A new carbon credit standard developed through the project Kolsänksrätter med biokol is opening exciting opportunities for Swedish farmers: better soil quality and a new income stream. The first carbon credits under this standard are being verified and issued during spring and summer 2025 — marking a major milestone for climate-smart agriculture.
The project, managed by Hushållningssällskapet Sjuhärad, has focused on the use of biochar — a stable form of carbon created by heating organic material in the absence of oxygen. When biochar is added to soil, it not only improves soil structure and water retention but also locks carbon away for hundreds to thousands of years, making it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Now, with the new Swedish carbon credit standard in place, farmers who apply biochar to their fields in a verified and traceable way can earn income by generating carbon credits. These credits are purchased by companies or organizations that want to compensate for their own emissions, creating a win-win scenario: healthier soils for farmers and meaningful carbon removals for the climate.
The standard is owned and administered by Sigill Kvalitetssystem AB, and it provides a transparent, science-based framework to ensure that carbon removals are real, permanent, and independently verified. With the first credits currently being issued, the system is ready to scale up and support broader adoption of biochar in Swedish agriculture.
To learn more about how the standard works and how farmers can participate, feel free to reach out to Cecilia Hermansson, project manager, or visit: