addition, it restores soil health creating long-term benefits while at the same time offering credits to the farmers applying them.

References:

FAO, 2010. Carbon Finance Possibilities for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Projects in a Smallholder Context. pp 6 – 9.

https://www.fao.org/3/me421e/me421e.pdf

https://www.wri.org/insights/everything-you-need-know-about-agricultural-emissions

Carbon Farming – An Overview

An additional Profit with Carbon Farming – Carbon Offsets Protocol and Certification Agencies

Carbon Credits and Sustainable Agricultural Practices – An Overview

OUR PARTNERS

We join forces with N.G.O.s, Universities, and other organizations globally to fulfill our common mission on sustainability and human welfare.