Soil organic matter becomes a source of carbon credits

On October 23, 2025, at 12 pm, during Conexão Abisolo, the researcher Ladislau Martin Neto (pictured), from Embrapa Instrumentation, will give a lecture entitled "The Relationship Between Organic Matter and Carbon Credits," as part of Panel VI – Circular Economy. The presentation will demonstrate how soil organic matter can be key to carbon sequestration and generating credits for rural producers.

According to Martin Neto, approximately 50% of the chemical composition of soil organic matter is carbon, making this compartment the third-largest reservoir on the planet, surpassing forest biomass. He will emphasize that conservation agricultural practices, such as no-till farming and appropriate pasture management, can increase carbon sequestration and bring direct economic and environmental benefits to producers.

One of the main challenges in implementing carbon projects is measuring this element in the soil, with adequate logistics and compatible costs. To overcome this obstacle, Martin Neto will present a new low-cost laser tool, already certified by Verra, the world's largest carbon credit certifier. The technology allows for accurate measurement of carbon levels in grain, pasture, and integrated systems, enabling the inclusion of more producers in this market.

The researcher will also discuss the climate change scenario, which he classifies as a true emergency, and its direct impacts on Brazilian agriculture, which is heavily dependent on rainfall. Recent examples, such as the floods in Rio Grande do Sul and the drought in the Amazon, reinforce the urgency of mitigation and adaptation strategies.

For rural producers, increasing soil organic matter means higher productivity, greater climate resilience, and new sources of income through the sale of carbon credits. "It's a win-win solution: it improves soil health and productivity while opening doors to new markets that are more demanding in terms of sustainability," says Martin Neto.

"Special fertilizers play a strategic role in promoting the health of the soil microbiome, an essential element for the formation and stabilization of organic matter. This process increases carbon sequestration capacity, directly connecting Abisolo's inputs to a sustainability agenda that generates environmental and economic value. By supporting the adoption of these practices, we reinforce that plant nutrition contributes decisively to the competitiveness of Brazilian agriculture," summarizes Clorialdo Roberto Levrero, president of Abisolo's Board of Directors.