Carbon Market Transparency and Farmer Impact

Three issues in the carbon market that need the attention of all stakeholders. Additionality: What is additionality? Project activities where emissions reductions are “additional to those that otherwise would occur” without project implementation. A carbon project is additional if the emissions reductions or removals would not have occurred without revenue from climate finance. What is the issue in the current carbon market regarding additionality? Several carbon credit companies are onboarding projects that do not follow the principle of additionality. For example, Rudiben (hypothetical) was already a regenerative cotton farmer, and Preet Singh had been using a happy seeder for five years to manage residue. Carbon firms collect their data for carbon credits. 2. Permanence: What is it? Permanence in carbon markets refers to the duration that sequestered or removed carbon remains stored out of the atmosphere, minimizing the risk of re-release. A farmer may adopt a regenerative, low-carbon method, such as AWD or direct seeding of rice, based on a one-time intervention by a carbon finance company. If the farmer faces losses, they may discontinue the practice in the second season. What is the issue with permanence? It is critical to ensure that carbon remains stored in the soil or avoided in the food system. A farmer may become an emitter again if they revert to conventional practices. 3. Equity: What is it? All farmers, small and large, women, lower caste groups, and native tribes, should be treated equally by the carbon market. Issue of inequity? Large farmers bring more land per person and therefore lower operational costs (e.g., onboarding and data management per farmer). As a result, companies tend to prefer large farmers. The market is not an equalizer here, as carbon markets are selective in onboarding farmers. The industry may argue that this is due to small landholdings, but has this challenge driven efforts to onboard farmer collectives? How can registries like Verra and Gold Standard ensure that these issues are addressed? I am looking for solutions to these challenges. What are your thoughts? Diageo is planning to host a workshop with the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture to discuss these issues on 28 May in Hyderabad. If your organisation is keen to join the discussion, please DM me. We can also arrange virtual participation. #carbonmarket #carboncredit #GoldStandard #Verra #regenerativeagriculture PS: Inspired by the study by Vijesh Krishna and A. G. Adeeth Cariappa (PhD), which covers all three points in detail with real examples.

A new study is calling agricultural sustainability claims into question. The agricultural industry accounts for roughly one-third of all human-caused GHG emissions globally. Meat and dairy production are known to be major contributors to global climate change. With consumer concerns on the rise, agriculture companies have looked to sustainability claims to reassure customers that their products are sustainable. However, a recent study investigated 1,233 sustainability claims from across the industry and found that shockingly few could be fully supported: “We… examined each of these 1,233 claims using the Nemes et al. greenwashing framework and found that 98% (1,213) could be categorized as greenwashing. The common use of vague language (e.g., ‘sustainable food producer’) and limited information surrounding how emissions are being measured (e.g., ‘data-driven approach’) call into question the credibility of these claims. Rather than pursuing transformative change, many companies appear to prioritize minor efficiency gains and heavily publicize small-scale or pilot initiatives that do little to impact the broader environmental footprint of animal agriculture.” I recently wrote about a greenwashing settlement out of New Zealand with multinational dairy producer Fonterra. In that case, Fonterra conceded to violating marketing laws by labeling their beef as “100% grass fed.” If the results of this study are correct, they are just one of many cases of rampant greenwashing in the industry. However, the greenwashing framework employed by the study is an academic standard, not a legal one. While many of these statements may not be fully supported by data, they may not rise to the level of a legally actionable offense. Even still, companies should exercise caution. If there is a widespread practice of deceptive marketing, the plaintiff’s bar won’t be far behind. It’s always best to avoid misleading statements and apply sustainable marketing best practices to avoid greenwashing. #greenwashing #sustainability #emissions #ESG By Editor Zachary Barlow. For more timely blogs and practical resources, visit PracticalESG.com!

For years at ECOFI, we have been working to land a simple message: Europe already has nutrients – the real challenge is making better use of them. Across the EU, we face nutrient pollution hotspots, yet we also have a highly innovative sector capable of revalorising these resources – built on decades of practical, regional expertise. And still, circular fertilising products have too often been seen as a “waste solution.” That narrative is finally starting to shift. ♻️ Circular and organic-based fertilisers are not waste solutions. They are high-quality products that: – support farmers with reliable nutrient sources – reduce dependency on imports – strengthen food security and resilience – and address nutrient losses at the same time But they are only part of the solution. 🌱 Europe also needs to fully leverage complementary tools – from plant biostimulants that improve nutrient uptake and resilience to a strong domestic mineral fertiliser base that ensures stable supply. ⚖️ The answer to today’s fertiliser challenge is not to deregulate spreading – it is to build a smarter, more resilient system to scale-up efficient, transportable fertilising products derived from organic materials instead. What’s changed is this: the current crisis has moved the goalposts. There is growing recognition that, with the right regulatory framework and investment signals, scaling up circular and organic-based fertilisers – alongside other key solutions – is not optional. It is central to Europe’s competitiveness, sovereignty and security. Good to finally see this conversation gaining real traction. If you’re working on these issues or thinking about what comes next under the EU Fertiliser Action Plan – reach out! Happy to exchange.

