Project studies on how to measure soil carbon

Scientists are still trying to measure exactly how much carbon is stored in the soil and how

To better understand this mystery, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, University of Guelph and other institutions are conducting a case study on a 32,000-acre farm near Moosomin, Sask.

"We are really excited to be involved in this study because it demonstrates our interest, willingness and optimism that carbon credits can provide an additional income stream for Canadian farmers without jeopardizing agricultural production," says Kristjan Hebert, president of the Hebert Group, which includes Hebert Grain Ventures. An organization called CANZA (Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-Food) is supporting the research project. The Royal Bank of Canada, in partnership with Maple Leaf Foods, Nutrien, Loblaws and others, launched CANZA to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "CANZA came together when we realized the strong need for potential net zero solutions in agriculture and began researching and reporting on the sector," RBC said on April 3. Research at Hebert's farm will begin this spring and last 12 months. The main idea is to study techniques such as remote sensing and spectroscopy to see if these technologies can measure soil carbon accurately and quickly. (Robert Arnason)