How Sandy is revolutionising carbon assessment in agriculture

A new era for farm-level carbon accounting.

Sandy is at the forefront of a new category of software focused on an all-win outcome for the food and farming supply chain. Developed by Trinity AgTech, Sandy is the pioneering natural capital navigator and offers unmatched rigour, coverage, and adherence to UK and globally recognised modern standards in carbon assessment and overall natural capital valuation and optimisation.

This has been firmly evidenced in a new Defra report ‘Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture’. Trinity has published an objective analysis of Defra’s report which is available to download here.

Challenging the status quo in carbon calculators

The Defra report exposes the inadequacies in first generation carbon calculators and without taking sides with any tool, the report highlights Sandy's unique qualities, compliance with UK and globally recognised modern standards, and robust analytical rigour.

With Sandy clearly pioneering a new category of commitment to serving agriculture’s needs for standards, continuous progress, innovation and precision analytics, questions must be raised about the continued use of first generation tools. Specifically, their ability, urgency, and integrity in delivering the minimum standards expected, and to continuously provide value creating innovations.

Demanding reliable methodologies and ISO Standards

The report highlights the glaring shortcomings of the first generation tools in calculation methodology for carbon accounting, leading to misleading assessments and eroded trust. It is no wonder that carbon accounting pre-Defra’s recommendation for minimum standards in January 2024 was frequently termed ‘The Wild West’, with its consequent poor economics for farmers and other sector stakeholders.

In this new era instigated by the Defra report, the speed and scale of progress and prosperity will be accelerated through insistence on the stated minimum standards such as ISO 14064:2 and ISO 14067, and continuous innovations built on modern UK and international protocols. For years, there has been no merit for any tool or any person to perpetuate the defunct PAS 2050 as a reasonable standard. Now, the Defra reports makes it glaringly obvious to all and such disservice will not prevail.

Sandy by Trinity AgTech: Setting the benchmark for carbon assessment

Sandy has distinguished itself with a comprehensive approach, delivering on industry serving standards and continuous innovation, making it an invaluable tool for stakeholders across the agricultural sector. Indeed, its adherence to standards and extensive scope is already shifting the industry's approach to carbon accounting and natural capital valuation.

Sandy’s unmatched capability

The Defra report not only highlights the current landscape of carbon accounting tools but illustrates the complexity of the agricultural sector and the need for intelligent precision navigation.

In the next part of this blog, we take some extracts from our analysis of the Defra report, focusing on some important areas of calculation methodology. The full analysis is available to read here.

Measuring soil carbon sequestration

The reports notes that accounting for soil carbon sequestration is particularly relevant to achieving net zero aims. Some of the calculators assessed do not account for soil carbon sequestration at all, while the others use a variety of methodologies. Sandy stands out within the report because it uses a Tier 2/3 method and a bespoke modelling approach which Defra acknowledges gives a clearer understanding of changes in soil carbon.

Carbon calculation in peat soils

A key conclusion of the Defra report is that accurate modelling of peat soils is a minimum requirement, yet many calculators exclude peat altogether, while others include it only as a single emission factor. Sandy is the only tool that includes peat beyond a single emission factor and is unique in offering a scientifically robust peatland module.

Woodland carbon sequestration models

Defra identifies the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) as an appropriate and standards-compliant methodology for calculating woodland sequestration and criticises the use of more generic IPCC Tier 1 methodologies in this space. The report however acknowledged that the yield class calculation of the WCC method could be challenging for non-expert users. Defra noted that Sandy stands out by using the WCC and Tier 3 methods to help users with yield class calculations.

Methods for direct livestock emissions

Through research, the Defra report states that the calculators use various methods for direct livestock emissions, but most use some version of the IPCC Tier 2 approach. Defra however notes that for accurate mitigation analysis, it is important for calculators to connect livestock diets with enteric and manure emissions - Sandy is the only tool to do this.

This capability allows Sandy to capture good practices and mitigation related to enteric methane management, essential for addressing agricultural emissions and accessing emerging incentives in this field.

Nitrous oxide methodologies

The report found that the calculators assessed use a mix of methods for nitrous oxide calculations. Defra acknowledges that Sandy uses the disaggregated 2019 Tier 1 approach. This means Sandy follows the right standards, has the latest methods, and works worldwide - this is critical for SBTi compliance and proper supply chain accounting.

If you are interested in learning more about how Sandy, click here.