Agreena invites UK farmers to join its soil carbon programme
© Tim Scrivener Danish carbon trading company Agreena has invited UK farm businesses to enter its soil carbon programme for the coming year, with the prospect of additional revenue for carrying out regenerative farming practices.
Agreena offers incentives to farmers for the way they farm, with businesses rewarded for growing cover crops and using reduced soil disturbance practices such as no-till or min-till systems.
See also: Trading carbon and natural capital – legal advice for farmers
The company has more than 1m ha of land across Europe registered under the programme, and has so far paid out more than €6m (£5.22m) to farmers.
For example, UK farmers received €36 (£31.30) for each carbon certificate for the 2022 harvest from Agreena.
These certificates are then retained by the farmers and can be kept or traded on the wider carbon market.
Challenges
Agreena’s UK market lead, Thomas Gent, said: “Farmers in the UK are facing unprecedented challenges, including economic and political uncertainty, changing weather patterns, and the reduction and eventual disappearance of the Basic Payment Scheme.”
He suggested carbon credits could provide a vital additional income for farmers, “ensuring their businesses are both profitable and environmentally sustainable”.
However, carbon trading remains in its infancy and some industry advisers have warned farmers to not sell off carbon too hastily without knowing the future implications for their farm businesses.