Centre for High Carbon

Capture Cropping

At present, there is currently little clarity on how soil carbon is measured and to whom the benefits or liabilities of that carbon – or its flux – are attributed. Addressing this issue is essential to driving the industrial and societal shifts needed for a sustainable future.

This project aims to develop a standardised methodology for quantifying carbon sequestration in soils and in crop-based plant products. By cultivating efficient, carbon-capturing biomass crops, UK farmers will be able to reach net-zero emissions while strengthening the resilience of the agricultural sector.

Diversifying both arable and forage crop systems, this initiative not only supports climate change mitigation efforts, but also creates new income opportunities through participation in the emerging carbon market.

Project duration

Four years, running from 1 Jan 2023 to 1 Jan 2027

Sponsor

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under the Farming Futures R&D Fund: Climate Smart Farming.

Project valued at

£ 5.9 million

The Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) is a four-year, £5.9 million research initiative led by Dr Lydia Smith at NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany), running from 2023 to 2027.

It is funded by Defra through the Farming Futures R&D Fund: Climate Smart Farming, the project brings together 22 partners to support UK farmers and growers in reaching Net Zero targets and improving farming resilience through diversified cropping systems. It will enable new revenue sources through a carbon marketplace and support enhanced value chains for industries such as textiles and construction.

Objectives

  • Evaluate food, forage, and industrial cropping options with potential to enhance atmospheric carbon capture, and sequestration in the soil and crop-based products

  • Optimise production of renewable biomaterials for fibre, textiles, and construction, and build value chains

  • Establish a UK Knowledge Hub providing resources to support effective uptake and utilisation of crops with high carbon capture potential

  • Quantify carbon removals, consistent with emerging standards for measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification

  • Develop carbon insetting/offsetting platforms, achieving revenue generation for farmers and supporting corporate sustainability

CHCX-3 Project Explained

Project Overview

This project is designed to support UK farmers and growers in achieving net-zero targets and enhancing farming resilience by diversifying both arable and forage crop systems. It is pioneering in its approach, as it aims to establish a new standard for on-farm carbon management, grounded in robust physical field measurements across a diverse range of crops.

The research will centre on four key cropping strategies:

  1. Cover Crops
    Short-term crops grown between harvests to improve soil health and lock in carbon.

  2. Annual Fibre Crops
    Crops like industrial hemp and flax that offer fast-growing, high-carbon material for textiles and composites.

  3. Perennial Food, Feed & Forage
    Resilient species, such as herbal leys and certain cereals, that require fewer inputs and boost biodiversity.

  4. Perennial Biomass Crops
    High-yield species like Miscanthus, willow, and poplar, used for energy, carbon storage, and sustainable materials.

The research will assess how these crops capture atmospheric carbon and store it in soils or crop-based products, while also examining their potential to generate renewable biomaterials for use in industries such as textiles and construction.

The project will offer extensive opportunities for stakeholder engagement, with activities such as crop trials, field demonstrations, webinars, workshops, and training sessions.

The initiative will culminate in the development of a comprehensive Knowledge Hub — an online platform designed to support farmers in making informed decisions about land use. This hub will feature practical resources, including crop guides, interactive web tools, and mobile applications, all aimed at facilitating the adoption and optimisation of high carbon-capture crops by farmers, landowners, and agronomists.