Organic and carbon farming: friends or foes? How German farmers perceive compatibility using Q methodology

Certified carbon farming has emerged as a business model for climate action, yet its integration with organic farming remains controversial due to additionality requirements and debates about organic farming's carbon sequestration potential. This study examines how organic farmers perceive the agronomic feasibility, economic and operational compatibility of carbon farming with their organic farming system. Using Q methodology, we interviewed 20 German organic, non-carbon farming certificated farmers in 2024. Our analysis identified three distinct factors, and one of the factors exhibiting a bipolar structure, i.e. this results in four perspectives: environmental advocates viewing carbon farming as complementary to organic practices, operational skeptics questioning feasibility within intensive cropping systems, autonomy-focused farmers concerned about additional restrictions, and technical pragmatists recognizing climate benefits while doubting compatibility of organic and carbon farming. Integration barriers include additionality requirements excluding early adopters, conflicts between organic weed management and reduced tillage practices, and skepticism about carbon markets. Unlike previous research treating organic farmers as homogeneous, our study provides the first analysis of diverse perspectives within this community. These findings offer crucial insights for developing carbon farming policies that accommodate the varied operational realities of organic agriculture.