Europe’s farmland holds immense potential - not just to store carbon, but to build healthier soils, more resilient farms, and a sustainable future for agriculture.
At this year’s EU Carbon Farming Summit - hosted by the CREDIBLE Project - policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and farmers came together with a shared goal: turning ambition into action. The Smart Carbon Farming team played an integral role, organising one session, participating directly in several others, and interviewing 28 voices around the event. Discussions revealed the challenges ahead, but more importantly, they showcased the commitment and collaboration needed to drive real change.
Farmers Lead the Way: Reconnecting the Value Chain
At the heart of every carbon farming discussion is the question: What will truly motivate farmers to adopt these practices? The answer was clear throughout the summit - farmers are not driven by carbon credits alone. Their priority is healthy, resilient soils that support productivity and long-term sustainability. Carbon farming must be embedded in regenerative agriculture, conservation practices, and sustainable soil management to maximise benefits beyond just carbon sequestration.
Accessible (transition) financing, de-risking mechanisms, and clear incentives are critical to encourage adoption. Many farmers prefer premium pricing for sustainably produced goods over complex carbon trading schemes. Reconnecting the value chain is critical to making this preference a reality. Strengthening relationships between farmers, food processors, and consumers can ensure that sustainability is a collaborative effort and is recognised and rewarded. With the right support structures, carbon farming can become a cornerstone of resilient, climate-smart agriculture.
Aligning Policies for Long-Term Success
Carbon farming is at a turning point, but policy coherence is essential to ensure its success. Better alignment between CAP, CRCF, LULUCF, and other EU policies will eliminate administrative barriers and create clarity for farmers. Establishing clear, long-term goals and incentives can provide the certainty needed for widespread adoption.
As the EU refines its next CAP and Green Claims Directive, the focus must remain on coherence, simplicity, and accessibility to ensure carbon farming is not just possible but practical for those who steward the land.
Unlocking Investment With Blended Finance
Financing the transition requires a combination of public and private investment. Blending CAP funding with voluntary carbon markets and other financial instruments could accelerate progress, provided that strong governance frameworks ensure fair compensation, additionality, and transparency. With the right financial structures in place, carbon farming can become a viable and attractive option for farmers.
Simplifying Data & Monitoring to Support Farmers
Reliable monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) is crucial for carbon farming, but current systems are often too costly and complex. Integrating MRV with digital farm data collection systems can reduce administrative burdens and make compliance more feasible. There is growing momentum behind the idea that CAP funding should cover MRV costs, ensuring that measuring success does not become a barrier to participation.
Scaling What Works: Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
The most promising insights from the summit came from real-world examples of carbon farming in action. Demonstration farms, peer learning networks, and cross-sector collaboration are proving essential to making carbon farming scalable. Interoperable systems, farmer-led initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms will be crucial for turning best practices into widespread adoption.
The summit made it clear: the transition is already underway, and with the right policies, investments, and collaboration, carbon farming can become a powerful tool for climate action and agricultural resilience.
Supporting the Transition
Smart Carbon Farming is bridging the gap between policy frameworks and practical funding mechanisms, aiming to deliver solutions that work for farmers. By collaborating directly with farmers, the initiative is developing incentive models that align soil health benefits with carbon farming opportunities. Through the testing of streamlined MRV approaches, Smart Carbon Farming ensures that these solutions remain both practical and scientifically rigorous.
The initiative also builds capacity of farmers and farm advisors while facilitating direct exchanges between farmers and piloting scalable models, creating pathways that can be replicated across the sector. Together, we’re working to pave the way for a more sustainable agricultural future, where scalable, farmer-driven solutions play a central role in tackling climate change while enhancing soil health.
Stay tuned for more insights as Smart Carbon Farming continues working to bridge gaps, implement solutions, and support farmers in making carbon farming a success.
Written by: Gerard Don, Max Meijer, Caitlin Ball (Bax)