Increase in soil carbon

What it is and what it does in the field

Soil richer in organic matter: retains more water, is more resistant to drought, and generates credits. Practices allowed by European rules:

1. 01Cover crops, rotations, residues left in the field
2. 02Less soil disturbance, together with practices that bring more carbon to the soil
3. 03Converted coppice to meadow
4. 04Rotational pasture, mixed cuttings, forage converted to permanent meadow
5. 05Amendments and organic fertilizers

Who can do it

1. 01Land: arable land and meadows on common agricultural soils.
2. 02History: at least 3 years of documented land use before the start.
3. 03Excluded: land where trees or hedges are removed, or where drainage was carried out lowering the water table as of January 1, 2023. For meadow practices, also those where a permanent meadow has become cultivated since 2023.
4. 04Economic additionality: without the credits, the project you are undertaking must operate at a loss or yield less than how you currently use the land, or how you would use it at steady state without the project. A difference of even €1 is sufficient. This is demonstrated by a comparison between two economic plans, the project and the land use without the project, which the certification body checks.

For how many years

What is measured and how often

European rule: at least every 5 years.

Climate Standard's advice: every 3, 4, or 5 years, because the soil changes slowly.

Putting numbers to the credits

With European rules, from measured tonnes to credits, here is how:

1. 01Measured tonnes: the extra carbon compared to how the land would have been without the project.
2. 02− Measurement uncertainty: at least 8%.
3. 03− Activity emissions: diesel, transport, fertilizers, lime.
4. 04− Collective reserve: from 2 to 10%, more where there are risks of floods or landslides.
5. 05= Credits: one per ton of CO2 equivalent, each with its code.

Soil credits remain valid until the end of monitoring, which the manager can extend.

Market reference: approximately 45 € per ton for agricultural credits from the French Label Bas-Carbone ([I4CE, January 2026](https://www.i4ce.org/en/carbon-removals-carbon-farming-devil-demand-climate/)).

Benefits for nature

Every project also brings a benefit to biodiversity: hedges, flower strips, less tillage for soil fauna. It is a European requirement and an extra argument for those who buy your credits.

Typical errors and what it is not

1. 01The starting point is always the first survey of the activity period, even for the fifth certification.
2. 02A high discount for uncertainty in the first years is normal: the accumulated variation is still small compared to the measurement error.

1. 01It does not replace the CAP: however, it can be added to it.

Documents

How much it costs

No commission on the sale of credits. Receive a written quote before starting.

Other activities

1. 01Agroforestry: trees, rows, or hedges on land that remains agricultural.↗
2. 02Nitrous fertilizer reduction (N2O): less nitrogen fertilizer, or better used, without losing yield; only together with increased carbon in the soil or agroforestry.↗
3. 03New forest (afforestation): trees planted or sown on a meadow, cultivated field, or land with few scattered trees in the last twenty years.↗

Can you generate credits?

Provide your land details: we will tell you if it makes sense to start.