Core Beliefs

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We firmly believe in the transformative potential of agricultural soils as a carbon sink, providing multiple benefits for farmers, the environment, the economy, and society-at-large. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a pivotal role in climate change mitigation for several key reasons:

Soils are one of the largest carbon reservoirs, storing more carbon than the atmosphere and terrestrial vegetation combined. Organic carbon in soils originates from plants, animals, and microorganisms. When this organic matter is incorporated and stabilized in soils, it results in the sequestration of carbon, preventing it from entering the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2).

Healthy soils with higher organic carbon levels can decrease emissions of other greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N2O), which is approximately 300 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. This is because soil with more organic matter can better facilitate denitrification processes.

 Increasing SOC enhances soil structure, water retention, and fertility. Better soil structure allows for more efficient water use, reducing the need for irrigation and its associated energy use. This not only aids in climate change mitigation but also in climate change adaptation by making agricultural systems more resilient to droughts and extreme weather events.

Efforts to increase SOC often involve rolling out sustainable agricultural practices such as reduced tillage and cover cropping, agroforestry, and rotational grazing. These practices not only sequester carbon but also offer co-benefits like reduced soil erosion, enhanced biodiversity, and improved water quality.

Degraded soils release the carbon stored in them into the atmosphere. By enhancing SOC, soils are less prone to degradation processes like erosion, compaction, and desertification. Healthy soils with high organic carbon content are more resilient and can sustain agricultural productivity.

Soils rich in organic carbon tend to have a greater diversity of soil organisms, from bacteria and fungi to earthworms and beetles. This increased biodiversity further enhances the soil's ability to sequester carbon and boosts ecosystem resilience.

 As the global community moves towards more concrete actions against climate change, there's a unique opportunity for carbon sequestration in soils to become part of carbon trading schemes. Farmers and land managers could be rewarded for their efforts to boost SOC, providing an economic incentive for sustainable land management and reducing the financial risk associated with transitioning to regenerative farming.