Governing carbon on farms

18 August 2026

The greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting tools, standards and use demands has created a fragmented landscape, generating uncertainty and constraining investment and engagement. This study from the project maps this ecosystem drawing on a novel 4C ecosystem framework:

CONTEXT:
market, policy and socio-economic conditions
CONFIGURATION:
models, calculations and software infrastructure
COOPETITION:
competition, substitution and stakeholder interactions
COMPLIANCE:
standards and reporting requirements

Based on stakeholder interviews and workshops, the results highlight the emergence of hybrid public–private governance, shaped by market-led supply chain requirements and state-led agri-environment schemes. These operate in parallel but are not fully interchangeable.

The study concludes that a flexible policy mix, combining incentives, support and clearer strategic direction, is needed to ensure accounting translates into meaningful on-farm outcomes.

The preprint of the paper ‘Governing carbon on farms: An ecosystem analysis of the UK agri-food GHG accounting landscape’ is available here.