Case
Agreena has developed a soil carbon platform to engage farmers in the transition to regenerative agriculture. The platform incorporates technologies for in-field monitoring and agricultural impact measurement.
Senior Lead, Sitra International Programmes
Senior Lead (on extended leave), Sitra International Programmes
Case type
Agriculture
Miscellaneous
Regenerative solutions
Published
3.4.2024
Conventional farming practices can contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and soil degradation. On-farm biodiversity loss, which affects soil in particular, is a problem in terms of both productivity and downstream eutrophication, resulting from fertiliser run-off. Farmers face challenges in transitioning to regenerative agriculture owing to financial constraints and the lack of robust monitoring mechanisms. This presents a barrier to unlocking the potential of croplands as natural carbon reservoirs and more biodiverse, resilient ecosystems.
Agreena’s soil carbon platform is a tool that supports farmers aiming to transition to regenerative agriculture. The platform includes advanced technologies such as satellite data, remote sensing and machine learning for in-field monitoring and verification of agricultural practices and outcomes. By connecting farmers to the voluntary carbon market, Agreena helps reduce the costs and risks related to the regenerative agriculture transition. The platform is a solution for carbon markets, agri-food businesses, public authorities and NGOs, allowing them to verify farm data, manage supply chains and target support programmes.
Regenerative agriculture has a vast potential from both a climate and biodiversity perspective. According to a Sitra study, it can deliver 5% of the biodiversity recovery in a circular 2050 scenario. However, to untap this potential, it is key to move from unsubstantiated claims to quantifying location-specific impacts
Regenerative agriculture has numerous positive biodiversity impacts, enabling less pollution and healthier soils, as well as water retention and reduced erosion. Soil is the world’s second-largest carbon sink, and by transitioning to farming practices in line with regenerative agriculture, farmers can reduce their carbon footprint and restore degraded soils as natural carbon reservoirs. Agreena’s soil carbon platform and fintech solutions have supported farmers with the conversion of more than two million hectares of arable farmland across 18 European countries.
Agreena’s soil carbon platform is internationally accredited and uses an IPCC-aligned scientific methodology. The company’s fintech solutions offer economic benefits to their clients, namely farmers, while the carbon removal achieved contributes to tackling climate change. Agreena operates internationally and has business opportunities beyond the carbon market to support NGOs, the agrifood industry, businesses and policymakers.
This example was picked from the list of Circular solutions for nature, published by Sitra in April 2024. The list contains a curated selection of Europe’s leading companies applying circular economy principles to tackle biodiversity loss.
Click below to see the full list of companies and download the handbook!