Solution for calculating carbon sequestration released
Carbon sequestration is one of the solutions for the global climate challenge. It is about the long-term storage of carbon, for instance in plants and the soil. But how do you know if you’re effective in doing so? Then it is important to learn how much carbon is captured and sequestered. Therefore companies (including FrieslandCampina), global soil scientists and LCA specialists got together to build world’s first life-cycle assessment (LCA)-based methodology for calculating carbon sequestration in cattle production systems: C-Sequ. This is now available for pilot testing.
C-Sequ is designed to encourage the implementation of positive farm management practices that both promote and retain carbon in the soil and vegetation in a quantified way.
Margrethe Jonkman, Global Director Research & Development at FrieslandCampina adds: “Our farmers take all kinds of actions to reduce their climate impact, that’s part of our ambition for a carbon neutral future. Carbon sequestration is a crucial solution for that. The C-Sequ guidelines are a key tool to help measure the farmer’s efforts effectively and scientifically. It helps them to know how well they do or if there is room for improvement. Next to that, it can be a base to reward those efforts.’’
Although testing of the C-Sequ methodology is already underway in more than 100 different cattle production systems around the world, additional dairy and beef pilots are encouraged in order to maximise learning. Results from these trials, including potential improvements, will be incorporated into an updated methodology to be released next year. To download the C-Sequ guidelines, please click here. A feedback form can be found here.