€6m paid for engaging in regenerative farming methods

UK farmers have been earning €36 per carbon certificate by carrying out regenerative farming practices as part of the AgreenaCarbon soil carbon platform.

Agreena, which calls itself the world’s leading soil carbon platform for farmers, now has two million hectares of European farmland registered with the programme and is encouraging UK farmers to join the scheme ahead of the 2024 harvest year.

AgreenaCarbon has already paid farmers more than €6m for engaging in regenerative farming methods such as making optimum use of cover crops and minimising soil disturbance. The scheme, which now boasts 1,000 farmers across 17 countries, is about to enter its fourth year.

“Through regenerative practices such as no-till, min-till, and the growing of cover crops, farmers can play a key role in the delivery of climate mitigation services and have an extremely powerful seat at the climate change table,” said Niels Vittrup, Agreena’s commercial director. “Farmers need to be financially rewarded for providing these vital services and AgreenaCarbon does just that.” 

Agreena’s internationally accredited and third-party validated programme quantifies the farm’s greenhouse gas reductions and carbon removals and issues the verified CO₂e certificates. Farmers can keep the certificates, trade them on the voluntary carbon market or let Agreena sell them on their behalf. 

An early payout option is also available for farmers, with funding provided by Agreena before certificates are issued.

 “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. 

“AgreenaCarbon provides a vital additional income for farmers, ensuring their businesses are both profitable and environmentally sustainable,” said Agreena’s UK market lead Thomas Gent. 

“We now have hundreds of AgreenaCarbon farmers in the UK who have earned €36 per carbon certificate from the 2022 harvest, and many more are about to benefit from the 2023 harvest.”