Carbon emissions from Brazilian agriculture are worth US$11,54 per ton

The price of carbon emissions from Brazilian agriculture was estimated at US$11,54 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e). The value was determined by a study by Embrapa Territorial, in São Paulo. The research analyzed international scientific papers that use different methods to price carbon emissions in global agriculture.

The team conducted a systematic review covering publications between 2004 and 2024. Articles from countries such as China, Australia and the United Kingdom were evaluated. The values ​​found in the literature varied significantly, from US$ 2,60 to US$ 157,50 per tCO₂e. The diversity of values ​​is due to the application of different methodologies and technological levels in agriculture in the countries analyzed.

According to the study, the main factor influencing the price of carbon in agriculture is the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Larger economies tend to have lower prices. In addition to GDP, the level of CO₂ emissions, the share of agriculture in the economy and the use of nitrogen fertilizers are also determining factors.

To arrive at the Brazilian price of US$11,54 per ton, Embrapa used national data and an econometric model based on these global factors. The value found is close to that observed in the international voluntary market for agriculture.

Carbon pricing is essential because it transforms gas emissions into financial values. This encourages the adoption of more sustainable practices, such as reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers, which are responsible for the emission of nitrous oxide, another important gas.