Socioeconomic and Environmental Co-benefits of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Farmland Systems: A Review

Abstract

Soil carbon sequestration in farmland systems is increasingly promoted as a “win–win” strategy for climate mitigation, food security and rural development. While global debates often emphasize the biophysical potential to store more carbon in agricultural soils, the broader environmental and socioeconomic co-benefits are at least as important for farmers and policy makers. This review synthesizes recent evidence on how practices that increase soil organic carbon (SOC)—including conservation agriculture, diversified rotations, organic amendments, cover crops and agroforestry—alter soil functions, ecosystem services and farm livelihoods. We first clarify conceptual debates around additionality, permanence and saturation of soil carbon, and link SOC to the emerging soil health paradigm. We then examine environmental co-benefits such as improved soil structure and fertility, enhanced water regulation, reduced erosion, biodiversity support and resilience to climatic extremes. Subsequently, we assess socioeconomic co-benefits, including yield and yield stability gains, risk reduction, input savings, options for participation in carbon markets and payments for ecosystem services, and wider rural development effects. We highlight that co-benefits are highly context-dependent and can be offset by trade-offs, for example, increased nitrous oxide emissions, higher labor demand or unequal access to carbon finance. Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) frameworks still struggle to capture co-benefits in a robust yet practical way, especially for smallholder systems. The review concludes that soil carbon should be framed as an entry point to transform farmland management towards soil health and resilience rather than as a narrow carbon offset commodity. Doing so requires integrated policies, inclusive governance of carbon markets and targeted research on context-specific benefit–risk profiles.