New Cover Crops Soil Organic Carbon Activity Module Released

Gold Standard has released a new Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Activity Module which focuses on cover crops planted to cover the bare soil during fallow periods to increase soil organic carbon (SOC). The new activity module, which is now available for use, was developed by TREES Consulting on behalf of Agoro Carbon Alliance US, Inc.

Good quality soil plays a vital role for a healthy planet. It enables the production of food to feed our growing population, and it absorbs and stores Greenhouse gases (GHG). If global emission targets are to be met, emissions from food production need to be significantly reduced and carbon sequestration opportunities within farmland need to be maximised.

Cover crops bring a multitude of benefits for soil: they decrease soil erosion, improve retention of nutrients and prevent their loss/run-off to vulnerable waterways, and increase soil organic carbon. They also increase the amount of water the soil can absorb and hold, the stability of the ground and boost the size and activity of the microbial population. Applicable globally, this new activity module provides a tangible incentive for farmers to plant cover crops and increase the carbon sequestration of their farmland.

Margaret Kim, Gold Standard CEO, said:

“If we are to thrive on a warming world we must find ways to feed a growing population without increasing greenhouse gas emissions or depleting our soils. This new activity module, under our Soil Organic Carbon Framework Methodology, provides tangible incentives for companies to take a step towards more sustainable food production.”

Dr. Martin Gehrig, Managing Partner at Trees Consulting said:

“The SOC Activity Module for cover crops, especially the possibility to apply it along with the Gold Standard tillage modules, allows greenhouse gas impact quantification to support the transition to true regenerative agriculture.”

Typically, crop fields are left bare (i.e. without plant growth) from the time of harvest until the next crop is planted. This new project activity introduces cover crops which cover and protect the soil from above and stabilise it from below with their root systems. This improves soil condition and increases the amount of carbon stored.