Agroforestry Carbon Code

The Agroforestry Carbon Code project explored the potential for verifying and trading carbon credits from agroforestry systems in the UK. By testing methods on pilot sites, the project developed carbon measurement techniques and assessed financial viability.

The Soil Association led the project with support from the Woodland Trust, Scotland’s Rural College, Finance Earth, Scottish Forestry and the Organic Research Centre. 

The project found there is limited commercial viability for standalone carbon trading of agroforestry systems. It suggested a range of next steps, including: 

• Considering how the project’s high integrity project requirements might apply to the development of other carbon codes. 

• Examining the scope for other codes to verify carbon units from agroforestry projects using the methodology developed by the project. This may be complex due to differences in the way that woodland and agriculture/agroforestry are regulated, and specific ways that woodland carbon unit permanence is protected. 

• Considering whether carbon sequestration by in-field trees could be inset to help farms to achieve net zero status, and whether this could then support the sale of higher-priced net zero farm produce. 

• Considering the potential for aggregated agroforestry carbon projects, for example the viability of landscape-scale or farming cluster approaches, or of a whole-farm approach whereby in-field trees could be just one of a portfolio of a farm’s carbon opportunities.

You can find out more about the project on the Soil Association website.