A group of students and recent graduates from Western University is recruiting grain farmers to participate in a new pilot project focused on regenerative agriculture and carbon sequestration.
The team, operating under the name CarbFarm, is inviting farmers to contribute small test plots (just 10 by 10 metres in size) for a study on farming practices that store more carbon in the soil than they emit. Farmers who participate will receive free soil testing, detailed reports on soil health, and ongoing support as part of the research initiative.
Muneeb Ur Rehman, a PhD student in Sociocultural Studies at Western’s School of Kinesiology, is helping lead the initiative. He tells CKNXNewsToday.ca the goal is to identify and promote practical farming methods like cover cropping, no-till practices, and agroforestry that improve soil quality while generating verifiable carbon credits.
"This idea really started in a business class," says Rehman. "One of our founders grew up on a farm near Mount Forest, and we started thinking: how can we help farmers get paid for sustainable practices that benefit the planet?"
That idea evolved into CarbFarm, a venture aimed at measuring and verifying carbon capture on Canadian farms. If successful, the carbon credits generated from these pilot plots could eventually be sold to corporations looking to offset emissions, providing farmers with a new source of revenue.
Rehman says the pilot is being funded through grants and private investment, and will not require any financial commitment from participating farmers. "We’re covering all the labour, equipment and input costs. All we’re asking is for access to a small plot of land and some information about current practices," he explains.
The team is currently focused on grain farmers in Ontario, especially those in Oxford, Brant, and Norfolk counties. Ideal candidates are working with sandy or loam soils and are curious about, or new to, regenerative practices. Rehman says farmers do not need to overhaul their entire operation to participate.
"We’re seeing lots of interest from next-generation farmers, people thinking about the long-term health of their soil, or wondering how to make sustainability financially viable," he says. "This gives them a low-risk way to learn more, get some useful soil data, and potentially tap into future carbon markets."
So far, the project has been well received by local growers, and Rehman says they’re also working with researchers from the University of Guelph and other institutions to ensure scientific credibility.
Once data is gathered, the goal is to analyze carbon content and soil health improvements to determine whether measurable credits can be certified through platforms like Verra. If so, the credits could be sold on the open market, creating a new income stream for farmers.
Rehman adds that while the long-term vision is national, or even international, the current focus is squarely on Ontario. "So much of Canada’s food comes from here. If we can prove this works in Ontario, we think the model can scale."
Interested farmers can contact the CarbFarm team at 226-386-3313, via email at mmuneebu@uwo.ca, or by visiting carbfarm.ca.
The team plans to launch the pilot study this September.