Carbon farming, regenerative agriculture, and environmental sustainability: practices and standards

Publication date: 18/11/2024
Extent: 34 pages

Contributions by: Louise Manning, University of Lincoln, UK; and Rounaq Nayak, Bournemouth University, UK

Chapter synopsis:

The carbon cycle has always been a crucial element of agri-food production. However, the rise in atmospheric CO2 from around 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1780 pre-industrial revolution to 424 ppm in 2023 has led to focus both on how farming has contributed to this imbalance and, in particular, how it can contribute to halting and then reversing this trend. This chapter reviews ‘carbon farming’ which incorporates both practices for sequestering atmospheric carbon and/or for reducing the production of greenhouse gases at farm level. It reviews practices, measurement issues and options for carbon trading. These are set in the context of wider developments such as regenerative agriculture as well as other initiatives to improve environmental stability in farming.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2024.0133.11