Can Verra’s New Carbon Standard Make Rice Farming More Sustainable?
Verra recently introduced the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology VM0051 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice farming. Under this guideline, farmers will practice improved water and crop management practices in flooded rice systems.
Verra began developing this methodology in late 2023. They held a public consultation in 2024 with ATOA Carbon and external reviewers to refine VM0051. The new standard, “Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.0, replaces the old Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) method AMS-III.AU. The previous method ended in March 2023.
Verra’s VM0051: A New Approach to Reducing Rice Emissions
Rice is a staple for over half the world’s population. Rice fields cover around 168 million hectares. But they also release a lot of methane, which is a potent environmental pollutant.
As mentioned before, VM0051 promotes sustainable farming techniques. These methods reduce methane emissions from rice farming and improve water and fertilizer use. The standard also provides social benefits by raising farmers’ income and helping women get training and financial services in agriculture.
Generate High-Quality Credits
Verra’s VM0051 also aims to measure or quantify emission reductions more accurately. This method promotes actions such as enhancing rice varieties and using methanotrophic bacteria to cut down methane. By using VM0051, project developers can earn high-quality Verified Carbon Units (VCUs).
Subsequently, buyers or stakeholders will want these credits to help improve rice farming, boost food security, and meet their climate goals.
Key Features
Verra highlighted that farming practices must reduce emissions by at least 5% to qualify as a significant change. Projects must show additionality. They can achieve this by proving a regulatory surplus, overcoming barriers, or showing that these practices are uncommon in the area.
This new standard targets agricultural land management (ALM) projects. However, VM0051 prohibits practices that significantly reduce soil organic carbon. So, projects that want to increase or decrease SOC storage must use the VCS Method VM0042 instead.
Some major improvements over the previous CDM methodology include:
- Stronger Additionality Criteria: The methodology introduces stricter guidelines for proving additionality, including the use of remote sensing data.
- Expanded Project Eligibility: Eligible activities now include using methanotrophic bacteria, shortening cultivation periods, avoiding residue burning, planting low-emission rice varieties, and optimizing nitrogen fertilizer use.
- Soil Protection Measures: Safeguards prevent soil organic carbon (SOC) loss due to new farming methods.
- Comprehensive Emission Tracking: Monitor and quantify nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, along with CO2 from fossil fuels and energy use.
- Dynamic Baseline Setting: The methodology adjusts baseline emissions based on actual weather conditions.
- Improved Guidance: It provides clear instructions for project area classification and emission reduction calculations.
- Flexible Measurement Methods: Project developers can choose from different quantification approaches, including biogeochemical models.
- Digital Monitoring and Verification: Promotes advanced tools like remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to streamline project validation and verification.
Quantifying Emission Reductions
VM0051 provides three methods for measuring emissions:
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Biogeochemical Process-Based Models: These simulate how farming practices impact emissions.
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Direct Measurement: Field studies gather data on actual methane emissions.
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Default Equations and Emission Factors: Use standard emission factors for easy calculations. These are available for projects that emit less than 60,000 t CO2e per year.
How VCS Projects Can Transition
To switch from the discontinued AMS-III.AU method to VM0051, one can follow these steps. First, use the VCS Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure for past verification periods. Next, update the methodology through a Project Description Deviation for future monitoring.
Finally, ensure the project description aligns with VM0051 before applying for a new project registration.
Each project selects a method based on its size and emission sources. Table 4 in the methodology document lists all eligible quantification options.
Future Developments
Verra is creating a digital version of VM0051. You can find it on the Verra Project Hub. This tool will streamline project submissions with structured templates for data collection. Verra is also looking to integrate VM0051 into its upcoming Scope 3 Standard Program.
In conclusion, we can say that Verra’s new VM0051 helps cut greenhouse gas emissions from rice farming. As a result, it makes the industry more sustainable and, ultimately, supports climate goals.
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