Policy brief outlining key points for a “Carbon Farming Scheme”

In December 2021, the European Commission presented its Communication on ‘Sustainable Carbon Cycles’, which addresses how to increase carbon sequestration and scale up carbon farming as a business model (see also our previous article).

The think tank and policy research institute IDDRI has published a policy brief outlining the key points for a “Carbon Farming Scheme” that contributes to climate mitigation and supports other objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The key messages are:

• A carbon farming scheme should target a systemic transition of farming systems by adopting a multi-dimensional approach that goes beyond a focus on carbon and also considers matters like, for example, diversification of agroecosystems and/or reducing dependency on external inputs;
• Such approach must be associated with a reduction of production and consumption of animal products in the EU;
• Carbon farming should go beyond the farm level and also be deployed at the value chain and/or landscape level;
• Funds should be based on a multidimensional certification framework and should be directed to support systemic and sustainable farm system transformation.

For more information on climate change and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please contact [email protected]. IFOAM Organics Europe members can find more information on the member extranet and background materials in the arguments database on the member extranet (main messages, arguments/FAQs, visuals & videos).

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