‘Carbon farming’: what are the challenges for sugar beet and sugarcane growers?

Farmers are fully aware of climate change: they are the first to suffer its effects. As citizens and producers, they are also mindful that they have a role in reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To this end, an increasing number of agricultural practices aimed at reducing these emissions or storing carbon have been identified and recently grouped under the term ‘carbon farming’. Through this survey of 21 members, the World Association of Sugar Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG) sheds light on its vision of carbon farming. What techniques are available? What funding is available? What are the hopes and fears of independent growers? ‘Carbon farming’ is gaining traction amongst sugar beet and cane growers because it is perceived as a potential source of additional income for the grower. With a few exceptions, this rarely proves to be the case, especially as there seems to be a movement to compulsory (not just legally but also commercially) implement certain crop production practices. Yet these practices come with costs, not only in terms of production, but also reduced productivity, impacting competitiveness.