Understanding carbon farming: A path to climate-smart agriculture

The global fight against climate change intensifies and agriculture can be seen as both a contributor to the problem and a vital part of the solution. Studies show that agriculture accounts for nearly 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet innovative approaches like carbon farming offer a powerful way to reverse this trend. 

​​By integrating carbon farming into a broader sustainability strategy, businesses and farmers can sequester carbon dioxide in soils and plants. This helps them to mitigate climate change whilst enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and farm productivity. Continue reading as we explore the principles of carbon farming, its key methods, and the challenges that must be overcome to unlock its full potential.

What is carbon farming? 

Carbon farming refers to agricultural practices specifically designed to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in soils, plants, and biomass. As a nature-based solution, it plays a vital role in mitigating climate change while enhancing soil health, supporting biodiversity, and improving farm productivity.

At its core, carbon farming focuses on implementing sustainable agriculture practices that enhance the natural ability of farmland to absorb and retain carbon. This is primarily achieved by increasing soil organic matter, which allows carbon to be stored directly in the soil. Additionally, carbon farming promotes plant growth by drawing down carbon through photosynthesis, and storing the carbon in plant roots, stems, and foliage. 

Key carbon farming methods 

Carbon farming relies on a variety of methods that enhance carbon sequestration in soils, plants, and biomass. These techniques focus on improving soil health, promoting plant growth, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Below are some of the key low-carbon farming methods:

Cover cropping

Cover crops such as clover, rye, or legumes are planted during off-seasons to protect and enrich the soil.

• How it works: Cover crops capture atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis and add organic matter to the soil when they decompose.
• Benefits: Prevents soil erosion, improves soil fertility, retains moisture, and enhances carbon storage.

No-till or reduced-till farming

Tilling disturbs soil structure and releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere. No-till or reduced-till practices minimise this disturbance.

• How it works: Farmers avoid ploughing and leave crop residues on the field, which helps trap carbon and improve soil structure.
• Benefits: Retains soil carbon, prevents erosion, and supports soil microbial life.

Agroforestry

Agroforestry integrates trees, shrubs, and perennial plants into agricultural systems.

• How it works: Trees and plants sequester carbon in their biomass while improving soil carbon levels through root growth and leaf litter.
• Benefits: Enhances biodiversity, provides shade, prevents erosion, and restores degraded land.

Rotational grazing

Rotational grazing involves systematically moving livestock between pastures to allow grasslands to recover.

• How it works: Healthy grasses grow back quickly, pulling carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in roots and soil.
• Benefits: Improves soil organic matter, prevents overgrazing, and enhances ecosystem resilience.

Biochar application

Biochar is a stable form of charcoal created by heating organic matter in low-oxygen conditions (pyrolysis).

• How it works: Biochar is added to soils, where it locks carbon away for centuries while improving soil structure and nutrient retention.
• Benefits: Long-term carbon storage, improved water retention, and enhanced soil fertility.

Perennial crop cultivation

Perennial crops (e.g., grasses, fruits, and nuts) grow for multiple years without replanting.

• How it works: Perennials develop extensive root systems that store carbon in the soil and reduce soil disturbance.
• Benefits: Enhances soil carbon storage, prevents erosion, and improves land resilience to droughts.

Crop rotation and polyculture

Alternating crops (crop rotation) and growing multiple crops together (polyculture) improve soil health and nutrient cycling.

• How it works: These practices boost soil organic matter, enhance nitrogen fixation, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers.
• Benefits: Improves carbon storage, prevents pest outbreaks, and enhances soil fertility.

Challenges in carbon-neutral farming

Carbon farming holds immense potential to mitigate climate change and enhance agricultural sustainability, but it faces key challenges such as financial barriers, measurement complexities, and knowledge gaps. High upfront costs for equipment and materials, combined with slow returns on investment, deter many farmers. Solutions like subsidies, carbon credit schemes, and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) can make the transition economically viable, while financial incentives encourage adoption.

Moreover, measuring and verifying carbon sequestration remains a significant hurdle due to variable soil conditions and costly data collection processes. Advancements in technology, including remote sensing, AI-driven analytics, and soil sensors, can simplify monitoring and provide reliable, scalable solutions. Establishing standardised carbon accounting frameworks will further enhance credibility and farmer participation. Another barrier is the lack of awareness and technical expertise. 

Providing farmers with education, training, and knowledge-sharing platforms can bridge this gap, while government support and clear policies are essential to integrate carbon farming into national climate strategies. Lastly, building climate resilience through practices like agroforestry, diversified cropping, and improved water management can ensure long-term success, even in the face of climate variability. By addressing these challenges with targeted solutions, carbon farming can play a pivotal role in achieving global climate goals, restoring ecosystems, and securing sustainable livelihoods for farmers.

Conclusion

Carbon farming represents a unique opportunity to transform agriculture into a force for good for climate change while supporting healthier ecosystems and more resilient food systems. By embracing the above practices, farmers can help draw down atmospheric carbon while improving soil fertility and productivity. 

However, to fully realise its potential, targeted investments, technological advancements, and knowledge-sharing initiatives are essential. With the right support, carbon farming can play a pivotal role in achieving global climate goals, fostering sustainable development, and ensuring a more resilient future for farmers and the planet alike.