4 August 2026
This series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) answers the questions asked by our Living Lab farmers and other actors who have engaged with our project. First up:
– is GHG accounting the same as carbon calculations?
– which calculator should I choose?
Is GHG accounting the same as carbon calculations?
Very often carbon is the most common word used in this context. Agriculture produces three main greenhouse gases (GHGs) – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide. Each of these gases can be reported as CO2 equivalents (CO2e) so that their impact on atmospheric warming can be compared. This is why the term carbon emissions often ends up being used as shorthand. However, the Land Use for Net Zero (LUNZ) Footprint project prefers to use greenhouse gas (or GHG) emissions where possible, instead of carbon alone. We think it is more accurate because it acknowledges that all GHGs are being assessed.
We use a range of different words for the process itself, including assessment, footprinting, accounting, auditing, and calculating. These all describe the same process, to assess the GHG emissions your farm is producing. In some cases, assessments may also include carbon removals, such as carbon accumulation occurring in soils, trees, or other woody vegetation, to provide a more complete picture of your GHG balance.
Which calculator should I choose? Which calculator is best for me?
Choosing a calculator depends on what you need it for, as GHG tools are built to answer different questions. The ‘best’ tool for you may be one that is easy to use and answers the questions you are asking or are being asked to answer by your customers
If you are interested in the emissions of your entire farm business and how farm enterprises interact, then a whole farm approach is suited to your needs. This provides a systems view and it helps with farm-level decisions, planning and mitigation strategies.
Product level footprints – emissions from a litre of milk or a kilogramme of beef for example, are relevant when you are interested in the emissions from the specific products that you produce. This supports product-level decision-making and efficiency planning, enables product differentiation, and is useful for buyers and retailers that report GHG emissions.
Alternatively, you might be interested in knowing the footprint of the whole farm, the different enterprises, and product emissions. Some tools are designed to assess each of these.
So, if you are just starting out, pick one tool, stick with it and use it to test and prioritise actions and track your progress over time. AHDB suggests choosing a calculator that is built on robust, transparent science and aligns with recognised GHG accounting standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO14064 or ISO14067. Tools like Agrecalc, Cool Farm or Farm Carbon Toolkit, that follow these frameworks are more likely to provide credible results that can support farm management decisions and meet buyer or reporting requirements.
LUNZ Footprint 