Carbon farming is quickly moving from concept to implementation across Europe. As climate targets become more ambitious and agriculture plays a central role in mitigation efforts, the need for practical, scalable, and credible solutions has never been greater.
Against this backdrop, the 3rd European Carbon Farming Summit in Padova, Italy brought together key actors across the ecosystem from policymakers and researchers to farmers and market developers to discuss how carbon farming can deliver real impact.
The summit served as a key milestone in the transition from policy development to implementation, particularly in light of the upcoming Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF).
Across sessions and discussions, several core themes emerged:
1. From Frameworks to Action
Speakers emphasized that Europe is entering a decisive phase where the focus is no longer on defining carbon farming but on making it work in practice.
2. Credibility Through MRV
Robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems were highlighted as essential to ensure trust, transparency, and environmental integrity.
3. Creating Real Value for Farmers
A recurring message was clear:
Carbon farming will only scale if it is economically viable and aligned with farmers’ realities.
4. Building the Market Infrastructure
Discussions also pointed to the need for:
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Standardised methodologies
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Reliable carbon registries
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Stronger market conditions
Our Contribution: Cross-Border Carbon Farming in the Adriatic:
“Cross-Border Carbon Farming in the Adriatic: Operationalizing Payments for Ecosystem Services”
Developed under the GECO 2.2 project, this work focuses on bridging the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground implementation.
What We Are Building
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A regional voluntary carbon market for agriculture
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A structured system including MRV, governance, and transaction models
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A pathway from pilot projects to scalable adoption
Key Focus Areas
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Pilots & testing of methodologies and baselines
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Development of standards for soil carbon and ecosystem outcomes
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Capacity building for farmers and advisors
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Cross-border collaboration across the Adriatic region
Why the Adriatic Region Matters - The region highlights both opportunity and complexity:
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High potential for soil carbon sequestration through improved practices
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Strong co-benefits for soil health, water retention, and climate resilience
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Structural challenges such as:
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Small and fragmented farms
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Limited advisory capacity
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Barriers to adoption of sustainable practices
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Explore further the Poster
We invite you to explore the full poster presented at the summit:
