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FoodChain ID and ReSeed have introduced the ReSeed Soil Carbon Methodology, a new approach to enhance carbon market initiatives.
This new methodology rewards farmers for maintaining existing soil organic carbon levels through sustainable practices and incentivises the removal and storage of additional carbon dioxide by soils. It also opens voluntary carbon markets to "vulnerable and small" farmers, aiding agricultural climate initiatives worldwide.
Since their partnership in November 2023, FoodChain ID and ReSeed have focused on increasing transparency in the measurement and verification of regenerative agriculture practices. Central to their collaboration is a carbon credit verification standard that incentivises, measures and verifies carbon sequestration and storage progress through regenerative farming methods.
Ruud Overbeek, senior vice president for corporate development and strategic relationships at FoodChain ID, explained: “Our partnership with ReSeed has recently shown successful verification of conservation at the farm level to combat Amazon deforestation. This demonstrates that practices of sustainable farming can not only be measured, but also incentivised. Carbon credit accessibility is providing tangible benefits to farmers, who require financial support to invest in sustainable farming practices.”
The ReSeed Soil Carbon Methodology uses the latest scientific innovations for large-scale soil organic carbon stock measurement. Vasco van Roosmalen, CEO at ReSeed, said: “The application of the methodology will be made possible through ReSeed’s Digital Climate Impact Platform, and the results will be validated and verified by FoodChain ID to ensure scientific rigor, consistency and transparency in project quantification methods, while also accommodating implementation across diverse geographies and farm operations.”
According to the companies, the methodology offers unique benefits to farmers and addresses greenhouse gas emissions by promoting soil health. Unlike many existing methodologies, it does not exclude farmers based on the size or location of their farms.
Emily Urban Cordeiro, sustainability technical director at FoodChain ID and soil expert, commented: “In partnership with ReSeed, we are leading carbon market innovation by recognising the importance of farming systems. The partnership recognises and rewards farmers for their existing carbon assets, whether in soils or trees, as well as their ongoing achievements in sequestration.”
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