Carbon-Negative Farming Pathways, Practices, and Policies for Sustainable Agricultural Futures

Preface

About the Authors

1. Introduction

2. The Science Behind Carbon-Negative Farming

3. Principles of Carbon-Negative Farming

4. Key Practices of Carbon-Negative Farming

5. Innovative Approaches and Technologies

6. Case Studies and Lessons from the Field

7. Challenges and Solutions of Carbon-Negative Farming

8. The Future of Carbon-Negative Farming

9. Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration: The Cornerstone of Carbon-Negative Farming

10. Carbon Accounting and Measurement Tools

11. Economic Viability and Market Mechanisms

12. Policy and Governance for Carbon-Negative Agriculture

13. Community and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

14. Climate-Resilient Crop Systems

15. Education, Training and Capacity Building

16. Urban and Peri-Urban Carbon-Negative Farming

17. Carbon-Negative Livestock Systems

18. Digital and AI-Based Tools for Carbon Farming

Glossary

Biography

Farooq Ahmad Khan is Professor and Chief Scientist in Plant Physiology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He has over three decades of research, teaching, and leadership experience in agricultural and horticultural sciences. His research focuses on physiological stress management in crops, post-harvest physiology, seed priming, and sustainable production techniques including hydroponics and microgreens. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers, books, and book chapters on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable horticulture, and plant stress physiology. His work integrates innovative practices in plant science to support climate resilience and enhance agricultural productivity in sustainable farming systems.

Zaffar Mahdi Dar is Associate Professor and Senior Scientist in Plant Physiology at the Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He earned his B.Sc. in Agriculture in 2002, M.Sc. in Plant Physiology in 2004, and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology in 2008, specializing in salicylic acid-mediated stress alleviation in crops. He has over 15 years of academic and research experience in plant stress physiology, biofertilizers, sustainable agriculture, and crop management under temperate Himalayan conditions. His research encompasses drought and salinity tolerance, antioxidant defense mechanisms, soil microbial diversity, hydroponics, vermicomposting, and organic production systems in high-altitude agroecosystems. His current work emphasizes drought stress memory, precision nutrient management, hydroponic crop production, and climate-resilient agriculture.

Saddam Hussain is pursuing his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He earned his M.Sc. with distinction from Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan, India. His research focuses on microgreens, hydroponics, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria applications for sustainable solutions in food and nutritional security. He received the Best Presentation Award in 2024 and holds a patent for a seed-coating device. He has co-edited Innovative Practices in Sustainable Horticulture, reviewed for journals, and published internationally. 

Sumati Narayan is Professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He earned his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Kanpur University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, M.Sc. in Agronomy from Meerut University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, and Ph.D. in Agronomy from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He has over three decades of academic and research experience at institutions including Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. His research focuses on organic and sustainable farming, natural resource conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate-resilient agriculture