To follow-up my post last week about our local sustainability initiative, I am proud to share our global "The Positive Cup Sustainability Report 2025"   This report reflects the collective work of teams and partners across the value chain to drive progress on regenerative agriculture, climate action, and circularity — at the mid point towards our 2030 ambitions.   Among some of the key 2025 highlights: 🌱 For the first time, we achieved -3% net GHG emissions reductions vs. 2018 baseline 🌱 85% of our Nespresso Plan green coffee comes from farms practicing regenerative agriculture 🌱 Over 5.3K smallholder farmers were enrolled in the LIRP pilot run in Caldas, Colombia 🌱 We achieved 33% global recycling rate of our aluminium coffee capsules 🌱 We were recertified as B Corp with a 25% higher score than the first time, reaching 105.4   Grateful to be part of this journey.   #ThePositiveCup #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateAction #SBTi #Recyclin

Pulling back the curtain on meat and dairy greenwashing isn’t about blame; it’s about clearing the way for real solutions that nourish people while restoring the planet. Feeding 10 billion people by 2050 requires rethinking how we produce protein, how we use land, and how we align markets with planetary boundaries. TIME provides a stark reminder of how urgently we need to transform the global food system. As the article notes, “98% of claims examined fall under the category of greenwashing,” revealing how far animal protein producers are from meaningful climate action. Protein production is the largest driver of nature loss and incremental change won’t be our saving grace. We need bold, systems‑level action—and we need it now. Our food system uses 60% of all land on Earth and contributes one‑third of global emissions. What’s worse, food‑driven deforestation and emissions are still trending upward, even as the world races toward climate deadlines. While our food system is the second largest source of global emissions, agriculture has the potential to become one of the most powerful climate solutions we have. Soil stores more carbon than our atmosphere and land vegetation combined. With the right incentives and innovations, our food system can shift from a major emitter to a major carbon sink. Sustainable agriculture can recarbonize landscapes, restore ecosystems, and sequester vast amounts of carbon—if we shift incentives, scale animal ag innovation, and accelerate the transition to plantbased eating along with alternative proteins. That’s the kind of systems‑level transformation we mean. Transforming food and agriculture is a critical step toward feeding 10 billion people without degrading the planet. It calls for moving beyond pilot projects and marketing claims toward real solutions that nourish people, protect nature, and stabilize the climate. The future of food depends on it. https://lnkd.in/ejYjiVNq

Numbers on a page are just numbers. Until you ask what they actually change. With our Impact Report 2025, we’re sharing what five years of genuine commitment looks like - progress, complexity and all - across emissions, sourcing, packaging, oceans and people. A 47% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions vs 2018 means our own operations are significantly less carbon-intensive than they were seven years ago - proof that growing a global food business and reducing your footprint can go hand in hand. The challenge doesn’t stop there: the largest share of impact sits across the wider food system, and that’s where we continue to work with partners to drive change. Zero coal means we've eliminated one of the most carbon-intensive energy sources from our operations entirely - a clear line, delivered through deliberate commitment. 90% sustainable packaging means the vast majority of our packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable - building circularity into the food system from the inside out. And scaling that impact depends on how the broader system evolves alongside it. 88% of our marine ingredients certified or from Fishery Improvement Projects means we're actively supporting responsibly managed fisheries - contributing to a more transparent and accountable aquaculture supply chain across complex global markets. 28% women hired and 29% in senior management means more diverse perspectives are helping shape decisions about the future of food - strengthening how we operate and grow. What we've learned is that in a system as interconnected as food, no number stands alone. And neither does the work behind it. 🌱 📖 Read the full 2025 Impact Report: https://trouwntr.tn/2YI #FeedingTheFuture #ImpactReport2025 #Aquaculture #AnimalNutrition #ESG #SHVfamily

Not just a pretty picture. This is the basis of identifying sustainability related risks and opportunities in organic agriculture. The two biggest risks are environmental harm to the production engine, and the human health harm to our consumers. The greatest opportunities are preservation of our natural environment, and safe food and fibre we produce.

Driving sustainability in agriculture especially within cocoa value chains requires far more than knowledge transfer. As Sustainability Field Officers, we often focus on training: good agricultural practices, environmental protection, and compliance with standards. But experience on the field quickly reveals a critical gap; information alone does not guarantee ownership. Farmers do not change behavior simply because they understand what is right. Real, lasting change happens when sustainability becomes personally meaningful and economically relevant to them. So the question is: how do we move from awareness to ownership? From my field experience, a few approaches stand out: Incentive Alignment: Sustainability must connect to improved livelihoods. Whether through premium pricing, yield improvement, or cost savings, farmers need to see clear, tangible benefits. Community-Led Structures: Farmer groups, cooperatives, and local champions are far more effective in driving accountability than external enforcement. Peer influence remains one of the strongest behavioral drivers. Demonstration Over Instruction: Seeing is believing. Model farms and pilot plots often achieve what multiple training sessions cannot practical proof that sustainable practices work. Cultural Integration: Sustainability messaging must be localized aligned with existing beliefs, traditions, and community priorities. When it feels “foreign,” it rarely sticks. Shared Responsibility Narrative: Farmers should not feel like the burden of sustainability rests solely on them. It is a shared commitment across the value chain from exporters to consumers. At its core, sustainability is not a checklist, it is a mindset shift. And mindset shifts require trust, relevance, and consistent engagement. As practitioners, we must evolve from being trainers to becoming facilitators of ownership. Because in the end, sustainability only works when the farmer sees it not as an obligation but as their responsibility and their opportunity. #Sustainability #Cocoa #Agriculture #ClimateAction #FarmerEngagement #RuralDevelopment #ValueChains #EnvironmentalStewardship

A recent study looked at the meat and dairy industry's sustainability claims. The result? Not good. But hardly surprising given how destructive Big Meat is. 98% of Big Meat's sustainability claims are greenwash. https://lnkd.in/dbj6tX4V

This Earth Day, we’re reminded that sustainability is not only about intention, but about how systems are built. In poultry farming, scale brings both challenges and opportunities. What may appear as waste can become part of a more sustainable cycle when managed the right way. Through collaboration with trusted partners, farm by-products can be further processed into organic fertilize reducing waste and supporting a more circular system. At Chickin, we continue to focus on building better systems across the ecosystem, ensuring resources are managed responsibly from farm to beyond. Happy Earth Day🌏