“This is one of the really intriguing prospects for soil carbon,” Dr Newcombe said.

“Almost by definition, increases in soil carbon increase yield and profitability.

"But it also means an increase in biodiversity, in the diversity of soil organisms, and in the health of agricultural landscapes generally.”

“In many types of interventions, by accurately measuring increases in soil organic carbon, you’re also measuring increases in the sustainability of agriculture and biodiversity.”

Dr Newcombe co-developed the international Voluntary Carbon Standard, designed to give rigour to the voluntary carbon market.

While developing the standard, Dr Newcombe said he and his colleagues decided to allow for independent certification of additional benefits on top of the carbon value, “on the understanding that there might be a market evolving over time for carbon that has these additional sustainability criteria”.

Forestry already has a similar instrument in the form of the Forestry Stewardship Certification.

The partnership between Dr Newcombe’s C-Quest and RM Williams Agricultural Holdings is looking at similar add-on certification to carbon credits through Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) certification.

“We believe markets will evolve over time that will reward other attributes, and not just the soil carbon itself,” Dr Newcombe said.