October 26, 2021

 

HKScan aims for carbon-neutral food chain by end-2040

 

 

HKScan's goal is a carbon-neutral food chain by the end of 2040, the Finnish meat producer said.

 

The company's Zero Carbon target requires the promotion of local carbon sequestration together with its contract farmers. Carbon flux measurements carried out over two growing seasons are a concrete example of its work to increase understanding of the impact of farming techniques and growing season on local carbon sequestration, HKScan said.

 

Based on the data obtained from carbon flux measurements, the company will direct its efforts to the solutions chosen. 

 

Carbon flux measurement work verifies the impact of different farming solutions on the carbon sequestration capacity of crops. Carbon dioxide flux measures the transport of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the soil and vegetation, i.e. the difference between photosynthesis and soil respiration. In terms of carbon sinks, the pursuit of good crop yields is the key.

 

"The data shows that good biomass and high amount of chlorophyll increase the carbon sequestration potential of the field. Under favourable conditions, fields sequester 40 kilos of carbon dioxide per hectare per hour. In other words, in one hour, a field hectare sequesters carbon dioxide an amount equivalent to driving an average of about 260 kilometres in an internal combustion engine car in road use in Finland," said HKScan research manager Heikki Aro.

 

Carbon sequestration can be continued with so-called catch crops that continue to grow and sequester carbon after the grain harvest. Grass farming also has a positive impact on climate. In contrast, a tilled or stubbled field turns into carbon emissions in the autumn after harvest.

 

"Our goal is to achieve an increase of 500kg per hectare in annual carbon sequestration in fields. At current carbon market prices, the value of sequestration would be about €2,500 (US$2,900) per 100 hectares of cropland," Aro added.

 

Carbon flux measurements have been carried out in the fields of HKScan's contract farmers together with partners Vaisala and Datasense. In HKScan's Agrofood Ecosystem model, new solutions are tested on pilot farms and the best ones are put into practice across all its home markets.

 

"It is great to do advanced climate work with Agrofood Ecosystem pilot farms and partners. Based on our cooperation, we can confirm that the measures contributing to crop productivity are also beneficial in terms of carbon sequestration. We have had a challenging growing season in which autumn crops really stood out," Aro said.

 

HKScan's carbon flux equipment includes Vaisala's gas sensor technology, various measurement systems and calculation models.

 

"The cooperation with HKScan, Datasense and farmers has broadened our understanding of ecological carbon flux measurement," said Erik Sucksdorff, head of strategy and business development, weather and environment business area at Vaisala. "We have also gained valuable feedback for the product development of our measurement technology. Vaisala's technological solutions create the conditions for accurate carbon flux measurement also on a larger operational scale."

 

"Carbon sequestration verification studies are being carried out at about 20 sites across Finland. The studies are mainly comparisons of different farming methods and soil types. Datasense has provided the overall system as well as data and measurement services," said Jiri Luojukoski, research project manager at Datasense.

 

- HKScan