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, heterogeneous methodologies and differing national approaches complicate implementation under emerging EU frameworks.  

In response to these challenges, the EU is developing a voluntary framework for the certification of carbon removals and carbon farming under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation. The regulation aims to establish quality criteria, improve transparency and prevent double counting. 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. 

Objectives and key activities

CAFAMORE aims to develop an EU-wide parcel-level monitoring and registry infrastructure for carbon farming that supports harmonised certification while minimising administrative burden.

Key activities include:

• developing harmonised data catalogues for soil, climate, crop, management and Earth observation data;
• designing and testing standardised baseline approaches aligned with CRCF requirements;
• developing and validating MRV tools combining soil data, modelling and Earth observation;
• establishing a spatially explicit registry to support certification and prevent double counting;
• analysing carbon farming markets and business models;
• testing all components in seven European pilot countries.

Ecologic Institute’s role

Ecologic Institute contributes to Work Package 6 (carbon farming economics and market opportunities) and Work Package 7 (communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement). Ecologic supports analysis of policy frameworks, market design and governance options for carbon farming, and facilitates structured dialogue between project partners, policymakers and external stakeholders at EU and national level.

The project is funded under Horizon Europe as part of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”.