INTRODUCTION

The development of markets for carbon offsets has important implications for farmers all over the world. Farmers in both the developed and developing world have the potential to reduce and sequester carbon through farming practices such as no-till or conservation agriculture, precision fertilizer application, and methane capture. These practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as result in additional benefits for farm productivity, soil quality, and water quality. All of these practices have the potential to be credited as carbon offsets if the right mechanisms were in place, whether in US legislation or an international treaty.

There are also practices such as avoided deforestation that have important implications for agriculture. For example, REDD or Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, is a mechanism that would credit farmers through the carbon market for keeping tropical forests standing. REDD has the potential to achieve significant reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries. It also has important implications for US farms like competitiveness and land use change. Read more about REDD in our white paper.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Check out the following websites for other international organizations focused on the role of agriculture in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
Carbon Coalition of Australia
Soil Conservation Council of Canada
COPA-COGECA Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives of Europe
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Avoided Deforestation Partners (ADP)

INTERNATIONAL PLATFORMS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURE

International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
COPA-COGECA Farmes and Agri-Cooperatives of Europe
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council
Global Donor Program for Rural Development
Tropical Forest and Climate Unity Agreement