Following the successful completion of the joint validation and verification process for the “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – NORTH BULGARIA”, Carbonsafe has now also received the final validation and verification report for the “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – SOUTH BULGARIA”. As a result, the company now has two independently validated and verified carbon farming projects, confirming their compliance with the applicable requirements of the standard and the methodology for the measurement, monitoring, reporting and independent verification of carbon removals.
As part of the independent assessment of the project in South Bulgaria, all key elements of the project management and implementation system were reviewed, including the project documentation, the applied methodology, monitoring procedures, soil sampling and laboratory testing processes, quality control systems, as well as the calculations used to quantify carbon removals.
Currently, 100 agricultural holdings with a total area of 47,824 hectares, located across different regions of Bulgaria, participate in Carbonsafe’s projects. Within the completed verification cycle for the “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – SOUTH BULGARIA”, a total of 423,411 carbon credits have been verified, representing independently confirmed quantities of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and stored in agricultural soils.
As with the project for North Bulgaria, the generated results are based on the implementation of regenerative and climate-resilient agricultural practices, including reduced soil tillage, optimized crop residue management, the use of cover crops, improved nutrient management and other agronomic solutions aimed at increasing soil organic carbon stocks.
Carbon removals have been quantified using a measurement–remeasurement approach, based on direct field measurements and laboratory analyses of soil samples. Soil monitoring covers three depth intervals – 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-90 cm – with all samples undergoing laboratory analysis and subsequent quality control procedures. The calculations also account for emissions associated with agricultural activities, as well as applicable uncertainty adjustments.
The combination of field measurements, remote sensing and project documentation ensures data traceability and supports risk management throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Both Carbonsafe projects – “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – NORTH BULGARIA” and “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – SOUTH BULGARIA” – are registered in the Balkan Carbon Credit Registry (BCCR), where the project documentation, methodological framework and accompanying public documents are published. Following the completion of the validation and verification processes, both projects now have “Active” status.
The next key stage in the development of the projects is the independent rating assessment by the international rating agency BeZero Carbon. From 10 to 14 August, representatives of the agency will visit Bulgaria to conduct a technical and risk assessment of both the “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – NORTH BULGARIA” and the “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – SOUTH BULGARIA”.
The visit will include meetings with the Carbonsafe team, a review of project documentation and visits to agricultural holdings participating in both projects. This will be the first visit by an international rating agency for ex-post projects based on already measured and independently verified results.
The BeZero Carbon rating represents an additional mechanism for independent assessment, analysing factors such as the scientific robustness of the methodology, the reliability of measurement and monitoring systems, the durability of carbon removals over time, risk management and the overall environmental integrity of the project. Such assessments are becoming increasingly important in international voluntary carbon markets, as they provide potential buyers with independent information on the quality and reliability of the carbon credits generated.
Following the completion of the rating process, Carbonsafe will proceed with offering the verified carbon credits on the market. The revenues generated are expected to support the participating agricultural holdings and encourage the wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health, increase the resilience of agricultural production and contribute to climate change mitigation.
The successful completion of the validation and verification of both projects represents an important milestone in the development of carbon farming in Bulgaria. It confirms that scientifically sound methodologies, transparent procedures, direct measurements and independent assessment can provide the foundation for a reliable system for generating high-quality carbon credits that meets the increasing requirements of international markets and the European regulatory framework.
