{"id":66,"date":"2025-10-23T13:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zerocarbono.org\/?page_id=66"},"modified":"2025-11-03T23:28:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T23:28:44","slug":"creditos-carbono-agricola-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zerocarbono.org\/en\/creditos-carbono-agricola-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Agricultural Carbon Credits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What are Agricultural Carbon Credits?<\/h2>\r\n

\r\n Agricultural carbon credits , or sustainable agriculture credits, are a mechanism that rewards agricultural and livestock producers for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or capture carbon in soils and biomass, making agricultural activity part of the climate solution.\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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How are they generated?<\/h2>\r\n

Through practices that:<\/p>\r\n \r\n

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\ud83c\udf31<\/div>\r\n

They sequester carbon in the soil:<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n
  • Direct sowing<\/strong> (no tillage).<\/li>\r\n
  • Cover crops and<\/strong> rotation.<\/li>\r\n
  • Agroforestry<\/strong> (integrating trees into crops or pastures).<\/li>\r\n
  • Use of biochar<\/strong> (soil-enhancing charcoal).<\/li>\r\n <\/ul>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \ud83d\udcc9<\/div>\r\n

    Reduce emissions:<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n
    • Efficient fertilizer management<\/strong> (less nitrous oxide, N\u2082O).<\/li>\r\n
    • Methane<\/strong> (CH\u2084) digesters in cattle manure.<\/li>\r\n
    • Sustainable grazing<\/strong> that prevents soil degradation.<\/li>\r\n <\/ul>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n
      \ud83c\udf33<\/div>\r\n

      They avoid deforestation:<\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Preservation of native<\/strong> forests on agricultural lands.<\/li>\r\n <\/ul>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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        How are they calculated?<\/h2>\r\n

        \r\n The stored carbon ( e.g. , tons of CO\u2082eq per hectare\/year) is quantified by:\r\n <\/p>\r\n \r\n

        \r\n
        \r\n
        \ud83d\udd2c<\/div>\r\n
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        Direct measurements<\/h4>\r\n

        (soil samples, drones, sensors).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

        \r\n
        \ud83d\udcca<\/div>\r\n
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        Scientific models<\/h4>\r\n

        ( eg : IPCC Tier 2 or 3).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

        \r\n
        \ud83d\udcbb<\/div>\r\n
        \r\n

        Digital platforms<\/h4>\r\n

        (remote sensing , IoT ).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

        \r\n

        The baseline<\/strong> (business-as-usual emissions without sustainable practices) is key to demonstrating additionality.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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        Main certifying agencies<\/h2>\r\n
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        \r\n

        Verra (VCS)<\/h4>\r\n

        VM0042 Methodology for agriculture.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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        Gold Standard<\/h4>\r\n

        Focus on small farmers.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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        Climate Action Reserve (CAR):<\/h4>\r\n

        Sustainable Agriculture Protocol.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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        Plan Vivo<\/h4>\r\n

        For community projects<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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        Additional benefits ( co-benefits )<\/h2>\r\n
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        \r\n
        \ud83d\udcaa<\/div>\r\n
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        Soil improvement<\/h4>\r\n

        Increased fertility, water retention.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

        \r\n
        \ud83e\udd8b<\/div>\r\n
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        Biodiversity<\/h4>\r\n

        Habitats for pollinators.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

        \r\n
        \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f<\/div>\r\n
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        Climate resilience<\/h4>\r\n

        Less erosion, better adaptation to droughts.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

        \r\n
        \ud83d\udcb0<\/div>\r\n
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        Rural economy:<\/h4>\r\n

        Extra income from credits + productivity.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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        Challenges<\/h2>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n \u26a0\ufe0f<\/span>\r\n High measurement and monitoring costs.<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
        \r\n \u26a0\ufe0f<\/span>\r\n Technical complexity (requires specialized advice)<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
        \r\n \u26a0\ufe0f<\/span>\r\n Risk of reversal ( e.g. , if the soil is tilled, carbon is released).<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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        Market prices<\/h2>\r\n
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        \r\n $10 - $30 USD<\/span>\r\n per ton of CO\u2082eq (premium for permanence and additional benefits).<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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        They depend on:<\/h4>\r\n
          \r\n
        • Certifier<\/strong> ( e.g. Gold Standard usually pays more).<\/li>\r\n
        • Co-benefits<\/strong> ( e.g. if it includes biodiversity or social impact).<\/li>\r\n
        • Corporate demand<\/strong> (companies with ESG goals).<\/li>\r\n <\/ul>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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          Who buys these credits?<\/h2>\r\n
          \r\n
          \r\n
          \ud83e\udd64<\/div>\r\n

          Food and beverage companies<\/h4>\r\n

          ( e.g. Nestl\u00e9, Danone).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

          \r\n
          \ud83d\udc55<\/div>\r\n

          Fashion brands<\/h4>\r\n

          with sustainable supply chains.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

          \r\n
          \ud83c\udfe2<\/div>\r\n

          Corporations with Net Zero goals<\/h4>\r\n

          ( e.g. Microsoft, Amazon).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

          \r\n
          \ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f<\/div>\r\n

          Governments<\/h4>\r\n

          to meet climate commitments.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n

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          Future trends<\/h2>\r\n
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          \ud83d\udef0\ufe0f Technology<\/h4>\r\n

          Blockchain for traceability, satellites for monitoring.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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          \ud83d\udcc8 Demand on the rise<\/h4>\r\n

          Due to the focus on \" Carbon\" Insetting (trade-offs within the value chain).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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          \ud83c\udf3f Biodiversity integration<\/h4>\r\n

          Combined credits (carbon + biodiversity).<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n