WHAT IS CARBON ACTION?

The goal of the Carbon Action platform is to promote the spreading of climate-smart farming practices and carbon farming in Finland and to help farmers find soil carbon sequestration practices most suitable for their own farms. A group of one hundred voluntary pilot farms, willing to promote research on carbon sequestration and to introduce research-related practices in Finland, have been admitted to Carbon Action.

HOW DOES CARBON ACTION WORK?

Carbon Action is farmer-based and constantly taking shape in interaction with the farmers. It has become clear that the farmers are looking for new information on soil carbon sequestration and soil health, and it will be provided in the platform. In addition to information, the Carbon Action provides a broad range of methods on how to promote the development of carbon sequestering farming practices and how to raise awareness of those practices. For the farms involved Carbon Action provides opportunities for networking, creating small groups locally and sharing experiences with the nation-wide carbon network. Each carbon farmer may participate in Carbon Action as little or as much as they like, but some things are expected from all the pilot farms involved in the project.

WHAT IS DONE AT PILOT CARBON FARMS?

Carbon Farms get to select the farming practices suitable for their own needs as they implement and test out farming practices that aim to sequester carbon and improve soil health. Each farm is on its part involved in advancing the research and developing practices that maximize carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. Read more about the research done on the Farms here.

In order to achieve the goals of research and developing farming practices, the pilot farms have been expected to do the following:

• Select one approx. 3 ha plot as a test plot, which is divided into an experimental section and a control section
• Collect soil samples from the test plot at the beginning of the project, as well as take proper notes on practices and the costs of those
• Build a soil organic matter management plan for the test plot and follow it
• Commit to the training provided by Carbon Action (one contact opening training, remote participation is possible in other trainings)
• Answer questionnaires and/or interviews (max. twice a year)
• It is considered desirable to participate in the closed discussion group

Examples of the practices done on fields:

• Increasing photosynthesis by increasing vegetation cover, lengthening the period of growth and selecting crops and strains that increase yields
• Management of soil structure and health
• Reduced tillage
• Increasing soil organic matter content by addition of manure, recycled fertilizers and soil amendments
• Diversified crop rotation and crop diversification

SCALING ACTIVITY

New carbon farmers have been gained through business cooperation and through the Carbon Action Club – which is open for all farmers – and by expanding towards the Swedish-speaking farmers in Finland. Digital learning platform ’eCollege’ is being developed, and will be launched at the beginning of 2021.

Carbon Action platform also trains 30 agricultural advisors to become top experts in soil health and carbon farming.

Ask for more information and join the Carbon Action Club. The Club material is in Finnish and Swedish.

Read more about carbon farming practices at the Carbon Action farms: https://www.fieldobservatory.org/FarmingPractices

Sanna Söderlund
Designer – Co-operation with farmers
Baltic Sea Action Group
sanna.soderlund@bsag.fi
+358 40 777 5515