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 asinsights 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 foremerging initiatives.
Granholm et al. (Thu,) studied this question.