Hundreds of farmers are joining carbon farming programmes. Organic carbon storage is becoming one of the main ways for farmers to combat climate change, improve soil quality and strengthen their farms financially. Violeta Gevorkjan, “HeavyFinance” Head of the Carbon Sequestration Programme, reminds us that soil is the world’s second-largest carbon sink and shares recommendations on how to take care of it.
© Egidijus Vilkevičius photo, agroakademija.lt
Why is soil so important in the face of carbon dioxide?
In the context of climate change, we must look at soil from a different perspective. Soil is recognised by scientists as the second largest sink and store of carbon dioxide (the oceans are the first), if it is treated correctly. If not, it becomes a source of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
Scientists have found that if humanity pulls itself together and gets its soil right now, nature’s natural actions will help us deal with excess CO2 within 6-7 years. According to the United Nations Climate Change Organisation (FAO), soil can remove up to 7 billion tonnes of CO2 every year. This compares with 35 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted by the world as a whole each year. Industry and the economy are developing, but we have a great tool, and it is time to use it properly, otherwise it will be sad for everyone.
How are we doing on top of one of the largest and most powerful carbon sinks on the planet?
We are a small country and our farmers are very conscious and aware of the importance of healthy soil as one of the key factors in building farm resilience in the current context of climate change, and, without compromise, for farm productivity and the farm economy.
“HeavyFinance” was one of the first in Europe to launch a sustainable agriculture programme to reduce its CO2 footprint. The project is now in its third successful year, and even then only with our own farmers. Farming is a business. There are no compromises. Those who understand, start applying good farming practices.
However, since the onset of industrialisation, the world’s soils have lost between 50% and 70% of the organic carbon that underpins fertility. And Lithuania is not far behind. In the broadest sense, nature is the world’s main economic resource. Everything we have comes from nature and 90% from the soil – furniture, clothes, food, cars, phones, books, fuel, even money made from metal or paper after a tree has been cut down.
Agriculture is one of Lithuania’s economic engines, and we need to preserve our soils to avoid a food crisis.
So carbon farming is a real test of awareness and motivation to adapt to climate change?
The history of carbon farming began when it was realised that carbon is the basis for all life in the soil. What does it mean for a farmer to be told that your soil is healthy? What makes it so? It is an element that is in excess in our atmosphere today and that causes the greenhouse effect – carbon. It can be stored by natural processes, i.e. photosynthesis and sustainable farming practices. The soil and its organisms are perfectly capable of restoring their natural cycle if we do not interfere with them by our aggressive actions.
Unfortunately, the agro-industry is the first to be affected by climate change. We have had two consecutive dry springs, when plants need water the most. Many have lost 25-30% of their yields, especially those with more degraded soils. That is a lot. And if it’s like that for several years in a row? Of course, if you fertilise such soil, the plants will grow, but they will not have a treasure chest to store the water they have accumulated over the winter and give it back when needed. If the soil lacks organic matter, which depends on carbon, erosion is triggered – water runs off or stands still – and then other processes kick in: lack of oxygen, plant growth stops etc. Farming as it used to be no longer works! Then there is a consciousness to increase the resilience of the farm, to shake off the dependence on synthetic fertilisers…
The solution is carbon farming. It’s the basis of nature’s holistic cycle – you for me, me for you. You don’t scratch me (no ploughing) or poison me (pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers), I give you a harvest and feed you – that’s nature’s way of asking for a deal! The farmer must become a friend of the soil, not a manager.
Despite the various soil conservation measures and subsidies that have been in place for decades, soil degradation has become a global environmental and farming problem. Why is the expected improvement not taking place? What is going wrong?
A really big problem. According to the FAO, 12 million hectares per year, or 23 hectares per minute, are being degraded. Although the figures are frightening, I believe it is not too late! Unfortunately, it is not a quick process. Scientists have also identified a transition period of about 3 years, with all good practices.
The obvious truth is that subsidies are paid to the farmer for applying the measure (which he does), but not for getting the result. It says: you need to rotate. Why? To pay a subsidy? Absolutely not.
Why don’t the applied measures work? Because overly generalized sustainable farming practices are proposed, while the diagnosis needs to be made individually. In the first case, the results are not measured, and the farmer risks their yield, i.e., their finances. No-till farming is not a cure-all. Yields initially drop because it’s not always clear how to apply it properly. When failures occur for several consecutive years, farmers often revert to old methods. When a farmer wants to adopt a new practice, they always think it over carefully. If they are told, “stop applying fertilizers,” they often think that their crops won’t grow, yields will decrease, and so will their income. So, what should be done? This is where farmers need support – during the 3 to 5 years required to transition to sustainable farming. Until they fully understand all the processes. You can’t suddenly stop using the existing technologies in a farm overnight, especially if the soil has been degraded since the agricultural industrialization era. Soil is a complex, living organism, and it requires an individualized approach.
