Survey Reveals Consumer Perceptions of Carbon Farming

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Pressure to reverse the impact of carbon dioxide continues to make headlines. A new survey from Agoro Carbon Alliance reveals consumer insights on carbon farming and the important role of farmers and ranchers. Here’s Agoro Carbon agronomist, Caleb Smith.

Smith… “What the survey really found was that most of the general public is not aware of carbon farming or carbon markets. About 77 percent of people were actually not aware of carbon farming. Another thing that it found was that over one half of respondents aged 25 to 34 and one half of respondents in urban areas feel really strongly that any farmer who's participated in a carbon reduction program is seen as a leader in the fight against climate change.”

Smith says Agoro Carbon was eager to have a better understanding of how consumers felt about agriculture in the carbon space.

Smith… “What we really wanted to learn was how consumers felt about carbon farming. and we wanted to learn how consumers would change their behavior in accordance with how farmers are changing their behaviors. Really, what we found is that consumers are willing to change the way that they buy products, they're willing to pay a premium for these low carbon products. Ultimately, what we found is that most of the general public is not super aware of carbon farming, but those that are feel really strongly that farmers that participate in carbon reduction programs are leaders in the fight against climate change.”

According to Smith, carbon farming is critical to the future of agriculture.