Following the various challenges that have impacted agriculture throughout 2022, soil carbon schemes, such as AgreenaCarbon, are ramping up to provide support and help farmers retain profitability.
“Carbon certification schemes can play a key role in helping farmers overcome financial uncertainty by impacting the bottom line through an additional revenue stream from the sale of carbon certificates, at the same time as improving the environmental sustainability and resilience of their farming businesses,” said Simon Haldrup, CEO and co-founder of soil carbon certification company, Agreena.
Agreena has expanded its operation out of Denmark, with more than 20 employees now working in the UK, and more than 500,000 hectares under management across Europe. Mr Haldrup explained that the company’s success has come from ensuring farmer control in the decision-making.
Its third party verified and tradeable CO2 certificate ownership sits with the farmer, who can keep them, sell them to institutional or private organisations, bundle the certificates with their crops or work with Agreena to secure the best price. The number of certificates a farmer can earn is based on the adoption of regenerative farming practices.
Participating farmers can receive up to three certificates per hectare, with the value said to be between £20 and £40 depending on the market conditions.
Despite a good 2022 harvest, farmers are now been urged to plan ahead for 2023.
“Harvest 2023 may well be a different story. Much will depend on input costs and the weather,” said Thomas Gent, a well-known regenerative farmer from South Lincolnshire and the market lead for the UK at Agreena.
“What is certain is that farmers will be looking for ways to remain profitable and achieve a return on investment from their crops. Carbon farming delivers that return both in terms of a revenue stream and long-term improvements in business resilience.”
Farmers can now apply for AgreenaCarbon for 2023 and are able to log in for free to determine their baseline and estimate the value available from carbon certification. Importantly, Agreena has enhanced the programme to include more cultivation techniques.
For more information go to www.agreena.com