Carbon credits: if you join in, can you coin it?

Farmers switching to conservation agriculture practices understand the value that these cultivation methods bring to the environment and their pockets. With less money spent on fuel and inputs, better soil quality and increased yields, there is no doubt about the benefits of a no-till approach on grain farms.

Likewise, with the exponential growth of South Africa’s orchards as the citrus, avocado, and macadamia industries expand, swathes of carbon-capturing trees are filling the countryside.

But as the carbon builds up in the soil and trees, rather than being released into the atmosphere, many farmers are wondering how that sequestered carbon can become a source of income in itself.

Jenine de Wet, South Africa country manager at global carbon project developer WeAct, believes that there is significant scope for no-till farmers to sequester soil carbon.

“South Africa has committed itself to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. I believe the best way to achieve this is by working with farmers to build projects that will enable them to become carbon-negative.”

With farmers in the US and Australia already cashing in