What is Carbon Farming?
Carbon Farming is a method of carbon trading and carbon offsetting, carbon farming involves developing carbon storage systems in order to offset carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere during the production process. This carbon farming is based on the principle of carbon offsetting, where carbon credits are given to those who offset carbon dioxide released into the environment during the carbon production process, carbon credits are then traded between carbon producers and carbon offset for companies, these offset companies in turn give carbon credits to their clients. However carbon farming is not entirely carbon-based as the carbon that is stored by carbon farming may also be used to create a tradable product such as methane gas, biofuels or even carbon dioxide scrubbing equipment. These carbon savings will however need to be passed on to consumers, companies and other stakeholders in order for carbon farming to make sense.
Carbon Savings
The major carbon savings made from carbon farming comes from the use of carbon pools. A carbon pool is an arrangement whereby a carbon saving can be accrued when offsetting carbon is achieved rather than a fixed amount of carbon being saved throughout the life of the offsetting project. This has the effect of creating a carbon savings rate that varies across projects, this means that carbon savings will also vary across different projects and this in turn allows carbon offset for companies to set a rate that is affordable to both producers and consumers. By offering consumers a flexible, low cost and sustainable carbon savings rate Carbon Farming offers the opportunity to help combat global warming and reduce carbon emissions while improving the economy.
Carbon Sequestering
Another important carbon saving made through carbon farming is by developing carbon sequestering schemes, carbon sequestering is when carbon is stored in a way that allows it to be recovered from the air. Efficient carbon sequestering schemes can save up to 80% of carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise have been absorbed by the soil and bioalcohol. This carbon savings is therefore not only beneficial to the environment but also to businesses and companies as well. As carbon sequestering can provide a significant carbon savings through carbon absorption the carbon savings that are received can help offset a company’s carbon emissions. Through carbon farming and carbon sequestering a business can receive the same or better returns on their investment than they would with traditional carbon farming and carbon sequestering methods.
