Why this project?

Dutch farmlands are under pressure due to declining soil health, drought stress, and biodiversity loss. Permanent grassland is a proven, nature-friendly method for restoring soils while removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. In this project, Dutch farmers commit to keeping their grassland intact for at least 10 years: no ploughing or re-seeding from scratch. This builds soil organic matter, improves structure, and boosts the soil’s ability to hold water. The approach is developed and certified under the Dutch Foundation National Carbon Market (SNK).

Permanent grassland means that grass remains the dominant cover and the sward isn’t destroyed (no ploughing, deep cultivation, or spray-off). Light interventions such as overseeding are allowed. This applies to mineral soils (sand, clay, loess) without a peat layer.

Climate impact

By keeping grassland undisturbed, the soil organic carbon increases over time. On typical Dutch mineral soils, this can add roughly 1 ton of CO₂ per hectare per year. Scaled up, it strengthens farm resilience and contributes to national climate goals.

The SNK methodology offers two routes to quantify carbon:

• 0–30 cm method: a model-based approach (using a baseline soil test and a validated model), with comparison after year 10.

• 0–60 cm method: direct soil sampling at the start and again in year 10.

After independent verification, SNK issues certificates for the carbon that’s actually been stored.

Co-benefits

Healthier soils
More soil organic matter helps soil particles bind into stable crumbs. That creates pores for air and water, improves infiltration and water storage, makes the soil easier to work, and lowers erosion. Nutrients also stay more available to roots, supporting long-term productivity.

Better water quality
By not ploughing, you avoid the sharp nitrate release that often follows tillage. Deep roots and stable soil crumbs slow runoff, hold back sediment, and reduce nutrient losses to ditches and streams.

On-farm biodiversity
Year-round vegetative cover sustains microbial biomass and soil fauna (e.g., earthworms, arthropods), which in turn support above-ground insects, birds, and diverse field-edge flora.

Farmer income & resilience
Carbon credit revenue adds a new income stream. Higher organic matter improves drought buffering and drainage during heavy rain, helping stabilise yields and, over time, can reduce input needs.

Monitoring & verification

The project is governed by a clear, step-by-step oversight cycle that safeguards integrity:

• Registration & baseline: Fields are mapped, a baseline is set (soil test or model set-up), and the project plan is independently validated under SNK.

• Annual checks: Satellites (e.g., Groenmonitor), records, and targeted field visits confirm the grassland remains permanent (no ploughing, no full re-seeding). Non-compliant fields are excluded.

• Year-10 verification: Carbon gains are confirmed via the chosen route—model comparison (0–30 cm) or soil re-sampling (0–60 cm)—and reviewed by an independent verifier.

• Issuance only after verification: SNK issues credits only for verified tons, with unique serial numbers in the SNK registry. No advance crediting.

• Corrective action: If a field is ploughed or breaches rules, no credits are issued for that area and prior claims can be adjusted.

Quality & integrity

The project follows SNK’s official method “Soil carbon storage on mineral soils through permanent grassland,” with safeguards at each step:

• Advance registration & fixed baseline: Fields and start conditions are locked in before crediting, preventing retroactive claims and creating an auditable trail.

• Independent validation: An external expert checks eligibility, quantification route (0–30 cm model or 0–60 cm re-sampling), and the monitoring plan before implementation.

• Rule-based verification: After the crediting period, results are verified against the method and evidence (data, samples, site checks) before any issuance.

• Registry issuance only: Credits are issued with unique serial numbers in the SNK registry—supporting traceability and preventing double-counting.