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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