Carbon farming project secures support to help with upfront costs

Quantum Commodity Intelligence – Several Canadian farms that are part of a regenerative agriculture carbon credit project are to receive grant funding from a trade group's environmental programme that will help reduce the upfront costs of developing the project.

Canada-based project developer Carbon RX said three farms in its Canadian Prairies Cropland Project have been enrolled in the Canola Council of Canada's 4R Advantage Grant, which pre-approves up to CAD128,000 ($95,850)  to support nitrogen management practices in agriculture and create more carbon credits.

"A key attribute of the Advantage Grant is the reimbursement of consulting fees for agronomic advice, best management practices, and soil testing," said Carson Sinclair, director of origination and marketing at Carbon RX, in a statement.  

The grant provides incentives to help growers initiate or advance '4R Nutrient Stewardship' on canola crops, which is a science-based approach to encourage nutrient management to enhance crop yields and reduce environmental impacts, Carbon RX said.

Last month, the company had a regenerative agriculture methodology – RX Regenerative Agriculture Protocol – approved by the Pure Sky registry and is now developing the Canadian Prairies Cropland Project based on the protocol.

It is partnering with farms to assist with the implementation of best management practices related to nitrogen management, fuel use, and overall soil fertility to generate carbon credits under the Pure Sky-approved methodology.

Sinclair told Quantum that the company is aiming for project approval on the Pure Sky registry in the first quarter of this year.