Target Learners: Farmers, farm managers, agri-entrepreneurs, cooperative officers, LGU agriculture staff, plantation supervisors
Delivery Mode: Blended (classroom + field/demo farm + online support)
Total Duration: 40 hours (can be compressed to 5 days intensive or spread over 6–8 weeks)
Certification Awarded: Certificate in Carbon Farming & Climate-Smart Land Management
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the science and principles of carbon farming
- Apply practical carbon-sequestering practices on their farms
- Conduct a basic farm-level carbon assessment
- Integrate carbon farming with agroforestry, plantations, and livestock systems
- Understand pathways to carbon credits, ESG programs, and green finance
COURSE STRUCTURE & MODULES
Module 1: Foundations of Carbon Farming (6 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain climate change in the context of agriculture
- Define carbon farming and its role in mitigation and adaptation
Topics:
- Climate change basics for farmers
- The carbon cycle (soil, plants, atmosphere)
- Agriculture as a carbon source vs carbon sink
- What is carbon farming?
- Global and Philippine context of carbon farming
Activities:
- Simple carbon cycle illustration exercise
- Group discussion: farm problems linked to climate change
Module 2: Soil Carbon & Regenerative Practices (8 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify practices that increase soil organic carbon
- Apply regenerative soil management techniques
Topics:
- Soil organic carbon and soil health
- Reduced tillage and no-till systems
- Cover crops and crop rotations
- Compost, manure, mulching, and organic amendments
- Biochar: basics, benefits, and safe use
Field Activity:
- Soil health observation (color, structure, organic matter)
- Compost and mulching demo
Module 3: Tree-Based Carbon Farming (Agroforestry & Plantations) (8 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Design tree-based systems for carbon sequestration
- Integrate trees with crops or livestock
Topics:
- Carbon storage in trees and biomass
- Agroforestry systems (alley cropping, multistrata, boundary planting)
- Silvopasture systems
- High-value tree crops (e.g., agarwood, cacao, coffee, timber species)
- Plantation carbon management and spacing
Field Activity:
- Farm mapping and tree layout planning
- Biomass estimation basics
Assessment: Simple agroforestry/carbon layout plan
Module 4: Livestock, Emissions & Farm Integration (6 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Reduce emissions while improving productivity
- Integrate livestock into carbon farming systems
Topics:
- Livestock emissions (methane, nitrous oxide)
- Rotational and managed grazing
- Manure management and composting
- Integrated crop–livestock–tree systems
Activities:
- Grazing rotation planning exercise
- Manure-to-compost workflow design
Assessment: Group farm system integration plan
Module 5: Measuring, Monitoring & Carbon Accounting (MRV) (6 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how carbon gains are measured and tracked
- Perform a basic farm carbon assessment
Topics:
- What is MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification)?
- Soil carbon sampling basics
- Simple carbon indicators for farmers
- Introduction to carbon calculators and farm records
- Digital tools and QR-based traceability (intro level)
Practical:
- Sample carbon baseline worksheet
- Record-keeping and monitoring checklist
Assessment: Submission of a basic farm carbon record
Module 6: Carbon Markets, Incentives & Farm Economics (6 hours)
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how carbon farming can generate income
- Identify suitable pathways for participation
Topics:
- What are carbon credits?
- Voluntary vs compliance carbon markets
- Eligibility, permanence, and additionality (farmer-level explanation)
- Bundling smallholder farms
- ESG, green finance, grants, and buyer programs
Case Study:
- Smallholder or plantation-based carbon project
OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
- QR-coded farm traceability demo
- Integration with ESG or corporate offset programs
- Alignment with agroforestry, agarwood, or plantation investment models
COURSE VALUE PROPOSITION
This certificate course equips farmers not just to farm sustainably, but to:
- Improve yields and soil health
- Reduce climate risks
- Participate in carbon and ESG-driven markets
- Future-proof their farms and plantations
This curriculum is designed to be adaptable for cooperatives, universities, LGUs, NGOs, and private agribusiness training programs.