Download Carbon Farming

CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN
THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
The case for CARBON FARMING
Did you know that the planet's soils hold about three
times more carbon than its atmosphere? Today, innovators across the agricultural sector are employing a
variety of "carbon farming" techniques to harness the
power of soils and agricultural biomass to sequester
carbon, in the process helping to fight climate change
while simultaneously increasing agricultural resiliency.
This fact sheet explores the opportunities surrounding
carbon farming approaches, and examines the challenges facing carbon farmers today.
ABOUT US
The Center for Carbon Removal is a
non-profit initiative of the Berkeley
Energy & Climate Institute. We are
dedicated to curtailing climate
change by igniting action to develop and implement strategies for
removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere by:
Conducting research and analysis to highlight
opportunities and address challenges surrounding
carbon removal solutions.
Curating a comprehensive online hub for
high-quality information and discussion about
carbon removal.
Hosting events that engage public, private, and
civil sector organizations to accelerate the development of carbon removal solutions.
AGRICULTURE
WHAT IS CARBON FARMING?
“Carbon farming” is an umbrella term for agricultural practices that aim to remove more
greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere than they emit. Through the process of photosynthesis, agricultural crops pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then lock that
carbon above ground (through crop residues, animal wastes, etc.) or below ground (soil biota,
roots, etc.).
A variety of agricultural practices have been proposed to help enhance carbon storage in soils,
including conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, compost application, and rotational grazing. Furthermore, research and development into carbon farming are likely to
expand the list of techniques that both boost crop production and remove carbon from the
atmosphere.
WHERE AND HOW CAN CARBON FARMING
TECHNIQUES BE APPLIED?
Carbon farming techniques can be deployed across numerous geographies and agricultural sectors
around the globe:
GRASSLANDS - While overgrazing animals can lead to
grassland degradation and increased GHG emissions, responsible management of grasslands through rotational grazing,
planting of particular species, and compost application
can increase plant productivity and stimulate soil biodiversity.
TREE CROPS - Trees in croplands, both in agroforestry and
in orchards, have the potential to store large stocks of
carbon above and below ground. They can also reduce fossil
fuel emissions if they are grown as a renewable source of
fuelwood.
CROP LANDS - Croplands can increase terrestrial stocks
of carbon through methods that reduce the decomposition
of organic matter and increase crop productivity, including
reduced tillage, expanding compost and manure application, crop rotation/cover cropping.
WHY CARBON FARMING?
Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils can be an important, low cost climate mitigation
strategy, but can also hold economic and environmental benefits beyond climate stabilization.
WATER
CARBON
Carbon farming techniques
have also been shown to
increase the soil’s ability to
hold water, helping farmers
adapt to a changing climate
that is more prone to drought
and flooding.
Increasing carbon soil
stocks can help mitigate
climate change by reducing
atmospheric concentrations
of carbon dioxide.
EARTH
Carbon farming techniques
can also come with other
co-benefits including:
decreased soil erosion, nutrient loss, and agricultural input
use, while increasing crop
production and resilience.
WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL?
11.3
SCALE
Land Area (in Gha)
10 Gha
~3.5
~1.5
Total global
land
RATE
Global
grasslands
~1
Global
Global arable
degraded land
land
Categories are not mutually exclusive.
GLOBAL
GRASSLANDS
(0.2-0.3 tC/ha/yr)
DRY REGION
CROPLANDS
(0.1-0.2 tC/ha/yr)
MOIST REGION
CROPLANDS
(0.2-0.4 tC/ha/yr)
DEGRADED
LANDS
(1-3 tC/ha/yr)
Sequestration rates vary greatly based
on practices and local condtions. These
numbers are based upon average results
from the studies of Branca et al,
Conant, and Akala & Lal.
Many of these practices are
already performed globally
for business reasons beyond
carbon sequestration. Yet, in
an effort to increase adoption, there are pilot programs that enable farmers
to profit from switching to
carbon sequestering practices by selling GHG emissions
offsets in carbon trading
schemes. Accurate measurement and verification
protocols are vital to
increase participation.
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
WHAT ARE CHALLENGES FOR SOIL SEQUESTRATION?
While carbon sequestration in agricultural soils is promising, more research is necessary to
rectify key questions and concerns around soil carbon sequestration.
Main Challenges Include:
1. Scalability - Since carbon soil sequestration is dependent upon local contexts of climate and
soil, practices cannot be applied across areas with uniform results. Further, available land to be
used for agriculture might grow increasingly limited with increased urbanization.
3. Measurement and verification - Quanitfying carbon benefits of specifc farming projects in
a timely and cost effective way is imperative to incentivize behavior, particularly with carbon
trading schemes and offsets.
4. Timespan and permanence of storage - It is important to ensure that carbon sequestered
in soils remains there for long periods of time, even if farming practices change.
5. Diffusion of practices among farmers - Uptake of new agricultural practices will likely be
slow and require eduational programs and incentives to increase adoption.
6. Saturation of sinks - Land sinks may become saturated to the point where carbon uptake is
limited or slowed.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
five carbon-agriculture “must reads”
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Challenges and opportunities for carbon sequestration in grassland
systems.” 2010.
United Nations Environment Programme. “The benefits of soil carbon. Managing soils for multiple economic, societal and
environmental benefits.” UNEP Year Book 2012, Ch.2.
Duke University: Nicholas Institute. “Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Opportunities in California Agriculture.” February 2014.
Agriculture, Ecosystems, and the Environment. “The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic
carbon.” Stockman et al. 2013.
Food and Agriulture Organization of the United Nations. Challenges and opportunities for carbon sequestration in grasslands.
Contant. 2010.
CONTACT US
{
www.centerforcarbonremoval.org
@CarbonRemoval
[email protected]
(510) 664 - 7153
}
CENTER FOR
CARBON
REMOVAL