Aaron Scheid

Aaron Scheid

MSc (Global Change Management)

Coordinator Agriculture & Soils
Senior Fellow

Team
Topics

Aaron Scheid is a senior agricultural policy expert with extensive experience at the science-policy interface of EU agricultural and land use policy. At Ecologic Institute, he coordinates the Agriculture & Soils team and leads work on the agriculture-climate nexus with a specific focus on carbon removals and carbon farming and the agriculture-water nexus with a specific focus on climate resilient agricultural landscapes and peatland rewetting. Aaron Scheid works in German and English.

Aaron Scheid brings along a comprehensive understanding of public and private incentive and financing mechanisms for climate-smart agriculture with a core focus on the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Aaron Scheid leads the project MoorNet (research and technical support for the implementation of the national peatland protection strategy Germany and networking of stakeholders) and the report on Leveraging the Common Agricultural Policy to Accelerate Livestock Emission Reductions. In addition, he contributes to the following projects: Guidelines for Climate-Resilient Landscapes and the three Horizon Europe projects Climate Farm Demo, Carbon Farming Monitoring and Registry (CAFAMORE) and Biodiversity And Landscape restoration through Agricultural systems for Nature Conservation and resilient farm Economies (BALANCE). Furthermore, he is a member of the EU Expert Group on Carbon Removals.

Before joining Ecologic Institute, Aaron Scheid worked as a research assistant for a member of the German Parliament, focusing on policies related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the time period from 2018 until 2021. His work was dedicated mainly to the committee for food and agriculture.

Aaron Scheid has completed a master's degree in Global Change Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). He wrote his thesis on small scale farmers' adaptation measures to fuelwood scarcity in central Tanzania in cooperation with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF).

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Selected projects by Aaron Scheid
ProjectGuidance on Climate Resilient Landscapes
 

Bild von Markus Distelrath auf Pixabay

The Guidance on Climate Resilient Landscapes project, financed by DG CLIMA, will develop actionable guidance to strengthen climate resilience in Europe's rural landscapes. With floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires becoming more frequent and severe, landscapes need... Read more

Guidance on Climate Resilient Landscapes

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectImplementation of the National Peatland Protection Strategy (MoorNet)
 

© Sandra Naumann

Peatlands are ecosystems for a variety of specialised plant and animal species and serve as important natural carbon reservoirs. They also have a regulating effect on the water and nutrient balance and a cooling evaporation effect, which is important for the local and... Read more

Implementation of the National Peatland Protection Strategy (MoorNet)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectHorizon EuropeA European-wide Network of Pilot Farmers for a Carbon Neutral Europe (Climate Farm Demo)
 
CFD Logo

CFD Logo

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Copyright: Climate Farm Demo Consortium

Climate Farm Demo is a unique pan-European network of Pilot Demo Farmers covering 28 countries and all pedo-climatic areas. Its overall aim it to accelerate the adoption of Climate Smart Farming (CSF) practices and solutions by farmers and all actors of the Climate... Read more

A European-wide Network of Pilot Farmers for a Carbon Neutral Europe (Climate Farm Demo)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectHorizon EuropeCarbon Farming Monitoring and Registry (CAFAMORE)
 

cafamore.eu

Carbon farming is increasingly considered in EU climate and land-use policy, but its uptake is constrained by persistent challenges related to monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), baseline setting, and trust in certificates. Fragmented data sources,... Read more

Carbon Farming Monitoring and Registry (CAFAMORE)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectHorizon EuropeBuilding Momentum and Trust to Achieve Credible Soil Carbon Farming in the EU (CREDIBLE)
 

Bild von Volker Glätsch auf Pixabay

Carbon farming holds great promise as a business model that rewards land managers for implementing practices that contribute to mitigating climate change. Actions that increase soil carbon sequestration and storage offer mitigation potential while posing a number of... Read more

Building Momentum and Trust to Achieve Credible Soil Carbon Farming in the EU (CREDIBLE)

Duration
-
Funding
Selected publications by Aaron Scheid
PublicationPolicy BriefIncentivising Systemic and Climate-resilient Farming Approaches through Rewarding Mechanisms
 

