Soil tops agenda at event for low-carbon agriculture

• Latest update on soil carbon code

• How soil health can be improved

• Carbon trading under the spotlight

Opportunities in soil health and carbon farming will top the agenda during a key industry on 8-9 March at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The Low Carbon Agriculture Show will bring together over 100 speakers to highlight ways farmers can enhance their businesses by focusing on natural capital, renewable energy and climate change mitigation.

“The show provides practical guidance and solutions for farmers wishing to increase the financial and environmental sustainability of their business and drive down emissions,” says event director David Jacobmeyer.

Held in partnership with the NFU and the Country Land and Business Association, the event will encompass four exhibitions: environmental business, farm technology, energy now and low emission vehicles.

Special session

Soil will be the subject of its own conference session. Chaired by Soil Association associate director Liz Bowles, it will include practical advice on ways different techniques can improve soil health based on farm type.

Matt Ward, of agronomists Hutchinsons, will give a presentation on ways to benchmark and measure soil carbon content. Adele Jones, of the Sustainable Food Trust, will outline the case for assessing soil health as part of whole-farm sustainability.

A separate session will feature discussions on measuring, reducing, and trading carbon – as well as updating conference delegates on the much-awaited soil carbon code and factors to consider when sequestering carbon.

Julian Bell, team leader for the carbon measuring tool Agrecalc, will explain how growers and livestock producers can understand the carbon footprint of their farm – and implement ways to reduce it.

Listeners will be able to learn
ways to identify their strengths and weaknesses – and how to assess the impact of mitigation measures their might deploy in ways that can improve the operational efficiency of their farm business.

Ways to gain carbon payments from soil improving farming techniques will be explained by foruth generation family farmer Thomas Gent, who is also head of certificates at carbon credit company Agreena.

Mr Gent joined the Agreena carbon programme as a farmer a year ago. He will explain why he made this decision, what it has meant for his farm and how he believes carbon trading could work for other farms too.

For details, visit www.lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk

Farm soil carbon code explained

An update on progress towards a soil carbon code for UK farmers will be given at the Low-Carbon Agriculture show.

The UK Farm Soil Carbon Code (UKFSCC) will be a set of protocols that allow farmers to quantify and verify their greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon capture by adopting regenerative farming practices.

Agricarbon co-founder and director Annie Leeson will deliver the update at the low-carbon event. “The code will set a common standard for ‘what good looks like’ for sustainable farming and land management businesses,” she said.

High integrity

“Combined with high integrity measurement of soil carbon, the code will ensure a solid, evidence-based foundation underpins agricultural participation in emerging carbon markets and incentive schemes.”

It is estimated that the carbon market could be worth up to £500m annually by 2030 for farmers who adopt regenerative practices that lock up carbon from the atmosphere in their soil.

The code will be used for a number of different “carbon accounting” purposes. These will include carbon capture incentive schemes, ecosystem services and environmental investment products – whether carbon is monetised or not.