Over approximately the past 25 years, a market has been created to quantify and sell GHG reductions from agricultural practices. The commodity created through this process is called a carbon credit. A carbon credit is a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent in avoided GHG emissions or sequestered into the soil. An expanding array of carbon credit standards or protocols has been developed for agriculture. These protocols—which define the requirements for earning credits—currently exist for soil organic carbon, fertilizer management, anaerobic digesters, and enteric fermentation. The protocols that apply to dairies are listed below in the order of the greatest to least opportunity to generate credits for dairy producers. In an effort to bring credibility to the voluntary carbon market registries were formed. These registries created their own governance mechanisms and protocols and registered (tracked carbon credit tonnage generated from approved projects), and importantly, retired carbon credits when purchased by an entity (to prevent double counting). The registries operating in the U.S., some for over 20 years, are Verra, Climate Action Reserve, American Carbon Registry and the Gold Standard. Protocols applicable to U.S dairies are: Climate Action Reserve U.S. Livestock: This protocol was first available in 2007 and is currently on version 4, which was completed in 2013. It credits GHG emission reductions associated with the installation of a biogas control system for manure management on dairy cattle and swine farms. It has generated more than three million tons of credits for the voluntary carbon market from 72 projects. There is also a version of the protocol for the California Cap-and-Trade program, which has generated an additional 5.6 million tons from 78 projects in 18 states. Climate Action Reserve Soil Enrichment: This protocol was completed in 2020 and updated in 2021. It credits practices which reduce emissions and enhance soil carbon sequestration on agricultural lands through the adoption of sustainable agricultural land management activities. It has generated 22,225 tons of credits from one project. Verra Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management: This protocol was adopted in 2020 and is similar
CARBON CREDIT PROTOCOLS
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