Carbon sequestration potential from sustainable management of arable land in the EU

Summary

This meta-analysis of 214 long-term soil organic carbon monitoring datasets across diverse EU climatic and soil conditions quantifies the carbon sequestration potential from sustainable arable management practices. The authors estimate that improved soil management on specialist crop farms (40% of EU arable land) could sequester 48 (±15) million tonnes CO₂ equivalents annually—equivalent to 17% of the Fit for 55 carbon removal target. The findings reveal substantial spatial variability in both current carbon losses and sequestration potential across EU member states, with implications for cost-effective policy design of soil carbon payment schemes.

UK applicability

The UK is part of the broader EU arable farming context studied, and the methodological approach to quantifying SOC change from management practices is directly applicable to UK conditions and agricultural policy. However, the spatial variability findings suggest that UK-specific carbon loss and sequestration estimates would need disaggregation from the broader EU dataset to inform domestic soil carbon schemes such as those under future agricultural support frameworks.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon (SOC) change over time (tonnes CO₂ equivalents yearly); carbon sequestration potential by country; spatial variability in carbon losses and sequestration; climate-change mitigation value per unit land area

Outcomes reported

The study quantified carbon loss from contemporary soil management on specialist crop farms across the EU and estimated the potential for carbon sequestration and avoided carbon loss through improved management practices. It assessed soil organic carbon changes across 214 long-term monitoring time series under reduced tillage, organic amendments, winter soil cover, and crop rotation scenarios.

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