Matching policy and science: Rationale for the ‘4 per 1000 - soils for food security and climate’ initiative

Summary

This paper, authored by leading soil and climate researchers, presents the scientific rationale underpinning the '4 per 1000 - soils for food security and climate' initiative launched at COP21. The authors examine the potential for increased soil organic carbon to simultaneously address climate mitigation, food security, and soil health, whilst acknowledging the agronomic, measurement and governance challenges. The work positions soil carbon sequestration as a policy-relevant lever contingent on matching evidence-based science with coherent agricultural and climate policy frameworks.

UK applicability

The initiative's emphasis on soil carbon sequestration and regenerative farming practices aligns with UK policy directions including the Environmental Land Management schemes and net-zero agriculture targets. However, UK applicability depends on local soil type, climate, and farming system specificity—temperate grassland and arable systems may have different sequestration potentials than those modelled globally.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon sequestration rates; greenhouse gas mitigation potential; food security and soil health co-benefits; policy coherence across sectors

Outcomes reported

The paper articulates the scientific and policy rationale for the '4 per 1000' initiative, which proposes that a 0.4% annual increase in soil organic carbon could offset global greenhouse gas emissions. It evaluates alignment between agricultural policy targets and climate–food security objectives across farming systems.

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