Soil Enrichment Protocol (SEP) Project
Registered with the Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
Offset Generation Method
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
Methodology
Regenerative farming practices and Climate Action Reserve’s Soil Enrichment Protocol
Acres, Crop Types and Locations
130,000 acres of row crop farmland in the Mississippi River Valley producing cotton, corn, soybeans, and rice.
Project Timeline
01 The Story
Agriculture, forestry, and land use accounts for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but only two percent of US Agricultural Land is enrolled in Carbon Offsetting Initiatives. However, soil is one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, with 3.1x the capacity of the atmosphere and holding 80% of the Earth’s terrestrial carbon. Regenerative agricultural practices increase and accelerate the amount of carbon stored in the soil, while simultaneously reducing emissions from agricultural operations.
AgriCapture, along with farmers across eight states in the Mississippi River Valley, have set out to showcase the environmental and economic benefits of regenerative agriculture practices. This effort will expand public awareness of soil health and inspire wider adoption of regenerative agriculture practices throughout the region and generate new revenue streams for landowners implementing these practices.
02 Farmers
AgriCapture partnered with early adopters of Climate-Friendly farming to further capitalize on their sustainable farming practices and advance agriculture as a solution to climate change. AgriCapture continued to add acres to the initial project listing by partnering with landowners and advising them on the implementation of Climate-Friendly farming.
03 The Ask
Help farmers identify and implement Climate-Friendly practices, at no out of pocket cost to the operation.
04 The Challenges
Traditional farming practices have a stronghold in the region due to a need to drive short-term results. Many farmers are already operating on thin margins and while new revenue streams sound enticing, implementing new practices may seem risky.
Collecting and analyzing historical data is a challenge in a space where tillage depth, soil health, and fertilizer application information is not widely kept or easily captured.
Farmers should benefit from their verified results and climate-conscious companies need to be confident that their investments are creating a real carbon impact.
05 The Solution
Real Impact for the Farm and the Environment
AgriCapture will work with farmers to implement Climate-Friendly farming practices that improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional farming practices. AgriCapture’s data-driven growing plans are designed to optimize agricultural, financial, and environmental outcomes.
High-Quality Outcomes
To ensure the highest quality project outcomes, AgriCapture and their farmer partners will adhere to Climate Action Reserve’s Soil Enrichment Protocol which provides guidance on how to quantify, monitor, report, and verify agricultural practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
End to End Value Chain Expertise
To help farmers navigate new markets, AgriCapture provides end-to-end value chain management including agronomic consultations, data management, and leveraging of strategic partnerships to ensure farmers are rewarded for Climate-Friendly farming.
06 The Impact
For the environment:
- Increasing carbon in the soil
- Reducing methanogenesis
- Avoiding GHG emissions
- There are several potential co-benefits including reduced water usage, improved air and nutrient-enriched soils which increase soil fertility, reduced need for fertilizer application, increased water retention, and improved long-term yields.
For the landowner:
- Carbon credit revenue
- Climate-Friendly crop premiums
- Marketing rights fees
- Increased land value
AgriCapture Receives Agricultural Carbon Credits from the Climate Action Reserve
Read the press release here.
“We started piloting regenerative practices on our farms in 2019. We have steadily increased the number of acres employing regenerative practices, such as cover cropping and reduced tillage. I'm really encouraged by the early results. With AgriCapture’s support, we will be able to quantify our real impact on the land and pursue new opportunities that positively impact our bottom line.”
Larry McClendonMcClendon Land Co.
