BASF Global Low Carbon Agriculture Program records progress and projects actions for 2023

Agriculture is responsible for around 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO). Therefore, carbon-efficient agricultural practices contribute significantly to combating climate change. BASF's Agricultural Solutions Division seeks to support producers on their journey towards increasing efficiency and thus fulfilling the commitment to support a 30% reduction in the carbon footprint per ton of grain produced in selected crops by 2030.

BASF's Global Low Carbon Agriculture Program was created as a financial incentive tool for farmers to accelerate the materialization of our sustainability commitment. To this end, BASF will support through xarvio, the company's global Digital Agriculture brand, the generation of carbon credits, which will create additional revenue to encourage farmers to adopt the sustainable interventions proposed by the Program, such as innovative chemical and biological solutions crop protection, precision agriculture and nitrogen management.

About a year after its announcement, the Program is already recording progress around the world and planning the next steps in 2023. An example is the announcement of cooperation between BASF and Boortmalt, the world's main supplier of malted barley. The project, in its initial phase, is the first milestone in BASF's Global Low Carbon Agriculture Program and supports Boortmalt's goal to reduce its indirect emissions in the barley value chain in Ireland.

“Our collaboration is proof that mitigating the effects of climate change and generating value for agriculture can go hand in hand. It is an important advance in our Program”, says Camila Leonelli, regional manager of Business Development for Carbon at BASF.

In Latin America, plans start in Brazil. Counting on the collaboration of local partners, the project promotes mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in the soil, generating certificates that can be traded on the voluntary market.

Initially focusing on the soybean-corn-cotton farming system, the project will allow Brazilian farmers to benefit from the synergy between BASF's innovative technologies, the power of precision agriculture through the xarvio platform, nitrogen management and regenerative agriculture interventions .

“In addition to supporting farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in the soil, we seek to simplify their access to the carbon market as much as possible. Facilitating the measurement, monitoring and reporting process is key to unlocking financial incentives and accelerating the journey towards carbon neutrality in the food value chain”, says Camila.

The manager adds that collaboration and innovation are fundamental to combating climate change. Ireland and Brazil are examples of a model that will be scaled to other regions.