Answering your questions on soil carbon credits
Farmers are in the unique position of being able to remove carbon from the atmosphere by building soil organic matter. This represents an opportunity to generate revenue by selling carbon credits.
In this article, our Chief Scientific Officer, Matt Jordon, answers some of the common questions farmers have about the carbon market.
Should I wait before getting a soil carbon baseline?
Some farmers feel they are keeping their options open by delaying a soil carbon baseline. But you need a soil carbon baseline to prove soil carbon gains.
A baseline gives you more options (writes Matt).
It does not commit you to selling carbon credits but it gives you the opportunity in the future.
Isn’t the carbon market an unregulated Wild West?
There are a number of internationally respected standards that set rules for generating high integrity carbon credits. You should be mindful of this when choosing a company to work with.
“This isn’t about replacing farming or food producing activities to increase carbon. It’s about trying to get the carbon wins while still producing food.”
The credits we generate comply with the Verified Carbon Standard, which is considered the gold standard in the carbon credit market.
Our members know their credits are generated following an internationally recognised standard with third-party verification.
Aren’t carbon credits just ‘greenwashing’?
There is understandable concern about the risk of ‘greenwashing’, where companies buy carbon credits but continue business as usual pollution.
We only sell credits to companies who can demonstrate that their purchase is part of a broader policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimise negative impacts on nature.
When used correctly, carbon credits are a fantastic way to reward farmers for the environmental benefits they are creating on farm.
Carbon baselining and measurement at no upfront cost
Regenerate Outcomes provides rigorous soil carbon baselining and measurement.
Our mentoring team work with farmers to build productive soil by increasing organic matter. The increase can then be used to generate carbon credits which you can retain or sell for additional revenue.
We work with Agricarbon to measure increases in soil carbon. Agricarbon base their measurements on physical samples from your farm. Samples are completed at a depth to meet the demands of higher quality verification schemes.
This means the credits can attract a higher premium than those generated in other schemes.