Regenerative Agriculture Project in South Africa
In South Africa, our flagship carbon farming programme is AgriCarbon™ which aims to rewards farmers for sustainable land management practices.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that aims to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and promote ecological resilience while also producing food. The basic principle of regenerative agriculture is to work with the natural systems rather than against them. It is an effective way of reducing greenhouse gases by turning the soil into a carbon sink and removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Project Impacts
Climate & Environment
- Increased soil carbon storage and supported diverse habitats for resilient ecosystems.
- Improved water retention and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Social & Economic
- Enhanced soil health, crop yields, and income through carbon credits, supporting local food security and farmer income.
- Boosted ecosystem services like water conservation and soil health, strengthening resilience to climate impacts.
Health
- Regenerative farming boosts soil health, producing crops with more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Reduced synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, minimising chemical exposure for farmers and consumers.
About The Project
AgriCarbon™ is South Africa’s leading carbon programme which assists and pays farmers for their carbon credits that they generate from their sustainable land management practices.
Since 2021, over 100 farmers have enrolled across 8 of our 9 provinces and the programme continues to grow.
AgriCarbon™ is distinguished by its:
- Scientific rigour
- Independent validation & verification
- Adherence to the highest quality standards and ethical principles
The vision for AgriCarbon™ is to continue to push the boundaries for quality and integrity, which earns the trust of farmers and the trust of the credit buyers within the carbon markets.
Background
The adoption of sustainable land management practices by farmers results in the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can be monetised through the sale of carbon credits. These credits provide a source of revenue for farmers to finance the capital investment needed to transition to regenerative farming, creating a positive impact on both the environment and their bottom line.
Collaboration for Impact
Underpinning the AgriCarbon™ programme’s success are partnerships with agricultural consultancies, research organisations, monitoring & evaluation service providers who work closely with our farmers to support their sustainability journey while increasing yields and decreasing inputs.
In addition, we are a founding member of ICROA, the internationally recognised organisation that monitors our working methods annually. This independent audit process, together with our expertly chosen certified climate projects, guarantees reliable offsetting.
Our partnerships
Impacts
Climate and Environment
- Carbon sequestration: Regenerative agriculture practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage, and agroforestry can increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. This helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change.
- Biodiversity: Enhanced by creating suitable habitats for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife. This can help to restore ecosystem function and resilience.
- Water conservation: Soil water-holding capacity is improved, reducing the need for irrigation and promoting water conservation.
- Reduced chemical inputs: Regenerative agriculture relies on natural inputs and reduces or eliminates the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Social and Economic
- Food security: Regenerative agriculture practices can improve soil health, crop yields, and diversity, which can increase food security for local communities.
- Economic benefits: Carbon credits generated from regenerative agriculture can provide additional income for farmers and land managers, while also incentivising sustainable land management practices.
- Community resilience: Regenerative agriculture practices can enhance ecosystem services, such as water conservation and soil health, which can improve community resilience to climate change and other environmental stresses.
Health
- Nutrient-dense food: Food grown on regenerative farms can have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants due to improved soil health, which leads to more nutrient-dense crops.
- Reduced exposure to toxins: The use of natural inputs reduces or eliminates the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides decreasing the amount of toxic chemicals that farmers and farm workers are exposed to, as well as the amount of chemical residues in the ecosystem and food that consumers eat
To learn more about AgriCarbon™ please visit agricarbon.co.za or contact us.
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