The carbon farming programme and carbon credits are based on measurable results. Most importantly, farmers are provided with individual knowledge and taught the holistic essence of soil. First, historical soil information is collected (what crops were grown, what fertilizers were used and how, what technologies were applied, etc.), followed by soil analysis, consultations, and more. Then, a soil restoration program is developed, tailored to each farm’s specific issues. There are no farms without challenges. Nevertheless, our farmers are remarkable. They understand the situation, respond accordingly, apply best practices, show interest in the experiences of both local and international farmers and experts, adapt to new methods, and see results.
What processes occur in the soil when carbon is sequestered? And how much should humans (not)interfere with them?
First and foremost, the soil must be healthy, meaning alive. Carbon acts as a restorative agent, but it accumulates only after the soil’s natural vital processes have been restored.
Soil is home to countless microorganisms. Every time we pass through with a plow, we disrupt everything. Therefore, one of the key measures is minimal tillage, which allows the soil’s mycelium to recover. Through this mycelium, plants communicate, and microorganisms migrate.
A plant’s structure consists of carbon, nitrogen, and a variety of other microelements. The symbiosis between the plant and soil microbiology must be restored. We need to feed the soil’s inhabitants with plant diversity, which is why we emphasize crop rotation and cover crops. Around each plant root, different microorganisms thrive, their populations grow, and all other processes accelerate. Microbiology provides minerals to the plant, and in return, the plant feeds microorganisms with carbon (also known as sugar), which it absorbs from the atmosphere.
By the way, a lush green field doesn’t necessarily mean everything is fine. Yes, the plants are growing and have been fertilized, but the carbon sequestration process is not happening. Why? Because the soil is over-fertilized. Many people think that adding a bit more fertilizer is better. However, when there are too many nutrients, the plant starts to weaken and invites various pests to feed on it.
As we know, the sugar content in a plant fluctuates: it is low in the morning, rises during the day (due to photosynthesis), and falls in the evening. At this point, the plant releases sugar and carbon (about 40%) into the soil through its roots, using the rest to grow itself. If the plant is unhealthy, although it may appear green, its sugar content remains high. This means the process is not happening, and the plant is not performing its function. This is a result of over-fertilization. The plant doesn’t need to interact with the soil microbiology because it gets enough food from the farmer. This is the complex process: how to gradually reduce fertilizer use without harming the yield and to initiate the carbon sequestration process through photosynthesis.
Another important task is to leave stubble and plant residues in the fields. They return to the soil everything the plants have absorbed, plus a surplus of organic carbon. This is how the fertile layer accumulates and builds up. If a farmer collects about 5–6 tons/ha of grains, they should leave about 3 tons/ha of stubble and plant residues. If they collect the straw, the micronutrients do not return to the soil, which means additional fertilization is needed.
We should discuss fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or plant diseases separately in a meeting. I just want to say that every problem has a root, and that root is deep, arising not in a single day.
You mentioned the history of the soil. One could say that it rewards the most patient?
Absolutely. It’s not a process that happens overnight. It’s very important to get to know the soil – to understand its history, to dive deeper, to familiarize yourself with your soil, and to build a relationship with it. Then, it will serve you well and gratefully for a long time.
Once the soil is tested, you won’t see the real situation. I always ask: what will you learn from the tests? Nitrogen today is one thing, tomorrow it may be different. Test results show freely available micronutrients, but there are also those that aren’t visible. When we summarize the soil test results from farmers, we see that there is a significant lack of calcium, boron, zinc, and magnesium in the soil. If these micronutrients are imbalanced, their deficiency causes many problems. For example, if the soil is compacted, it’s not the heavy tractor’s fault. This process happens due to a lack of calcium. How to apply it is also something you need to know. In Lithuania, there are about 8–10 different soil types. Even in one field, there can be four different soil types. Each of them has its own potential to sequester carbon. Therefore, the measures must be applied differently.
In the “HeavyFinance” carbon farming programme , we offer farmers the implementation of 5 practices. We work with farmers gradually to ensure that the farm’s productivity is not affected. We have noticed that farmers who have been participating in the program for the third year can confidently reduce fertilizer use by 20%.
After 3-4 years, the results of sustainable farming practices will become evident, bringing significantly greater economic benefits: the farmer will harvest a larger and higher-quality yield with fewer resources such as time, labor, fuel, fertilizers, etc. Additionally, by accumulating carbon credits and selling them, they will receive extra funds.
For now, farmers see the benefits of carbon sequestration farming through the financial lens. But over time, they will surely understand and realize that the soil is grateful and rewards the most patient ones. Carbon sequestration is a shared benefit for all participants: the soil and its microbiology, the farmer, nature (the climate), and society.
We invite all those interested in the carbon farming programme to contact us.
Thank you for your insights.
The article was written by: Ramunė Sutkevičienė, Editor-in-Chief of agroakademija.lt.
