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Smart Carbon Farming

Program: Interreg North-West EuropeDuration: 2024–2027Funding: €2,766,463.92Lead Partner: Multitel Innovation Centre

Project Details

Carbon farming is an agricultural method in which farmers sequester CO₂ in the soil while simultaneously working to create healthier and more resilient soil. To make this approach scalable, reliable and affordable methods are needed to measure and verify carbon sequestration. Through the Interreg North-West Europe project Smart Carbon Farming, partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Ireland are collaborating to further develop and integrate technology, agricultural practices, knowledge, and policies related to carbon farming.Smart Carbon Farming develops and tests smart monitoring solutions that utilize, among other things, sensors and data from soil, drone, and satellite measurements. These technologies are being tested in the field on at least 15 pilot farms in various regions. In addition, the project supports farmers in implementing carbon farming and is working on policies and revenue models designed to enable broader adoption. Within the project, Oost NL bridges policy and innovation and involves four innovative companies from the eastern Netherlands in the development and implementation of solutions.<h2>Why is this important?</h2>Healthy soil is essential for future-proof agriculture. At the same time, many common agricultural practices lead to a loss of soil quality, and farmers face challenges related to climate change, soil fertility, and an economically sustainable business model. Carbon farming offers opportunities to address these challenges together: by sequestering carbon in agricultural soils, CO₂ can be stored from the atmosphere while simultaneously working toward soil restoration and more resilient agriculture.A major challenge is that measuring, reporting, and verifying stored carbon is currently often complex and costly. In addition, uncertainties regarding policy, revenue models, and practical applicability play a role. Smart Carbon Farming therefore brings together farmers, technology companies, researchers, and policymakers. By testing new monitoring technology in the field and better aligning knowledge with policy, the project aims to make carbon farming more accessible and economically attractive to farmers.In this way, Smart Carbon Farming not only contributes to climate goals but also to healthier agricultural soils, new income opportunities for farmers, and a resilient and future-proof agricultural sector in Northwest Europe.<h2>Who is Smart Carbon Farming for?</h2>Smart Carbon Farming is aimed at:<ul><li data-list-item-id="ee2bdadfb422446df7ddd88552620959e">farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs who want to implement carbon farming in practice and gain a better understanding of carbon storage and soil health;</li><li data-list-item-id="ea118578a3c171e9a81fa1e5eff5e9d5c">technology companies developing innovative solutions for measuring and monitoring soil and carbon sequestration;</li><li data-list-item-id="edc414098f203e6613994bb2834ef45a3">knowledge and research institutions working on sustainable agriculture, soil health, and monitoring;</li><li data-list-item-id="e63a31284d134964a546cc507959a696e">policy makers and regional organizations that want to promote the adoption of carbon farming;</li><li data-list-item-id="e4eb76d7293b191d81e97330fa97725c0">organizations that want to contribute to new revenue models and a more effectively functioning market for carbon farming.</li></ul><h2>What are the benefits of Smart Carbon Farming?</h2>Smart Carbon Farming accelerates the adoption of carbon farming and connects technological innovation, agricultural practice, and policy across five countries in Northwestern Europe.Among other things, the project delivers:<ul><li data-list-item-id="e0af69025197f3cf40261cedb753a5556">smart monitoring solutions for measuring, reporting, and verifying carbon storage in agricultural soils;</li><li data-list-item-id="eac4a3249fba97bf14129a9eda8620d7f">field tests at a minimum of 15 pilot farms in various European regions;</li><li data-list-item-id="ea25886776781804fbf27329be489291d">guidance and expertise for farmers who want to implement carbon farming;</li><li data-list-item-id="e93a50ce5b891cb5ab369d73e6852082f">collaboration between farmers, technology companies, research institutions, and policymakers;</li><li data-list-item-id="e20bbb2d07740c6b5ac90aea01c2658e6">better alignment between regional, national, and European policy developments related to carbon farming;</li><li data-list-item-id="e6730f223ecd89beb26f4a06857dbf395">knowledge and practical experience to further scale up carbon farming in Northwest Europe.</li></ul>Added value for entrepreneurs and farmers:<ul><li data-list-item-id="ed8dbe57d62e331f7ae171b1788a804b7">access to innovative technology for measuring soil health and carbon storage;</li><li data-list-item-id="e96a5ed031e03c91ecc3aad61fde39149">greater insight into the effects of carbon farming measures on their own operations;</li><li data-list-item-id="e349c029d9b2a12dfcdeb3e9334fc6bfa">collaboration with international technology and knowledge partners;</li><li data-list-item-id="e4c3168ad29941c87ac768e7be4100dcd">knowledge about new sustainable agricultural methods and revenue models;</li><li data-list-item-id="e432332c185c286bdd6c5993e74b3c50d">hands-on experience with data from sources such as soil measurements, sensors, drones, and satellites;</li><li data-list-item-id="e6616e1c205475d0f27586c27cbc156e3">a contribution to healthier soil and a more climate-resilient agricultural business.</li></ul>

