Expert discussions continue on the development of the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation

As the EU advances towards its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, significant efforts are being made to develop a Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation that promotes high-quality carbon removals and soil emission reductions, while ensuring transparency, credibility, and environmental integrity, and simultaneously safeguards biodiversity and ecosystems. In this context, the Expert Group on Carbon Removals convened for the fifth meeting last October in Brussels, aiming to discuss current challenges, explore potential solutions, and provide advice to the Commission on the development of EU certification methodologies.

During the three days of expert speeches and discussions, one session focused on carbon farming in agriculture and agroforestry, featuring contributions from Project Credible members Greet Ruysschaert (ILVO) and Gerry Lawson (EURAF). The session also featured introductions by Christian Holzleitner and Valeria Forlin (DG CLIMA), a presentation on draft elements for the EU certification methodology by Jan Peter Lesschen (CRETA), remarks from Marta Gómez Giménez (Project MRV4SOC) and Andrew Voysey (Climate Agriculture Alliance), and comments and questions from experts, both in person and online.

The meeting highlighted many positive aspects of the ongoing work by researchers and policymakers, while also identifying several critical issues that still need to be addressed. Among the positive points, it was underscored that although increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks have only modest mitigation potential on a small scale, these efforts have a high impact when widely adopted, as the CRCF framework aims to achieve. In this context, to help projects overcome the initial barriers, the EC announced that public funds from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can be combined with CRCF revenues, without any risk related to additionality, although some rules may be applied

Additionally, the quantification of carbon sequestration is progressing, with methodologies expected to become delegated acts next year. Certification and quantification methods are being fine-tuned to balance accuracy, low administrative burden, and cost-effectiveness. Clear guidelines are also being developed for sampling strategies, the use of models, and the acquisition of remote sensing data. Another positive development is the growing recognition of agroforestry and perennial crops, supported by clearer rules for quantifying carbon in biomass, although further clarity is needed regarding eligibility criteria.

Nevertheless, sustainability criteria are still not robust enough. The certification process should mandate ambitious sustainable farm plans and improvements in sustainability indicators, as suggested by one of Project Credible’s Focus Groups. Moreover, there is a risk that farmers are not sufficiently rewarded for going further than the minimum required in terms of co-benefits.

Overall, the Expert Group Meeting marked progress on several unresolved issues critical to developing a successful Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation. The criteria 'quantification' and 'sustainability' will be explored further at an online workshop directed to Expert Group members by the end of November, whereas the criteria 'additionality' and 'liability' will be discussed at a later stage. Additionally, these topics will be at the heart of the next European Carbon Farming Summit, which will be held in Dublin in March 2025.