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Lal. Carbon Footprints 2026, 5, 10 Page 13 of 20

With numerous co-benefits of restoring soil C stock of depleted and degraded soils of the world, there is an
urgent need for specific policy implementation for all agricultural land uses (i.e., grazing and cropping), and
restoration of degraded and drastically disturbed lands. Bamière et al. observed that adoption of SOC
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sequestration measures in France entails cost to land managers, and highlighted the need for a cost-effective
analysis to facilitate development of effective public policy aimed at increasing soil C sequestration (i.e., by
adopting BMPs such as CA, in temporary grasslands and hedgerows). Bamière et al. opined that economic
[85]
incentives are more cost-effective than some control measures. Thus, there is a need for a reshaping of
climate policy goals for achieving C neutrality. Berta and Roux illustrated the following historical
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development: The 1980s witnessed the promise of agricultural sequestration despite concerns about
permanence and reversibility. Studies since the 1980s have attempted to translate the physical potential into
economic opportunity, indicating its low costs relative to other options, and the international system of C
accounting for soil-based offsets in terms of environmental integrity. Policy implications involve
implementation of these and other ideas that promote coupled cycling of water with that of C and N,
reducing risks of soil degradation by a range of processes, and carefully considering the parameters of human
dimensions [Figure 5]. The policy vacuum may also be an important factor in the limited application of
several international initiatives.

IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
There are numerous adverse implications of the excessive and unwise use of natural resources [Figure 5],
some of which are discussed herein. Since the Paris Accord of 2015, several international initiatives have
been launched. Yet, there has been little progress in the systematic implementation of these initiatives
because of some inherent shortcomings. For example, little, if any, progress has been made in implementing
the Paris Agreement, which targeted the U.S. to remove 0.4-1.3 Pg CO e per year through soil C
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sequestration, because of shortcomings such as permanence, additionality, leakage, uncertainty,
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transaction costs, and variable heat trapping capacity of different GHGs, among others. In addition to
establishing a protocol to pay farmers, limiting factors must also be addressed for the implementation of an
appropriate policy. Despite the availability of some data on the rate and potential of soil C sequestration,
there have been uncertainties in implementation because of the effects of: (1) initial SOC content, (2)
differences in natural site vs cropland site, and (3) differences among activity and results-based approaches.
Thus, Rosinger et al. suggested that C-farming projects must reconsider these and other factors prior to
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implementation. Indeed, there is a strong need for identification and implementation of policies that are
pro-nature, pro-agriculture, and pro-farmer.

RESEARCHABLE PRIORITIES
Whereas significant progress has been made in understanding processes, mechanisms of stabilization, effects
on crop yield, and rate of C sequestration, there remain important knowledge gaps in soil C sequestration
that must be addressed in a systematic and coordinated manner. The first step is to develop a road map in
relation to the baseline and aspiration of sequestration targets. Important among the knowledge gaps are
uncertainties in SOC measurement (outlined above) and additional research needed on SIC sequestration
(processes, mechanisms and rate). For EU countries, Maenhout et al. emphasized identification and
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implementation of soil management strategies such as those which: (i) may induce synergistic effects and
reduce emission of GHGs and leaching of N, (ii) may reduce emission of CH , N O, and (iii) may promote
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implementation of site-specific BMPs such as CA, cropping systems, water management, fertilizer use,
organic amendments (i.e., biochar), cover cropping agroforestry. Reasons for the variation in SOC
sequestration rates across cropland ecosystems must be identified and addressed.

Biochar's net effect on SOC sequestration remains a major unknown. There is a lack of understanding of