Project Credible - Building momentum and trust to achieve credible soil carbon farming in the EU

Part of EU Open Research Repository
Published July 31, 2025 | Version v1
Project deliverable Open

Fit-for-region blueprint for carbon scheme development

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)
  • 2. ROR icon Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
  • 3. SAE Innova

Description

This deliverable outlines a “fit-for-region” blueprint for the development of carbon farming schemes across Europe, with a focus on ensuring that future carbon certification frameworks align with regional needs, farming systems, and socio-ecological conditions. It serves as a strategic input into project CREDIBLE, contributing to the knowledge base for the development of high-integrity, regionally adapted carbon removal certification schemes, in line with the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Certification Regulation (EU/2024/3012).

The deliverable is intended for regional and national policymakers, regional authorities, carbon scheme developers, agricultural advisors, and researchers working on carbon farming, soil health, and ecosystem services. It is particularly relevant for stakeholders involved in designing or implementing carbon farming schemes tailored to specific landuse types (agriculture, forestry), regional climates, and socio-economic contexts, as well as those involved in piloting or testing monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.

To develop the blueprint, authors conducted a multi-dimensional analysis of both public and private carbon farming initiatives across Europe. This included identifying key lessons learned from government-led schemes and regional authorities, as well as
insights from private sector and hybrid models. The research integrated inputs from Focus Group 1.5 meetings, stakeholders consulting, Carbon Farming Summits (CFS) sessions and literature review.

Special attention was paid to regional variations in soil types, climate, farm structures, governance systems, and value chain dynamics. The study mapped region-specific enabling conditions, challenges, and success factors for carbon farming schemes,
focusing on the flexibility of MRV systems, socio-economic benefits, and co-benefits communication. Examples from France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Greece and Slovakia illustrate the diversity of approaches and offer replicable models for
emerging initiatives. 

Abstract (English)

Key results
● Regional variation requires tailored schemes
Carbon farming cannot be implemented through a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Regional soil types, land use practices, and socio-political conditions necessitate
adaptable schemes that reflect local realities. Successful examples from Emilia-
Romagna, Flanders, and LIFE Climate Positive show how regional strategies can
link MRV systems to funding mechanisms and local value chains, boosting
environmental and economic outcomes.
● Multi-benefit framing increases farmer engagement
Initiatives that frame carbon farming as a multi-benefit strategy addressing soil
health, biodiversity and profitability tend to enjoy higher uptake among farmers.
Communicating these co-benefits through trusted advisory channels (as in the
Label Bas Carbone and Carbon Action platform) is essential for building long-term
trust.
● Participatory and flexible design is critical
Participatory processes that include farmers, advisors, and regional
stakeholders in co-designing schemes foster trust and increase legitimacy.
Flexibility in MRV and safeguards against penalization in uncertain conditions
(e.g., drought, natural variability) are key to ensuring uptake and sustained
engagement.

 

Research and practice implications
The findings emphasize the importance of investing in regional knowledge systems and advisory networks that can bridge scientific standards with local practices. This includes capacity building for carbon literacy, MRV training, and the development of locally relevant tools and methodologies. The deliverable also supports the idea that pilot projects should be designed as learning ecosystems, where both practice and policy can evolve in tandem.


For practitioners, the blueprint offers actionable proposals into how to design schemes
that are simple enough to scale, yet have enough potential to meet integrity requirements. Agroecological living labs, cooperative based models, and digital platforms are highlighted as mechanisms that can bring flexibility, traceability, and legitimacy to carbon farming schemes across regions.

Policy implications
In order to support the EU Mission Soil objectives such as enhancing soil carbon stocks, improving soil structure, and promoting sustainable land use policy must embrace regionspecific schemes that integrate climate, environmental, and economic goals. National and EU-level actors should recognize the role of regional authorities and hybrid initiatives in driving bottom-up innovations and ensure that CRCF implementation leaves room for local flexibility and innovation, while maintaining environmental integrity.

Conclusion
Deliverable D1.4 provides a practical and evidence-based blueprint for developing
regionally adapted carbon farming schemes in Europe. It highlights the need for
participatory design, multi-benefit framing, and flexible MRV systems, all grounded in
local context. These insights contribute to CREDIBLE’s overarching mission of enabling
high-quality, trustworthy, and scalable carbon farming certification frameworks across
Europe, aligned with the CRCF and the broader transition to climate-smart land use
systems.

Files

D1.4_Fit-for-region blueprint for cf schemes_Final.pdf

Files (817.1 kB)

Additional details

Funding

European Commission
CREDIBLE - Building momentum and trust to achieve credible soil carbon farming in the EU 101112951

Dates

Available
2025-07-31