CarbonXtras Project Completes Soil Sampling and Convenes National Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture
The CarbonXtras Project advanced significantly after completing nationwide baseline soil sampling and bringing stakeholders together for a major workshop on real-time soil and carbon monitoring to support climate-smart agriculture in Ghana.
The initiative aims to develop a Dynamic Real-Time Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System capable of providing instant data on soil health, carbon fluxes and greenhouse-gas emissions.
This is the first time Ghana is deploying sensors with eyes capable of avoiding obstructions and capturing how our soils breathe. The sensors will track carbon fluxes, moisture shifts, temperature and greenhouse-gas emissions with real-time precision.
According to the implementing partners, the system is expected to support farmers, policymakers and researchers with timely information to guide more effective decision-making.
The project is led by The James Hutton Institute (UK), the CSIR–Crops Research Institute (Ghana), Embrapa (Brazil) and Sonavision (UK), with national collaboration from institutions including DIPPER Lab at KNUST, AINAS and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
It is funded under the UK–Brazil–Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership, supported by the FCDO and delivered by Innovate UK.
Before the workshop, the CarbonXtras team completed soil sampling and related field activities across Tolon near Tamale, Navrongo, Kintampo and Ejisu.
The team met with the District Directorate of Agriculture and farmers, introducing the RETINA mobile application, which allows farmers and extension officers to record real-time field observations.
At the stakeholder workshop, Deputy Director of CSIR–CRI, Dr. Ernest Baafi, commended the collaborative effort behind the project.
“This initiative has the power to revolutionize farming practices across Africa
“By giving farmers real-time insights into soil health, weather patterns and crop performance, we are strengthening their ability to adapt and improve productivity,” he said.
Lead Principal Investigator, Dr. Jagadeesh Yeluripati, reflected on the team’s interactions during field visits.
“Nearly every farmer we met spoke about declining yields caused by shifting weather patterns and increasing pressures
“By deploying these real-time sensors, we hope to predict future conditions and guide farmers to intervene at the right moments,” he noted
Co-Principal Investigator from Embrapa, Dr. Beáta Emöke Madari, discussed the importance of regenerative agricultural practices.
“Biochar, when applied properly, can significantly increase soil carbon
“But we must always balance soil carbon gains with biodiversity and ecosystem objectives,” she revealed.
The Director of Research and Development of AINAS (African Initiative for Nature-Based Solutions), Dr. Enoch Bessah emphasized the value of building the continent’s capacity to measure its natural assets.
“For too long, Africa’s contribution to global climate regulation has been invisible, unmeasured and unrewarded
“Without reliable data, our farmers cannot access carbon credits and our policymakers cannot forecast risks. CarbonXtras gives us this missing capacity,” he noted.
Dr. Caleb Melenya Ocansey, Lead Principal Investigator of the CarbonXtras Programme at the CSIR–Crops Research Institute and lead Collaboration Partner at DIPPER Lab, KNUST emphasised that, projects of this scale can only thrive and deliver deep impact in Africa, and especially in Ghana, when strong networks and intentional stakeholder relationships are built.
He expressed his sincere appreciation to all stakeholders present for contributing to the success of the very first CarbonXtras field campaign.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture was represented by Mrs. Esi Boatemaa Quansah, who assured partners and participants of the ministry’s continued collaboration.
“We are going to continue this collaboration so that the success of this project will be manifested for all of us to see
“At the end of the day, what we truly want is to help our farmers,” she stated.
A panel discussion led by Dr. Caleb Melanya Ocansey, explored how the MRV system could interface with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions and future carbon market structures.
A high-level panel discussion led by Dr. Caleb Melenya Ocansey explored how the CarbonXtras MRV system can be strategically embedded within Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions and future carbon-market frameworks.
Dr. Ocansey highlighted the growing interest from key government ministries, including Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the National Communication Authority (NCA).
He noted that each sees CarbonXtras as a scalable national infrastructure capable of transforming how Ghana measures carbon, supports and give premium to farmers who produce food sustainably, and positions itself in emerging carbon economies.
Scientific Director of DIPPER Lab, Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao, raised questions on long-term data storage and protection, stressing the importance of secure digital infrastructure.
With the completion of soil sampling and constructive engagement among scientists, policymakers and local partners, the CarbonXtras Project has now entered a new phase focused on scaling real-time monitoring tools and strengthening institutional collaboration.
Partners expressed confidence that the initiative will support more resilient agricultural practices and enhance the capacity to measure and manage carbon within Ghana’s farming landscapes.