Photo: DiAuras, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Cover: Climate Farm Demo project, 2026

This policy brief examines how current climate-action rewarding mechanisms address – or fail to address – organic farming as a systemic and climate-resilient approach. It analyses existing monetary, regulatory and supportive instruments at EU level, with a particular... Read more

Scheid, Aaron et al. (2026): Incentivizing systemic and climate-resilient farming approaches through rewarding mechanisms. Barriers, challenges and recommendations. Policy brief of the Horizon Europe project "A European-wide network of pilot farmers implementing and demonstrating climate smart solutions for a carbon neutral Europe".

PublicationReportIncentivizing Farm-level Climate Action through Rewarding Mechanisms
 

© Foto: Yulian Alexeyev via Unsplash; Cover: Climate Farm Demo, 2025

Europe's agricultural sector holds tremendous potential to advance climate and environmental goals, but realizing that potential depends on the right mix of funding and targeted support. This report, led by Ecologic Institute together with partners in the Climate Farm... Read more

Scheid, Aaron; Pazmino Murillo, Julia; McDonald, Hugh et al. (2025): Incentivizing farm-level climate action through rewarding mechanisms. A categorization framework. Deliverable of the Horizon Europe project "A European-wide network of pilot farmers implementing and demonstrating climate smart solutions for a carbon neutral Europe".

PublicationReportTemporary Carbon Units from Carbon Farming and EU Agri-food Climate Policy
 

Photo: Shumwai,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cover: Ecologic Institute, 2025

This report, by Ecologic Institute and Öko-Institut, explores how potential EU policy instruments – such as the proposed Agricultural Emissions Trading System (AgETS), Mandatory Climate Standards (MCS), and public procurement programmes – can integrate carbon farming... Read more

McDonald, H., Siemons, A., Fallasch, F., Gardiner, J., Scheid, A., Scheffler, M., and Wiegman, K. (2025). Temporary carbon units from carbon farming and EU agri-food climate policy: Assessment of risks, opportunities, and alternatives for promoting temporary carbon sequestration. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationReportLeveraging the Common Agricultural Policy to Accelerate Livestock Emission Reductions
 

Photo: Canva.com, Cover page: Ecologic Institute, EDF, IEEP, 2025

Cutting Livestock Emissions: Can the CAP Deliver? EU agriculture is on the front line of environmental and economic challenges. Farmers face mounting climate pressures while struggling to secure fair livelihoods. Livestock production alone makes up about 65% of the... Read more

Scheid A, Hart K, Pazmino J, Riedel A, Tremblay L-l, Durrant L (2025) Leveraging the Common Agricultural Policy to accelerate livestock emission reductions – examples from five Member States, Ecologic Institute and IEEP

PublicationArticleQuantifying Ecosystem Services of Rewetted Peatlands
 
Cover of the journal 'Ecological Indicators' from Elsevier. The title is: 'Ecological Indicators: Integrating, Monitoring, Assessment and Management'. The cover shows four pictures connected by arrows: a picture of laboratory bottles, a picture of dead fish, a picture of a man in front of several computer monitors and a picture of a book entitled 'Codex Federal Regulations'. Snow-covered mountains can be seen in the background. The publishers are J.C. Marques and F. Müller.

© 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Peatlands provide numerous important ecosystem services, including climate regulation through carbon sequestration and storage, water regulation, nutrient retention and wildlife habitat. Despite their importance, healthy peatlands worldwide are being reduced and... Read more

Tanneberger, Franziska et al. (2024) 'Quantifying ecosystem services of rewetted peatlands − the MoorFutures methodologies' Ecological Indicators 163 (2024), p. 112048. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112048.

PublicationReportPricing Agricultural Emissions and Rewarding Climate Action in the Agri-food Value Chain
 
Report cover with a deep teal background. At the top, a small white circular logo with a stylized image of the Earth. Below the logo, in large, white, sans-serif font, the title 'Pricing agricultural emissions and rewarding climate action in the agri-food value chain'. At the bottom of the cover, the company logo 'Trinomics' with its characteristic half-circle colored graphic.

