Is it Possible to View a Trading System for CO2 Certificates from Agricultural Soil as a Genuine Regenerative Circular Economic Business Model?

Degradation of agricultural soil threatens food security and all agricultural soil ecosystem services fundamental for our existence, prosperity, and well-being. Regeneration of agricultural soil and soil health are critical topics all around the globe. The EU Commission, through the research program Horizon Europe, has launched “A soil deal for Europe” to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030. One objective of the mission is to conserve and restore carbon stocks in soil. One suggestion to catalyse this transition is to establish a trading system for CO2 certificates from agricultural soil. If farmers sequester carbon in their soil, businesses will be able to reduce their CO2 footprint by buying CO2 certificates from those farmers. In this article, we engage in a critical discussion of how, by considering contrasting worldviews, we illuminate the challenges associated with soil carbon sequestration, soil health, soil ecosystem services and climate regulation, to support overall human wellbeing. We found that these contrasting worldviews within themselves, do not necessarily provide a straightforward solution that enhances the overarching goal to improve the overall soil health, that would lead to agricultural soil regeneration. However, they do create the necessary tension that gives energy and direction to inspire an elevated solution. This elevated solution is seen as a genuine regenerative circular economic business model.