What it is
Eric Toensmeier's comprehensive reference catalogs farming and land use practices that sequester atmospheric carbon. The book profiles over 200 species and dozens of agricultural systems, providing crop-by-crop climate impact data including carbon sequestration rates, biomass yields, and land suitability. It covers agroforestry, perennial crops, managed grazing, and aquatic farming systems.
Why we picked this
Most climate books describe the problem. This one provides the species-level agricultural solutions. Toensmeier's approach is encyclopedic but practical, giving farmers and land managers specific crops and systems matched to their climate zone and soil type. It is the most data-dense resource available on the intersection of agriculture and carbon drawdown.
Key takeaways
- Agroforestry systems sequester 0.55-1.9 Mg C/ha/yr, with tropical systems at the high end, making them among the most effective land-based carbon removal strategies.
- Perennial staple crops (tree nuts, perennial grains, fruit) can replace annual crops while maintaining root systems that store carbon year-round.
- The book profiles climate-specific recommendations, so a farmer in temperate Europe gets different guidance than one in tropical Southeast Asia.