METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVING AND REPORTING THE LEVEL OF SEQUESTERED CARBON IN THE SOIL IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
GHG Methodology
Title: METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVING AND REPORTING THE LEVEL OF SEQUESTERED CARBON IN THE SOIL IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Version: v3.0, March 2025
Owner: AGviser AG
Scope: Quantification of soil organic carbon sequestration in regenerative agriculture systems
Status: approved under Balkan Carbon Credits registry (BCCR)
Methodology Summary
The AGviser AG soil carbon methodology provides a standardized, scientifically grounded framework for quantifying and crediting soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural systems. It is designed for use under voluntary carbon market standards and enables high-integrity GHG removals through measurable changes in soil carbon stocks.
Applicable Project Types
- Cropland systems with improved soil and crop management
- Grassland and pasture systems implementing rotational or adaptive grazing
- Mixed-use or integrated crop-livestock systems
- Transitional systems shifting from conventional to regenerative practices
Eligible practices include no-till or reduced-till, cover cropping, crop diversification, organic amendments, optimized grazing, and other climate-smart interventions.
Geographical Scope
The methodology is applicable on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Baseline and Additionality Conditions
Baseline SOC stocks are established using direct measurements from farm plots.
Additionality is ensured through:
- Demonstration that project activities are not common practice or legally required
- Proof that the project would not be financially viable without carbon revenues
- Exclusion of activities receiving overlapping environmental subsidies (where applicable)
Emissions Removal Quantification Approach
The methodology quantifies CO₂ removals through the net increase in soil organic carbon in the project area. All estimates are conservative, and subject to third-party verification.
Measurement Method:
- Direct soil sampling with lab analysis
- Soil sampling of every plot in the farm
- Multi-depth sampling (e.g. 0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, 60-90 cm)
A 100 % soil sampling annually following a measure re-measure approach on every plot of the farm
GHG Components Addressed:
- CO₂ removals from SOC sequestration
- N₂O emissions related to fertilizer (optional reporting)
Net Emissions Formula:
Net GHG benefit = (SOC gain – fuel consumption – uncertainty – buffer allocation)
Crediting Period
Renewable 5-year periods
Monitoring and Reporting Approach
Project developers must:
- Submit detailed monitoring reports
- land management data
- Maintain robust data management systems and implement quality control procedures
- Prepare for third-party validation and verification
Environmental Integrity
- Prevents over-crediting through conservative assumptions
- Avoids double counting with unique project identifiers and registry transparency
- Ensures permanence with monitoring, reporting, and buffer insurance mechanisms
Licensing and Use
The methodology is licensed under: Custom License (© AGviser AG – All Rights Reserved)
Free to use for: Non-commercial, academic, and public review purposes
For commercial deployment (e.g. carbon project registration, credit issuance):
A formal license agreement is required.
To request a license, contact: licenses@agviser.org
Environmental Integrity, Sustainability Principles & SDG Alignment
Committed to ensuring that every aspect of our GHG methodology reflects the highest standards of environmental and ethical responsibility, our approach to carbon accounting is rooted in scientific integrity, sustainability, and social inclusiveness, supporting real climate impact and alignment with global goals for sustainable development.
Environmental Integrity
We recognize that high-integrity carbon accounting is essential for trust in carbon markets. Our methodology has been developed to ensure:
- Accurate and Conservative Quantification
All emissions removals are conservatively estimated, with rigorous sampling protocols. Carbon credits are issued only when removals are measurable, verifiable, and additional. - Prevention of Over-Crediting and Double Counting
The methodology includes strict safeguards such as unique project boundary definitions, registry integrity checks, and exclusion of overlapping claims or credit stacking. - Ensuring Permanence
Soil carbon is protected through long-term monitoring requirements, project duration criteria, and conservative buffer allocations to insure against reversals due to land-use change or non-compliance. - Risk Management
Projects are required to assess and mitigate risks related to leakage, land tenure, and management reversals. A buffer pool mechanism is applied, and transparent risk categorizations are used during validation and credit issuance.
Sustainability Principles
Beyond carbon, our methodology is designed to generate environmental and social co-benefits, in alignment with best practices in land-based climate solutions.
We are guided by the following principles:
- Do No Harm
No project should degrade environmental quality, displace communities, or result in adverse socio-economic impacts. - Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) (if applicable)
Where Indigenous Peoples or local communities are affected, the methodology requires evidence of voluntary and informed consent prior to project implementation. - Transparency and Participation
Public consultations are required for major updates. - Equity and Fairness
The methodology encourages equitable benefit sharing and fair land use practices, with special attention to the rights and roles of smallholders and local land stewards. - Enhancing Ecosystem Services
Projects implementing this methodology are expected to contribute to improvements in soil health, biodiversity, water retention, and climate resilience.
Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Our methodology supports multiple UN SDGs, particularly those related to climate, agriculture, and land stewardship.
 | SDG 13 – Climate Action |
 | SDG 15 – Life on Land |
 | SDG 2 – Zero Hunger |
 | SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production |
Public consultation section
We are committed to transparency, scientific integrity, and the inclusion of diverse stakeholder perspectives. As part of our governance and review framework, all significant updates to our methodologies and supporting documents are subject to public consultation.
This section will host announcements of ongoing or upcoming consultations related to our methodology, tools, and policies. We invite all interested stakeholders — including project developers, farmers, scientists, NGOs, and registry partners — to review draft documents and provide constructive feedback.
If a consultation is in progress, details will be published here, including the consultation period, relevant documents, and submission deadlines.
How to Submit a Comment
Stakeholders can submit feedback during the consultation period by using the contact form below.
Please include the following in your message:
- Title of your comment:
Public Consultation – [Name of Document] - Your affiliation or stakeholder group (optional)
- Your feedback, questions, or recommendations
All comments received during public consultations will be reviewed carefully and, where relevant, integrated into final versions of the documents. A summary of received feedback and corresponding responses will be published upon conclusion of each consultation.
Contact Us
For inquiries, pilot collaboration or clarification regarding the public consultation process, please contact us.
No Active Consultations at the Moment
