Soil Organic Carbon (Change)*
Estimates the amount of carbon stored in the top 30 cm of soil based on a predictive baseline model and the CoolFarmTool model for cropland, tree crop, and grassland applications
availability
On Demand
Now
indicator tier
Gold
unit
Tonnes of Carbon
spatial resolution
Field-level
measurement frequency
Annual
measurement level
Plot
historic data availability
2018 - 2025
Forescast data availability
2026-2045
applicable crop types
Annual
applicable land type
Annual Cropland
compliance frameworks
SBTi, CSRD (ESRS E1), TNFD, SAI
description
Baseline and changes in soil organic carbon stock of croplands using a combination of earth observation for practices monitoring (e.g., use of cover crops), predictive modelling for carbon baseline estimation and an empirical carbon model for estimating annual changes. The model returns annual estimates of soil organic carbon stock in the top 30cm of soil.
methodology
Builds on Soilgrids dataset for baselining soil carbon stocks, an in-house cover crops detection model built on optical satellite data (Sentinel 2) and the CoolFarmTool carbon cycle model.
validation
Models have been evaluated in their general performance against reference data and plausibility. The validation for the soil organic carbon baseline model has been peer-reviewed (De Sousa, 2020). The CoolFarmTool implementation follows the IPCC Tier 1 land carbon change coefficients closely and has been externally audited. Our implementation of the entire calculation pipeline has been certified as a qualified tool for Scope 3 GHG assessment.
model limitations
This indicator is not suitable for non‑agricultural land uses, and results depend strongly on the quality of management/cover‑crop/land‑use inputs and supporting model outputs. It uses empirical factors and modelling assumptions that may not capture all local conditions, and outputs are field‑level rather than a spatially explicit raster map.
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