© Trinomics 2023

The agriculture and land sectors must mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for the EU to meet its climate targets. In a new report published by the European Commission's DG CLIMA, Ecologic Institute, IEEP, and Trinomics investigate how an emissions trading system (ETS)... Read more

Bognar, Julia et al. 2023: Pricing agricultural emissions and rewarding climate action in the agri-food value chain. Rotterdam: Trinomics.

PublicationReportEnvironment and Climate Assessment of Germany's Cap Strategic Plan
 
Cover Page of Report on: Environment and climate assessment of Germany’s CAP Strategic Plan

© IEEP

This report identifies and assesses the likely contribution of Germany's CAP Strategic Plan to climate mitigation and adaptation, natural resources, and biodiversity protection. Overall, the findings are that there is potential for an ambitious CAP 2023-2027 period with... Read more

Scheid, A. and S. Ittner (2023) 'Assessment of the German CAP Strategic Plan: environmental and climate contributions', Policy report, Institute for European Environmental Policy and Ecologic Institute

PublicationPolicy BriefTransforming EU Land Use and the CAP: A post-2024 vision
 
Cover of the policy paper "Transforming EU land use and the CAP: a post-2024 visioni"

© IEEP

Discussions are getting underway on the post-2027 CAP – covering the period up to 2034 – with the Commission's proposals expected in July 2025. These will be drawn up by a new EU administration following the 2024 EU elections. It is in this context that this paper makes... Read more

Baldock, D. and Bradley, H. (2023) ‘Transforming EU land use and the CAP: a post-2024 vision', Policy Paper, Institute for European Environmental Policy

PublicationReportCarbon Farming Co-benefits
 
Cover of the report "Carbon farming co-benefits. Approaches to enhance and safeguard biodiversity"

© Ecologic Institute

On 19 December 2022, at the COP15 in Montreal, 196 countries historically agreed on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets global biodiversity targets to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. In coherence with the proclaimed UN decade for... Read more

Scheid, Aaron et al. 2023: Carbon farming co-benefits: Approaches to enhance and safeguard biodiversity. Berlin, Brussels: Ecologic Institute, IEEP.

PublicationReportRole of Soils in Climate Change Mitigation
 
Cover of the report "Role of soils in climate change mitigation"

© German Environment Agency

This report examines the mitigation potential of climate friendly soil management practices at global, EU and German level, along with key management measures, their co-benefits and trade-offs, and implementation challenges. Globally, soils store two to three times... Read more

Frelih-Larsen, Ana et al. 2022: Role of soils in climate change mitigation. Interim Report. Climate Change 56/2022. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationFact SheetLow Input Grasslands / Set-aside Areas
 
Cover of the fact sheet "Low input grasslands / set-aside areas"

© German Environment Agency

Scheid, Aaron et al. 2022: Low input grasslands / set-aside areas. Factsheet. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau. ... Read more

Scheid, Aaron et al. 2022: Low input grasslands / set-aside areas. Factsheet. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationFact SheetPrevention of Land Take
 
1st page of the fact sheet "Prevention of land take"

© German Environment Agency

Scheid, Aaron et al. 2022: Prevention of land take. Factsheet. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau. ... Read more

Scheid, Aaron et al. 2022: Prevention of land take. Factsheet. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationReportAlternativen zu chemisch-synthetischen Pestiziden in der Landwirtschaft
 
Cover of the study "Alternativen zu chemisch-synthetischen Pestiziden in der Landwirtschaft. Zusammenfassung und Überblick zum aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Stand", with logo of BUND. Background image: Cornflower in a grain field

© Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. (BUND) – Friends of the Earth Germany

What are the alternatives to the use of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides? What potential do they have, and what are the preconditions for their use? Which farming measures minimize weed and parasite infestations? What can be used to attract beneficial insects?... Read more

Scheid, Aaron; May Hobeika; Antonia Riedel 2022: Alternativen zu chemisch-synthetischen Pestiziden in der Landwirtschaft. Zusammenfassung und Überblick zum aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Stand. Berlin: Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. (BUND)

PublicationPolicy BriefTowards a Transformative Sustainable Food System Legislative Framework
 
Cover of the Think2030 policy brief "Towards a Transformative Sustainable Food System Legislative Framework"

© Think Sustainable Europe

This Think 2030 policy brief proceeds in five parts. Section 1 defines what a sustainable agri-food system should look like according to the scientific literature and how an Sustainable Food System (SFS) law could bring EU food systems more in line with the evidence.... Read more

Baldock, David et al. 2022: Towards a Transformative Sustainable Food System Legislative Framework. Think2030 Policy Brief.

