How to choose a business model

A soil-health business model is the way a farm earns income or saves costs while improving its soil. Many farmers are still exploring. This guide helps you see which models fit your farm, your resources and your goals.

Answer 4 questions to see which models fit you best.

What is your main goal?How much can you invest in the next 2 years?Do you work with other farmers or a cooperative?What land do you manage?

Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

Trees are integrated with crops or livestock as a managed farm system.

What it requires

Long-term land access, tree management skills and a compatible cropping or grazing plan.

Typical costs

Tree establishment and continuing management; no universal amount is recorded.

Typical benefits

Combines production with soil-health, biodiversity and water-regulation benefits.

First step

Discuss a suitable field or pasture and establishment plan with an adviser.

agroforestry rotational grazing

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Carbon farming and ecosystem-service payments

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

Farmers receive payments linked to practices or soil and ecosystem-service outcomes.

What it requires

Suitable land, practice implementation, monitoring and a credible payment agreement.

Typical costs

Transition and monitoring costs; programme-specific amounts are not recorded.

Typical benefits

May provide new income while improving soil and ecosystem services.

First step

Check local programme eligibility and monitoring requirements with an adviser.

no min tillage multispecies cover crops

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Circular bioenergy and digestate

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

Organic material is converted into energy and digestate returns nutrients to farmland.

What it requires

Feedstocks, shared infrastructure, operating skills and responsible digestate handling.

Typical costs

Infrastructure, feedstock logistics and operations; costs depend on project design.

Typical benefits

Uses organic residues and returns a nutrient stream to farmland.

First step

Map available feedstocks and potential infrastructure partners.

composting

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Collective composting and nutrient recycling

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

A shared system turns organic residues into soil amendments for farms.

What it requires

Organic residues, shared equipment, compliant handling and partners to coordinate collection and processing.

Typical costs

Equipment, collection, storage and coordination; costs depend on the local arrangement.

Typical benefits

Returns organic matter and nutrients to soil while making use of regional biomass.

First step

Ask nearby farmers about available residues and shared processing.

composting

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Community-supported agriculture

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

Members support farm production and share its harvest through a community arrangement.

What it requires

Land, growing skills, members, distribution arrangements and time for communication.

Typical costs

Production, distribution and organising members; amounts are not recorded.

Typical benefits

Community commitments support farm income and diversified soil-health practices.

First step

Discuss seasonal commitments with prospective members.

intercropping multispecies cover crops

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Value-chain insetting with buyers

Draft guidance · for all countries

Definition

Farmers and buyers support soil improvements within their own supply chain.

What it requires

A buyer partnership, agreed farming practices and monitoring.

Typical costs

Practice changes, coordination and monitoring; amounts depend on the arrangement.

Typical benefits

Connects improved soil management with buyer requirements and potential farm income.

First step

Ask an existing buyer about support for one soil-health practice.

diverse crop rotations legumes in rotation

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