Food and beverage companies face increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint. With up to 90% of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions stemming from Scope 3 activities in their supply chains, agriculture is a key area of focus.

Carbon sequestration offers a strategic opportunity to transform agricultural supply chains from emission sources into carbon sinks. However, claiming carbon removals requires rigorous measurement and verification, particularly in light of the forthcoming GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance (LSRG).


The Importance of Carbon Sequestration

  • Meeting Net-Zero Commitments: Sequestration is often essential to achieve net-zero goals, as it addresses hard-to-abate emissions that cannot be eliminated through reduction alone.

     

  • Investor and Consumer Pressure: Investors and consumers expect comprehensive climate strategies that include both emission reductions and carbon removals.

     

  • Competitive Differentiation: Companies with credible sequestration programs gain a first-mover advantage, build expertise, and enhance their reputation with sustainability-conscious consumers.

     


The LSRG: A New Standard for Carbon Removal Accounting

The GHG Protocol’s LSRG, expected to be finalized in late 2025, will establish the global standard for accounting and reporting carbon removals from land-based activities. Unlike previous frameworks focused on emissions, the LSRG provides specific methodological approaches for calculating carbon sequestration across different carbon pools (soil organic carbon, above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass).

The LSRG emphasizes scientific rigor and transparency, requiring higher data quality standards for removals than for emissions reporting. This reflects concerns about permanence, additionality, verification complexity, and the risk of double-counting.

 

Primary Data Collection: A Must for LSRG Compliance

The LSRG explicitly requires the use of primary data for carbon removal accounting. Acceptable approaches include:

 

  • Measurement-based approaches: Soil sampling for soil organic carbon and field measurements for biomass calculations.

  • Activity-based approaches: Tracking management practices but with local calibration using field data.

  • Model-based approaches: Simulating biogeochemical processes parameterized and validated with local field measurements.

  • Remote sensing-based approaches: Ground-truthed and calibrated with field measurements.

 

For soil carbon, the LSRG emphasizes scientific sampling protocols, such as those outlined in the Soil Health Institute’s Soil Health Sampling Protocol or FAO’s Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon Monitoring Reporting and Verification Protocol. Consistent sampling methodology and location over time are also crucial. 

The LSRG does not accept soil carbon measurements derived solely from remote sensing models, though remote sensing can be used to identify parameters like land cover changes when properly
calibrated with field data.

 

How Technology Enables Efficient Primary Data Collection

Collecting primary data can seem challenging, but technology is making it more efficient:

  • Mobile apps for field data collection, even offline.
  • GIS capabilities for field boundary detection and spatial analysis.
  • Integration with farm equipment and ERP systems via APIs.
  • Structured workflows with task assignment and audit trails.

 

Taking your GHG emissions management to the next level

As the LSRG raises the bar for carbon removal accounting, primary data collection becomes essential for food and beverage companies seeking to make credible claims and build sustainable supply chains. By leveraging technology and adhering to scientific best practices, you can transform your agricultural practices into a powerful tool for mitigating climate change.