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<p>Agricultural soils are increasingly recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change through the sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC). The realization of this potential, however, is critically dependent on robust systems for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV). This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of SOC MRV systems, examining the intricate interplay between scientific methodologies, inherent uncertainties, and the governing policy and economic landscapes. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the spectrum of MRV methods, from direct soil sampling and laboratory analysis to indirect approaches such as biogeochemical modeling, sensing, and data-driven SOC inference. Our findings indicate that while direct measurement remains the analytical benchmark, its high cost and logistical constraints necessitate a shift toward integrated MRV architectures. In this revised framing, standalone data-driven methods such as ML/DL-enabled digital soil mapping are distinguished from genuinely hybrid systems, which combine periodic direct measurements with process-based models, sensing data, and, where appropriate, data-driven components to balance accuracy, cost, and scalability. A central theme emerging from the analysis is the critical importance of uncertainty quantification and management. We find that uncertainty is not merely a technical issue but a core component of system credibility, directly influencing the economic viability of carbon farming projects and the environmental integrity of carbon credits. The review further explores the policy frameworks and economic incentives, such as voluntary carbon markets and climate finance, that are driving the development of MRV technologies. Given the breadth of MRV applications, this review is framed around project-level MRV for agricultural soil carbon crediting in voluntary and compliance offset markets; corporate value-chain ‘insetting’ and national inventory applications are noted for context but are not reviewed comprehensively. Key challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols, high transaction costs, and the need to ensure additionality and permanence, are critically discussed. We conclude that the advancement of agricultural SOC sequestration as a viable climate solution hinges on the development of trusted, transparent, and scientifically defensible MRV systems. Future research should prioritize long-term field experiments for model validation, inter-comparison of integrated MRV frameworks, and socio-economic studies to facilitate farmer adoption and effective policy design.</p>

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MRV systems for agricultural soil organic carbon in offset markets: methods, uncertainty, and policy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月12日

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  • Weihong Wu,
  • Baoyi Lin

摘要

Agricultural soils are increasingly recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change through the sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC). The realization of this potential, however, is critically dependent on robust systems for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV). This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of SOC MRV systems, examining the intricate interplay between scientific methodologies, inherent uncertainties, and the governing policy and economic landscapes. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the spectrum of MRV methods, from direct soil sampling and laboratory analysis to indirect approaches such as biogeochemical modeling, sensing, and data-driven SOC inference. Our findings indicate that while direct measurement remains the analytical benchmark, its high cost and logistical constraints necessitate a shift toward integrated MRV architectures. In this revised framing, standalone data-driven methods such as ML/DL-enabled digital soil mapping are distinguished from genuinely hybrid systems, which combine periodic direct measurements with process-based models, sensing data, and, where appropriate, data-driven components to balance accuracy, cost, and scalability. A central theme emerging from the analysis is the critical importance of uncertainty quantification and management. We find that uncertainty is not merely a technical issue but a core component of system credibility, directly influencing the economic viability of carbon farming projects and the environmental integrity of carbon credits. The review further explores the policy frameworks and economic incentives, such as voluntary carbon markets and climate finance, that are driving the development of MRV technologies. Given the breadth of MRV applications, this review is framed around project-level MRV for agricultural soil carbon crediting in voluntary and compliance offset markets; corporate value-chain ‘insetting’ and national inventory applications are noted for context but are not reviewed comprehensively. Key challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols, high transaction costs, and the need to ensure additionality and permanence, are critically discussed. We conclude that the advancement of agricultural SOC sequestration as a viable climate solution hinges on the development of trusted, transparent, and scientifically defensible MRV systems. Future research should prioritize long-term field experiments for model validation, inter-comparison of integrated MRV frameworks, and socio-economic studies to facilitate farmer adoption and effective policy design.