CREDIBLE

More information on the impact of carbon farming in different environments

In addition to measures to reduce emissions, the European Union has passed legislation and ground rules for certification and incentives for carbon removals. The aim is to increase nature-based and technological carbon sinks and improve the effectiveness and reliability of both publicly and privately funded measures. In support of regulatory development and voluntary action, CREDIBLE facilitated a broad three-year stakeholder dialogue to increase understanding of best carbon farming practices and their impacts in different climate regions of Europe.

Carbon farming means different things in different production sectors and under different soil and climate conditions. CREDIBLE brought together scientific and practical knowledge from arable farming, agroforestry, grassland, peatland, and forestry systems.

Carbon farming is not just about carbon sequestration. It is also about growing food, fodder or wood and, at its best, providing a range of ecosystem services. Carbon farming is sustainable when it supports sustainable rural livelihoods, ensures food security, and improves biodiversity and the environment, while removing carbon from the atmosphere.

CREDIBLE’s data, collected and validated by stakeholders, helped actors such as farmers, local communities, businesses, and regulators to improve farm management and develop reward schemes and supporting regulations for carbon farming adapted to environmental conditions and the economic structure of different regions.

Carbon Action set an example for other countries and the EU

The Carbon Action platform was one of CREDIBLE’s regional “clusters”, which are important local reference groups for assessing the impact and feasibility of measures.

The platform’s close collaboration among researchers, farmers, and companies set an example for others to follow. It established a reference group for discussing the measurement and verification of carbon sequestration and other environmental impacts and contributed to the creation of new value chains based on carbon farming.

Through the concrete results of Carbon Action, BSAG aims to enhance the role of productive agriculture in delivering climate and environmental benefits in the EU.

The project promoted policy dialogue at EU level

The CREDIBLE project was first and foremost a network. Its main objective was improving the overall picture of research knowledge on carbon farming and strengthening the debate and exchange of knowledge between actors continuously.

CREDIBLE brought together a knowledge base of more than 100 projects or other initiatives on practical farming methods and verification methods. Hundreds of experts compiled and evaluated data and results. The project also engaged in active dialogue with parallel projects funded by the Horizon Europe Research Programme, such as MARVIC, which focuses on carbon sequestration measurement and verification.

CREDIBLE was implemented in close liaison with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and other key policy departments and policy processes (climate, agriculture, food, biodiversity). A closing event in spring 2026 presented the main findings and policy recommendations of the project.

Project outputs and news are accessible on the following websites: 
CREDIBLE literary outputs in the Zenodo repository
Credible platform and database
EU Carbon Farming Summit
Credible project, continuing with phase II