Representatives of the international carbon ratings agency BeZero Carbon visited Bulgaria as part of the independent rating process for Carbonsafe’s two projects – “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – NORTH BULGARIA” and “CARBONSAFE CARBON FARMING PROJECT – SOUTH BULGARIA”. The visit included meetings with the Carbonsafe team, a review and discussion of project documentation, as well as visits to farms participating in the projects.
The on-site assessment forms part of the broader analytical process carried out by BeZero Carbon when evaluating the projects and the carbon credits they generate. Following the visit, the agency’s experts are continuing their analysis of the documentation and information provided, with the rating expected to be issued in September 2026.
From Documentation to Real-World Practices in the Field
The visit covered farms participating in both the North Bulgaria and South Bulgaria projects. The sample was determined in advance, with the farms selected at random.
The field component gave BeZero Carbon representatives an opportunity to see first-hand how the projects operate in a real agricultural environment and to speak directly with farmers about their participation, the practices they implement and the results they have observed.
During the visit, a number of technical aspects of the projects were also discussed, including project boundaries and areas, monitoring periods, the sequence of measurements, nitrogen fertiliser use, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), and other elements relevant to assessing the reliability of the carbon credits generated.
Following completion of the field component, BeZero Carbon is continuing its review of the project documentation and the additional information provided as part of the assessment process.
Why Does an Independent Rating Matter?
As the voluntary carbon market evolves, the question is no longer simply how many carbon credits a project generates. Corporate buyers are increasingly focused on the quality of the evidence behind those credits and the level of risk they carry.
Key questions include how reliably the climate impact has been demonstrated, how robust the methodology is, whether the data are traceable, and whether the project can withstand independent technical review.
This is where independent ratings provide an additional layer of information.
BeZero Carbon describes its ratings as an independent assessment of the risk associated with the likelihood that a carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂ avoided or removed. A rating does not replace a buyer’s own due diligence, but it provides an additional independent reference point when assessing the quality and risk of carbon credits.
For companies using carbon credits as part of their climate strategies, this means that purchasing decisions can be supported by additional independent information.
The Next Stage Following Validation and Verification
The rating process follows the successful completion of the independent validation and verification of Carbonsafe’s two projects in North and South Bulgaria.
Both projects are registered in the Balkan Carbon Credit Registry (BCCR) and are based on direct measurement of changes in soil organic carbon stocks using a measurement-remeasurement approach, laboratory analyses, project documentation and complementary remote monitoring systems.
As part of the completed verification cycles, 45,480 carbon credits have been verified for the North Bulgaria project and 423,411 carbon credits for the South Bulgaria project.
The independent rating represents the next step in the development of the projects, as it assesses the carbon credits from a different perspective – through the lens of risk and confidence in the claimed climate impact.
Trust Is Built on Data
For Carbonsafe, the process forms part of its long-term commitment to developing carbon credits based on measurable results, traceable data and independent assessment.
For soil carbon projects, trust begins in the field – with the way measurements are carried out, agricultural practices are documented and changes in the soil are monitored – and continues through laboratory analysis, calculations, verification and subsequent independent assessment.
BeZero Carbon’s visit provided an opportunity for this system to be assessed not only through project documentation, but also directly on the ground at participating farms.
The rating, expected in September 2026, will add another independent perspective to the assessment of the projects and the carbon credits they generate.
For Carbonsafe, this represents another step towards its core objective – developing agricultural carbon credits that are measurable, traceable, independently verified and supported by sufficiently robust data to enable buyers to make informed decisions.