PublicationArticleFuelwood Scarcity and its Adaptation Measures
 
Screenshot of the article

copyright: IOP Science

In Tanzania, the majority of the rural population still relies on fuelwood as their major source of cooking energy. The adaptation measures of small-scale farmers in response to increasing fuelwood scarcity play a key role in altering the course of nutrition insecurity,... Read more

A Scheid et al 2018 Environ. Res. Lett. 13 095004

PublicationArticleAdapting to Fuelwood Scarcity
 
screenshot first page

© 2019 Scheid, Hafner, Hoffmann, Kächele, Uckert, Sieber and Rybak.

About 3 billion people worldwide depend on fuelwood to meet their domestic energy needs. Almost 90% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa use fuelwood-based forms of energy. However, its use is often unsustainable and is one driver of environmental degradation. In... Read more

Scheid A, Hafner JM, Hoffmann H, Kächele H, Uckert G, Sieber S and Rybak C (2019) Adapting to Fuelwood Scarcity: The Farmers' Perspective. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 3:28. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2019.00028

Selected events by Aaron Scheid
EventConferenceMoorNet Final Conference 2025
 

The picture shows the MoorNet roll-up banner and the foyer with participants.

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©Christian Schneider / Ecologic Institute

Peatlands were unique ecosystems that not only provided habitat for a wide range of specialized plant and animal species, but also served as significant natural carbon stores and climate regulators. In light of the extensive drainage and use of peatland areas in Germany... Read more

Conference:MoorNet Final Conference 2025

Date
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Location
Berlin, Germany
EventDigital EventAlternatives to Synthetic Chemical Pesticides in Agriculture
 

Photo by Jewgenia Stasiok | pixelio.de

Insect mortality, loss of biodiversity in the agricultural landscape, but also pesticide residues in food? Surely no one wants that. As well as pesticides or their degradation products in the soil, water and air. Nevertheless, around 30,000 metric tons of pesticides are... Read more

Digital Event:Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Pesticides in Agriculture

Date
Location
online
Selected presentations by Aaron Scheid
PresentationPanel discussionWhat's in for Climate and Environment?
 

©MartinaChmielewski|Fotolia.com

On 21 March 2023, Aaron Scheid presented Ecologic Institute's analysis of the German CAP Strategic Plan at the NABUtalk on the next CAP reform. He joined State Secretary Silvia Bender and CAP experts Dr. Sebastian Lakner, Sönke Beckmann, and Dr. Norbert Röder to discuss... Read more

Panel discussion:What's in for Climate and Environment?

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
PresentationPanel discussionStocktaking and Alternatives to Pesticides in Agriculture
 

Photo by Jewgenia Stasiok | pixelio.de

Food is supposed to be healthy and grown sustainably. But in reality, more and more pesticides end up on the fields and thus in our food. Mass pesticide use has devastating effects on health and the environment. Is this really necessary? What are the concrete effects of... Read more

Panel discussion:Stocktaking and Alternatives to Pesticides in Agriculture

Date
Location
online
PresentationInterviewAlternatives to Pesticides also Exist for Conventional Agriculture
 

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Diverse crop rotation, mechanical weed control, beneficial insects to protect crops: According to a study commissioned by BUND, standard practice in organic farming could also be used more often by conventional farmers. Aaron Scheid from the Ecologic Institute and... Read more

Interview:Alternatives to Pesticides also Exist for Conventional Agriculture

Date
Location
Deutschlandfunk, Germany

Recent content by Aaron Scheid

Publication:Policy Brief
 
This policy brief examines how current climate-action rewarding mechanisms address – or fail to address – organic farming as a systemic and climate-resilient approach. It analyses existing monetary, regulatory and supportive instruments at EU level, with a particular focus on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation.

