Carbon farming: prospects and potential

Climate change stimulates farmers to search for new farming methods. One of the most popular is carbon farming. What kind of technology is this in general and what is its benefit, it is worth figuring out.

Features of carbon farming

This term refers to a specific agribusiness method that involves capturing or sequestering organic carbon in the soil. Thus, it is possible to build a business by selling carbon credits to corporations so that they can compensate for emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

More about technology

According to the developers, carbon technology will help us avoid the greenhouse effect that is formed due to excess carbon dioxide. It is excreted in more quantities than the oceans and plants are able to naturally reabsorb. The excess forms a kind of "blanket" or "dome" in the atmosphere, trapping heat from the sun. Because of this, the climate on Earth is gradually changing, moving towards global warming.

The situation can become critical and threatens with serious cataclysms that can lead to the inevitable death of mankind. Carbonic farming can reduce such risks, according to scientists. Below we will tell you how.

Impact of carbon farming on crops

Today, carbon farming is considered as one of the ways to restore the balance of the carbon cycle in nature, which will help to increase soil resistance to drought and increase the natural productivity of the agro-industrial complex. The essence of the technology is quite simple. It is necessary to remove excess carbon from the environment and store it in the soil for plant nutrition and growth. In the ground, the substance will be more useful, while in the atmosphere, this element leads to serious problems.

Carbonic farming works through a complex of agricultural methods, such as the technology of minimum tillage or No till. Agricultural operations such as composting, mulching, and cover crops can sequester carbon in the soil.
However, for carbon farming to be successful, it is important to get it right.

A huge role in its implementation is played by:
• interest of the state;
• reliable financial support;
• partnerships with organizations.

In fact, there is still no way to know whether this technology will be a salvation from global climate change, but we can certainly say that it is able to improve the soil, increase yields and cleanse the air of excess carbon.

Role of the USA

Carbon farming was originally developed in the United States. It was here that they thought of using carbon to increase yields, when the question of its excess in the atmosphere arose.

Also in the United States, studies have been carried out in the course of which the organic form of this substance is bound in the soil. According to their results, the "corn belt" is optimal for the implementation of carbon farming technology. This zone has good soils, sufficient rainfall and a mild climate. The southern regions are also suitable for the introduction of carbon farming. They also have regular rainfall and a long growing season.

To judge how much the United States is interested in implementing the idea, it is possible to judge by the fact that the US Department of Agriculture has already developed the COMET-Farm web tool. It is used to manage land resources based on their carbon footprint. The software allows you to develop and select the most convenient scenario for the development of the economy using carbon farming technology. Also, based on the results of research in the United States, at least 32 ways of preserving this substance in the soil have been identified. Moreover, they were confirmed by laboratory.