CDR Project Developer Interview - Agoro Carbon Alliance

'Unbound Showcase' is a globe-spanning series of interviews with pioneers of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). We’re questioning innovators, business leaders, policymakers, academics, buyers, and investors taking on the challenge of our lifetime—gigaton-scale carbon removal from the earth's atmosphere.

Today’s interview is with Giulia Sartori and Dylan Lubbe from carbon-market and agronomic experts Agoro Carbon Alliance . Guilia is the Head of Carbon, and Dylan is the Commercial Director for this innovative agricultural project developer.

“What is Agoro Carbon?”

Agoro Carbon is a leading carbon project developer dedicated to addressing the global carbon challenge through soil-based solutions. We collaborate closely with farmers and ranchers worldwide, supporting them in adopting conservation practices that enhance soil health and generate high-quality carbon credits. Our approach creates a new revenue stream for agricultural producers, provides them access to expert agronomic advice, increases their resilience, and contributes to climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration.?

Our mission at Agoro Carbon is to drive the global adoption of regenerative agriculture practices through scientifically robust carbon solutions. We aim to improve soil health and boost farmer prosperity while offering businesses a meaningful way to invest in a sustainable future. By investing in Agoro Carbon credits, you are supporting the transformation of agriculture on a global scale, benefiting both the environment and farming communities.

The primary objectives of our programs are to provide the financial, agronomic, and educational support needed for growers and ranchers to implement regenerative land management practices on croplands and pasturelands. These practices ensure sustainable and profitable agricultural production while positively impacting climate change. Implementing these practices leads to increased carbon sequestration rates in the soil, reduced soil disturbance and erosion, increased crop residue, improved water management, and enhanced forage quality and quantity. These improvements result in better soil, water, and air quality, greater biological diversity, and the provision of natural habitats and ecosystem functioning.

Our alliance members gain access to our Grower Success Team, a unique group of highly trained agronomists who are often producers themselves. This team is dedicated to simplifying the carbon generation process, ensuring our farmers and ranchers receive the support they need when they sign a contract.

Our Science Team ensures that our soil carbon quantification methods are accurate and robust. Utilizing best-in-class soil sampling designs, sample analysis, and modelling procedures, we guarantee the highest-quality agriculture carbon credits. Our experts are at the forefront of scientific research in soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring that our practices are effective and beneficial for both the environment and our agricultural partners.

"What was the inspiration that led to the creation of Agoro?"

Giulia Sartori - The inspiration behind the creation of Agoro Carbon stems from a deep commitment to addressing the urgent global challenge of climate change through innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. Recognizing agriculture's significant role in contributing to and mitigating climate change, we saw an immense opportunity to harness the power of soil carbon sequestration.

According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ), carbon sequestration in agriculture offers substantial potential to reduce emissions compared to other mitigation options. We realized that healthy soils are critical for a sustainable future due to their remarkable ability to capture and store carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

However, many conventional agricultural practices have led to soil degradation, erosion, and a decline in soil organic matter. We understood that by catalyzing the shift to regenerative agricultural practices, we could restore soil health and create a powerful tool for carbon capture. This dual benefit inspired us to take action.

Yara International , a global leader in agricultural solutions, underscores our mission by providing us with the resources and support needed to scale our impact. Yara's extensive network and expertise in agronomy reinforce our mission, enabling us to deliver high-quality, science-based carbon solutions to farmers and businesses worldwide.

In essence, the creation of Agoro Carbon was driven by the vision of transforming agriculture into a cornerstone of climate action. We were inspired by the opportunity to leverage soil carbon sequestration to build a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future for farmers, ranchers, and the planet while addressing the substantial mitigation potential highlighted by the IPCC.

"How do you see the agricultural carbon credit market evolving in the next 5-10 years?"

Dylan Lubbe - The agricultural carbon credit market is poised for significant growth and transformation over the next 5-10 years. Several key trends and developments will likely shape its evolution:

As more businesses and governments commit to achieving net-zero emissions targets, the demand for high-quality carbon credits will surge. Agricultural carbon credits, in particular, will be in high demand due to their multiple co-benefits, such as improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing agricultural resilience. Not to mention its alignment with many sustainable development goals.

Technological advancements will play a crucial role in the market's development. Innovations in remote sensing, soil sampling, and data analytics will continue to improve the accuracy and efficiency of carbon measurement and verification processes. This will underscore the credibility and transparency of agricultural carbon credits, making them more attractive to buyers.

As awareness of the financial and environmental benefits of carbon farming grows, more farmers and ranchers will participate in carbon credit programs. This increased participation will be facilitated by better education, financial incentives, and technical support from organizations like Agoro Carbon. Furthermore, farmers will adopt regenerative practices for carbon credits and their overall benefits, such as improved crop yields, enhanced soil fertility, and better water management.

Finally, project finance models seen in developed markets will emerge to support the agricultural carbon market. These financial structures will unlock upfront capital for farmers as we work to further de-risk their participation in carbon projects.

The agricultural carbon credit market will become vital to global climate action strategies. Sustainable farming practices will help mitigate climate change and promote a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.

"How are you approaching scalability, and what tools or strategies are required or have proven most effective?"

Dylan Lubbe - Scalability is at the heart of Agoro Carbon's strategy to address climate change. Our solution is scalable and available today and urgently needed to meet the IPCC's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050. At Agoro Carbon, our approach to scalability hinges on several critical strategies.

Our financial proposition to participants is key to our success in scaling up. This goes beyond the technical and agronomic support we provide. Our proposition addresses the initial investments associated with transitioning to regenerative practices, which are often prohibitive for many farmers and ranchers. In addition, by providing a reliable income stream through carbon credits, we enhance the financial viability and attractiveness of implementing these practices. This financial support is crucial in mitigating the economic barriers and risks associated with regenerative agriculture while incentivizing and rewarding its adoption.

