DNV verifies Agreena’s pioneering soil carbon programme

For the third year running, Danish climate solutions company, Agreena, has had its soil carbon programme validated and verified by independent assurance and risk management provider, DNV.

DNV has confirmed that the greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting approach used in Agreena’s programme continues to meet the international accounting standard ISO 14064-2, and that the GHG reductions and removals resulting from farmers adopting regenerative practices are authentic and traceable.

Agreena helps farmers access carbon finance to accelerate the global shift to regenerative agriculture and is currently working with more than 2,300 farmers across 4.5 million hectares in 20 countries.

Farmers can reduce their on-farm emissions and sequester carbon dioxide in their soil through the implementation of practices such as reduced soil disturbance, use of cover crops, use of organic fertilisers, and optimal residue management. Agreena’s pioneering soil carbon programme quantifies these emission reductions and removals and is able to generate finance for farmers through the sales of carbon credits, insets and data.

These are of particular value to companies seeking to support climate projects beyond their value chain and food and drink companies who are working to decarbonise their supply chains.

“Agreena is incredibly proud to have achieved verification from our highly respected assurance partner, DNV, for the third year running. DNV verification and compliance with the global standard ISO 14064-2 shows our clients how highly we value the integrity of our programme, and reassures our farmers that the impact of their efforts are fully recognised and valued. Agreena invests heavily in our dMRV capabilities for this very reason – it drives value and confidence in the soil carbon sector and will underpin the scaling of regenerative agriculture” said Simon Haldrup, CEO of Agreena.

“Regenerative farming can play an important role in tackling greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net zero targets – but only if all stakeholders can be certain that the carbon impacts are accurately monitored and measured. DNV is delighted to support the transition towards regenerative agriculture through the validation and verification of Agreena’s robust programme, ensuring a win-win situation for farmers and companies accounting for GHG emission reductions and removals,” said Geir Fuglerud, CEO – Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV.

As part of the audit, in-person farm visits were carried out by independent auditors to ensure farmers implemented the regenerative practices that they had committed to.

DNV validated that Agreena’s methodology:

●     Provides accurate reporting, eliminating the risk of double counting or inclusion of unsupported removals.

●     Measures emissions reduction/removal accurately.

●     Establishes stringent, transparent, and repeatable monitoring procedures.

Ends

Notes to Editors

  1. DNV has been the assurance partner for Agreena since 2021 undertaking an annual audit for the specific standard of accounting for GHG emissions reductions and removals.
  2. ISO 14064-2:2019 provides a standardised approach for quantification, monitoring and reporting of GHG emission reductions and/or removals, to ensure they can be compared across GHG programmes. Compliance with ISO 14064-2:2019 allows Agreena to issue and sell Ag+ certificates that represent verified GHG reductions and removals, providing companies with robust data to support their own supply chain decarbonisation and reporting.
  3. Agreena is also seeking registration with Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) under its VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management.
  4. Agreena provides climate assets and solutions, supporting its ambition to scale regenerative agriculture globally, while restoring nature and delivering many additional benefits. Agreena’s solutions range from nature-based carbon credits, GHG accounting of on farm emissions, impact measures and bespoke data deliveries.
  5. ‘Regenerative agriculture is an inclusive agroecosystems approach for conserving land and soil, biodiversity, and improving ecosystem services within farming systems. It focuses on the regeneration of living soil, improved micro hydrology, and conserving biodiversity at all levels while enhancing inputs use efficiency and ecosystem system services.’ Food and Agriculture Organisation. 
  6. Nature-based solutions, including improving the management of working lands, such as farms, are among the top five most effective strategies for mitigating carbon emissions by 2030. [Source: IPCC, Sixth Assessment Report]