Major Revision to VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management

VM0042, v2.1 (PDF) quantifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals through increased soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks resulting from the adoption of improved agricultural land management (ALM) practices.
The proposed revisions encompass:

1. Standardization enhancements for land stratification measurements, soil sampling procedures, and soil sample processing and laboratory analysis when determining changes in soil organic carbon stocks
2. New guidance for setting baselines that can accommodate flexible crop rotations by averaging baseline data for multiple crops. This “blended baseline” can then be compared to the project scenario regardless of changes to crop rotation patterns that may occur due to market conditions, weather fluctuations, or other variables
3. Expand the clarifications on the purpose of repeated measurements when following a ‘measure and model’ approach (Quantification Approach 1) to quantify SOC stock changes
4. Improved rigor and consistency of SOC modeling as part of QA1 to quantify SOC stock changes
5. Aligning woody biomass’s quantification approach with VM0047 Methodology for Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation, v1.0.
6. Alternative productivity leakage quantification pathway for projects resulting in diversified crop/livestock products and linked decreases of per product productivity
7. Ensure consistency between the VM0032, v2.0 and the VM0042, v3.0 revisions for grazing projects implemented on pastures and rangelands, clarifying each methodology’s applicability in terms of agricultural management, land use and land cover
8. Ensure alignment of the quantification approaches for methane emissions with VM0051 Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.0
9. Specify monitoring and reporting requirements and guidance to comply with VCS Standard, v4.7, requirements, Section 3.2.7 on baseline reassessment and Section 3.19.10 on the release of chemical pesticides and fertilizers
10. Explain the procedural steps to demonstrate additionality of quantitative ALM practices and highlight the benefit of stacking practices on the same land
11. Develop procedures as part of the methodology to replace the need to use an inactive CDM tool to demonstrate if a C stock change or GHG source is negligible
12. Include upstream emissions of fertilizer manufacturing in the project boundary

Verra is leading the development process for this revision, with support from TerraCarbon (external). The proposed revision is currently at “Step 3: Draft Methodology Development” of the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process, v4.4 (PDF).

Stakeholders interested in collaborating during methodology development or developing projects that this methodology might enable are encouraged to contact methodologies@verra.org. Please include the Methodology Development ID# in the subject line.

Verra hosted a webinar (YouTube) on Tuesday, June 18, at 12:00 pm ET, to present the proposed revision elements and invite early stakeholder feedback, informing the drafting of the revised methodology.

Verra plans to begin the formal public consultation on the draft of VM0042, v3.0, in Q2 2025. The publication of the final version of VM0042, v3.0, is planned for Q4 2025.