Our projects employ improved grazing, biodiversity seeding, reduced tillage, and cover crops. These methods effectively sequester carbon, improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and enhance farming operations' resilience. These benefits add further value to the participants, making the practices sustainable in the long term. Importantly, we actively engage directly with farmers and provide them with the necessary training and resources. This empowers them to adopt and?sustain regenerative practices tailored to their unique conditions, enhancing their effectiveness and adoption rates.

In summary, Agoro Carbon's financial proposition, combined with the benefits of regenerative agriculture practices on farmer operations, underscored by farmer engagement, creates a robust framework for scalability. Our approach addresses the urgent need for carbon reduction in agriculture and aligns with the IPCC's recommended pathway for achieving Net Zero by 2050. By enhancing financial viability and mitigating risks, we are effectively catalyzing the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices on a large scale.

"How does Agoro Carbon Alliance balance the needs of carbon sequestration with food security concerns?"

Giulia Sartori —Agoro Carbon promotes regenerative agriculture practices that synergise carbon sequestration and food security. Improving soil health, water management, and biodiversity enhances soils' ability to sequester carbon and ensure stable agricultural productivity. This dual impact makes regenerative agriculture a cornerstone of sustainable development, effectively addressing climate change and food security challenges.

Soil health is foundational to both carbon sequestration and agricultural productivity. Regenerative practices improve soil structure and fertility, increasing its organic matter content, which enhances carbon capture and storage. Healthier soils support robust microbial communities and root systems, further contributing to long-term carbon storage, higher crop yields and more resilient farming systems.

Effective water management is critical for both carbon sequestration and agricultural productivity. Regenerative practices reduce erosion and runoff, ensuring a consistent water supply to crops, which is especially important in drought-prone regions. This leads to stable crop yields and reduces farming systems' vulnerability to climate variability.

Biodiversity is key to resilient and productive agricultural systems. It helps control pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical inputs. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to environmental changes and extreme weather, benefiting both carbon sequestration and food production.

In conclusion, regenerative agriculture practices promoted by Agoro Carbon create a powerful synergy between carbon sequestration and food security. Improving soil health, water management, and biodiversity enhances soils' ability to sequester carbon and ensure stable agricultural productivity. This dual impact makes regenerative agriculture a cornerstone of sustainable development, effectively addressing climate change and food security challenges.

How is Agoro Carbon positioned within the CDR market and why is it important for buyers to purchase Agoro Carbon credits

Dylan Lubbe — Agoro Carbon is strategically positioned as a key provider of high-quality nature-based solutions that sequester carbon and offer social and environmental benefits. Agoro Carbon credits are essential to a diversified carbon credit procurement strategy aligned with Net Zero goals.

As highlighted in the revised Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting, there is a significant shortfall in the supply of credible carbon removals. The availability of high-quality carbon removal and storage solutions needs to be increased to meet the growing demand under IPCC scenarios aligned with the Paris Agreement. Agoro Carbon’s projects provide a scalable and immediate solution to this gap by leveraging regenerative agricultural practices that can be rapidly deployed across diverse geographies.

Nature-based solutions, such as those implemented by Agoro Carbon, are critical for addressing the drivers and impacts of climate change. These solutions sequester carbon and protect and restore ecosystems, essential for achieving global net zero targets and supporting adaptation to climate change impacts. Agoro Carbon’s focus on soil carbon enhancement and sustainable land management directly contributes to the health and resilience of ecosystems, making them vital for long-term carbon storage.

Agoro Carbon projects deliver a broad range of co-benefits beyond carbon sequestration. These include improved soil health, enhanced water retention, increased biodiversity, and greater resilience of farming communities to climate change. By supporting Agoro Carbon credits, buyers are investing in projects that provide critical ecosystem services, contribute to biodiversity conservation, and support sustainable agricultural practices, aligning with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Agoro Carbon ensures the integrity and permanence of its carbon credits through a rigorous MRV framework. This includes physical soil sample measurements for baselining and verification, enhanced by precise modelling. Such robust MRV processes ensure that the carbon sequestered is accurately quantified and maintained over the long term, giving buyers confidence in the quality and durability of the credits they purchase.

Agoro Carbon promotes strong permanence characteristics and adaptive management practices. This includes ongoing monitoring and support for farmers to maintain regenerative practices, ensuring that the sequestered carbon remains stored. By diversifying their carbon offset portfolio to include Agoro Carbon credits, buyers can enhance the resilience of their climate action strategies.

Agoro Carbon offers scalable solutions that can be implemented now, addressing the urgent need for immediate climate action. This contrasts with some technology-based approaches that may have longer deployment lead times. Buyers support projects that deliver immediate carbon sequestration benefits by investing in Agoro Carbon credits and contribute to the rapid scaling of nature-based solutions.

Organizations are increasingly setting targets to reduce negative impacts and increase positive impacts on nature and people. Agoro Carbon’s projects align with these corporate sustainability goals by offering carbon credits that support ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management. This alignment ensures that companies’ carbon offset investments contribute to broader environmental and social objectives, enhancing their overall sustainability impact.

Ultimately, Agoro Carbon is well-positioned within the CDR market as a provider of high-quality, scalable, nature-based solutions that deliver multiple benefits beyond carbon sequestration. For buyers, purchasing Agoro Carbon credits means supporting immediate and effective climate action, investing in the health and resilience of ecosystems, and aligning with global sustainability targets. This diversified approach addresses the urgent need for carbon removals and supports the broader goals of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Unbound Summits’ mission focuses on unrivalled connections, new insights and unbound CDR opportunities. You can learn more about Agoro Carbon Alliance’s unique approach to sequestering carbon on farmland here .