Agoro Carbon Alliance
Agoro Carbon Alliance is a subsidiary of Yara, a fertilizer and crop input provider. Agoro’s largest advantage is that payments are guaranteed for 10 years, with additional variable payments based on verified carbon results.
| Year Organization Established a Carbon Program | 2021 |
| Affiliated Organization Type | Crop Nutrition |
| Affiliated Organizations | Yara |
| Buyers secured | |
| Payment Basis to Farmers | $/ton of carbon generated |
| Payment Amount and Details |
- $16.50/tonne/acre is the minimum payment. - The program has two different payment types for producers: upfront, flat-priced payments in years one through four for an implemented practice, followed by two "true-up" payments in years five and ten, based on soil sampling results and data verification. Upfront payments help compensate for practice implementation risks, while true-up payments reflect how well the soils have sequestered carbon. - Past practices do not qualify, but the program has a one-year lookback period. - Agoro does not sell or require producers to use any type of inputs, products, or services. |
| Agricultural System Focus | Cropland and Livestock |
| Eligible States | U.S. states |
| Eligible Practices |
- Tillage (reduced till or no-till), cover crop implementation, grazing management, nitrogen management on pasture / rangeland, and increased biodiversity. |
| Contract Length | 10 years |
| Contract Details |
- A typical producer payment consists of upfront, flat-priced payments in years one through four, followed by “true-up” payments in years five and ten. |
| Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) |
- Agoro works with independent partners to verify practices. Agoro carbon cropping specialists meet with producers to help them through the process. Soil sampling, which is required every three to four years, is performed by a program rep. |
| Digital Tools for MRV | The program emphasizes the ease of data collection for producers. It has an online portal where producers enter data, and it uses carbon cropping specialists to assist producers in collecting data. |
| Qualification/eligibility criteria |
- As of July 2023, a legume cover crop practice is eligible for credits. |
| Minimum Acreage | 500 acres |
| Must land be owned? | No - Producer must inform landowner and attest to Agoro that land rights will remain in place for the entire duration of the program. |
| Minimum Data Requirements | Historical data for three years prior to practice implementation is required. Carbon cropping specialists are available to assist in collection of this data. If implementing new practices, there is no need to provide data, or if you are unaware what a previous operator of the ground did before you took over the piece of land you do not need to provide data. |
| Years of management practice data needed | 3 years |
| Does the program pay for past practices? | No, but they have a 1-year lookback to be able to qualify for the program. For example, if you did cover crops in winter of 2021 you would qualify for the program in 2022. |
| Additional information | The program’s FAQ document can be viewed here. |
| Payment Calculator | Agoro Carbon Alliance has an online simulation calculator that allows farmers to project average annual benefits based on their location, acreage and practices they are willing to implement. It is advised to contact a cropping specialist to get a personalized quote. |
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For additional details, visit the Agoro Carbon Alliance’s website.