With growing attention to climate change and environmental responsibility, carbon credits are becoming a dual-value tool—both for protecting the environment and increasing the incomes of farmers. In the Bulgarian context, this creates real economic opportunities, combined with innovative sustainable practices.
What Are Carbon Credits?
A carbon credit represents a unit equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO₂), or an equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases, that has been:
• reduced,
• removed from the atmosphere, or
• prevented from being emitted thanks to a specific project or activity.
These credits are traded on:
• Compliance markets – regulated by national or supranational institutions;
• Voluntary markets – where companies voluntarily offset their carbon footprint.
The Role of Carbon Farming
Agriculture plays a crucial role in sequestering carbon in the soil. Sustainable practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and organic fertilization not only enrich the soil but also capture and store carbon. This enables farmers to generate carbon credits and trade them on the market.
Carbonsafe™: A Bulgarian Model with Global Value
Carbonsafe™ is the first program in Bulgaria to offer fully measurable, certified, and traceable carbon credits. By relying on real soil sampling and laboratory analysis—without the use of mathematical modeling—the program ensures accuracy and credibility. Its key advantages include:
• Measurement based on real soil samples;
• International verification by independent auditors;
• Registration in the Balkan Carbon Credit Registry (BCCR);
• Integration with a mobile application for farmers;
• Opportunity for additional income alongside existing agricultural subsidies.
Why This Matters for Bulgarian Farmers?
With the growing importance of sustainable agriculture and the demand for financing agricultural projects, carbon credits are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional rural development programs. Especially in times of economic challenges, every new source of income matters.
The future of agriculture is not only productive but also responsible. Through carbon credits, farmers gain a new opportunity to combine soil stewardship with financial stability. The Bulgarian experience with Carbonsafe™ proves that even in an emerging market, it is possible to build a model that inspires trust and holds long-term sustainable potential.
