SECUESVAC makes progress in calculating organic carbon sequestration in agricultural soils

The GO SECUESVAC project has taken another step forward with the start of the phase focused on calculating organic carbon sequestration in the soil. Following the start of this second stage, the members of the Operational Group for Optimizing Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils Associated with Beef Production are working on defining strategies and collecting the data necessary to develop a life cycle assessment that accurately represents the beef cattle sector.

In November, a coordination meeting was held with all members of the Operational Group and the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (NEIKER) , the subcontracted entity for technical development. During the meeting, researcher Óscar del Hierro presented the fundamentals of the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), a tool that will allow for the quantification of different environmental categories, including the carbon footprint, and thus provide an updated benchmark for the sector's environmental impact.

To carry out this analysis, it is essential to gather detailed information on all the processes that make up the production chain. In this regard, a survey template designed to collect the necessary data was presented. Attendees reviewed its content and suggested improvements with the aim of finalizing the questionnaire so that participants can begin completing it in December.

One of the most innovative aspects of the study is the inclusion, alongside emissions data, of a representative average value for soil organic carbon (SOC). This indicator comes from samples collected on livestock farms and reflects the carbon that remains stored in the soil thanks to grazing, preventing its direct release into the atmosphere.

This information will allow for a more accurate estimate of representative beef cattle production in Spain. The survey data collection is expected to be completed in the coming months, and NEIKER is then scheduled to begin analyzing the data to further develop the ICV (Index of Livestock Production).

The results are expected throughout 2026 and will be integrated, along with the COS values, into a digital tool currently under development. This application will also serve to improve technical advice for livestock farmers, facilitating the adoption of practices that optimize carbon retention in soils.

The project is represented by PROVACUNO , which is responsible for the establishment and content of the Operational Group. The Directorate General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-food Training acts as the managing authority for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) funding. The initiative is financed 80% by EAFRD funds and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with a total grant of €548,889.40 and an implementation period from August 2024 to May 2027.