Incentivising Systemic and Climate-resilient Farming Approaches through Rewarding Mechanisms

Barriers, challenges and recommendations

Year

Read more
Event:Workshop
 
On 27 and 28 January 2026, the European Commission invited selected experts to the regional workshop "Designing Climate-Resilient Landscapes" in Bucharest. The event aimed to gather practical insights and good practices from diverse governance and landscape contexts, supporting the development of new EU guidance on landscape-based climate adaptation. Participants can look forward to keynoting inputs and hands-on breakout sessions focused on real-world challenges and solutions.

Designing Climate Resilient Landscapes in Europe

Regional Expert Workshop

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Bucharest, Romania

Read more
Event:Conference
 
At the MoorNet Final Conference 2025, results and approaches from the research and development project were presented. The event also offered space to discuss further developments and to identify additional needs for action. Key topics included overcoming implementation barriers, funding issues, and the need for communication strategies and networking concepts to strengthen and accelerate the rewetting of peatlands.

MoorNet Final Conference 2025

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Berlin, Germany

Read more
Publication:Report
 
This report, by Ecologic Institute and Öko-Institut, explores how emerging EU policy instruments – such as the proposed Agricultural Emissions Trading System (AgETS), Mandatory Climate Standards (MCS), and public procurement programmes – can integrate carbon farming while maintaining high environmental standards. The study highlights both the opportunities and the pitfalls of linking these policies to the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) and its system of temporary certified carbon units – and investigates alternative approaches to promote carbon farming.

Temporary Carbon Units from Carbon Farming and EU Agri-food Climate Policy

Assessment of risks, opportunities, and alternatives for promoting carbon farming

Year

Read more
Publication:Report
 
Europe's agricultural sector holds tremendous potential to advance climate and environmental goals, but realizing that potential depends on the right mix of funding and targeted support. A new report led by Ecologic Institute, together with partners in the Climate Farm Demo (CFD) project, introduces a framework to better understand and navigate the wide variety of rewarding mechanisms that encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart practices.

Incentivizing Farm-level Climate Action through Rewarding Mechanisms

A categorization framework

Year

Read more
Publication:Report
 
On 25 September 2025, the Sowing Solutions: Science & Policy for a Sustainable and Thriving EU Agriculture event, organized by the Environmental Defense Fund Europe, explored these challenges. A dedicated session on "livestock methane in CAP Strategic Plans" brought together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to share evidence and discuss how the CAP can drive real impact. The goal was to spark fresh thinking, informed debate, and practical pathways forward.

Leveraging the Common Agricultural Policy to Accelerate Livestock Emission Reductions

Year

Read more
Event:Conference
 
The agricultural sector holds enormous potential to reduce GHG emissions, enhance carbon removals, and support climate adaptation. Delivering these environmental objectives requires adequate funding and support to unlock opportunities that drive the transition toward greater sustainability and are a useful tool as part of a broader policy mix to promote the transition.

Incentivizing Farm-level Climate Action through Rewarding Mechanisms

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Seinäjoki, Finland

Read more
Event:Workshop
 
On 17 and 18 September 2025, the European Commission invited selected experts to the regional workshop "Designing Climate-Resilient Landscapes" in Berlin. The event aimed to gather practical insights and good practices from diverse governance and landscape contexts, supporting the development of new EU guidance on landscape-based climate adaptation. Participants looked forward to keynoting inputs and hands-on breakout sessions focused on real-world challenges and solutions.

Designing Climate Resilient Landscapes in Europe

Regional Expert Workshop

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Berlin, Germany

Read more
Project:Horizon Europe
 
As the European Commission develops the CRCF, the need for effective monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems and a detailed registry is becoming more pressing. Against this background, the CAFAMORE project addresses these challenges by developing a harmonised, parcel-level monitoring approach and a geographically explicit registry for carbon farming across the EU.

Carbon Farming Monitoring and Registry (CAFAMORE)

Developing a harmonised monitoring and registry framework for carbon farming in Europe

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Read more