<h2>Which partners are involved?</h2>Smart Carbon Farming is an international collaboration among eleven partners from five countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Ireland. The partners bring together expertise in the fields of agriculture, technology, research, innovation, and policy. The Belgian Multitel Innovation Centre is the lead partner of the project.Project partners:<ul><li data-list-item-id="ed00e54b840bf497a158b8f76fdbe840a">Multitel Innovation Centre – Belgium</li><li data-list-item-id="ea04e2c8dcd99c109b24cb11c617d3ffb">Boerenbond Projects – Belgium</li><li data-list-item-id="e3b81c0573f2f5f2387b801aeee9625a9">Constellr GmbH – Germany</li><li data-list-item-id="e7c0f27b2898940c5371c3db044f20f11">Oost NL – Netherlands</li><li data-list-item-id="e6f1481484f02b78874dd0f01ead4e919">Green Restoration Ireland Co-Operative Society Ltd – Ireland</li><li data-list-item-id="e2016bf6ae9c399bf45dee47cce6b4231">Lower Saxony Network for Renewable Resources and Bioeconomy e.V. – Germany</li><li data-list-item-id="ea382b673f41e09e9b90cde980f5513f4">Own Capital of the Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries – Belgium</li><li data-list-item-id="e11103accf80cdd35dc36195ff6bf20d3">Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organization – Netherlands</li><li data-list-item-id="e91a3e665dd244a9e7ef8429ea548f04c">Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority – Ireland</li><li data-list-item-id="e95440411e96f4e0f53c13af817d8c621">tgo AG – Germany</li><li data-list-item-id="ec8d1c0e34d39a48cad8ffd76b451c49c">Ver de Terre Production – France.</li></ul>In addition, four innovative companies in the eastern Netherlands are involved in the project: Farm On, Spatialise, Soil-Data, and Soil Valley Royal Eijkelkamp. With their technology and expertise, they contribute to knowledge sharing and innovation in the field of smart and sustainable agriculture. The provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel are co-funders of the project.<h2>Interested in the project?</h2>Smart Carbon Farming brings together farmers, technology companies, researchers, and policymakers to make carbon farming practically applicable and scalable. By testing new monitoring technologies in the field, sharing knowledge, and developing appropriate policies and revenue models, the project contributes to a more sustainable and future-proof agricultural sector.Are you a farmer, entrepreneur, or policymaker and would you like to learn more about carbon farming, the innovative technologies within the project, or the opportunities to contribute to the development of climate-friendly agriculture? Please contact Oost NL.Contact person:Suradj Hiralal Food Project Manager, Oost NL 06 28 35 88 30 <a href="mailto:suradj.hiralal@oostnl.nl">suradj.hiralal@oostnl.nl</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/Smart_Carbon_Farming_logo_922c1b1eab.png?token=EztjNm-LbSh8e8i-glL89F8HHoxqeeBkHz7iQufSQI4&amp;expires=1787065138" alt="Smart-Carbon-Farming-logo.png" srcset="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Smart_Carbon_Farming_logo_922c1b1eab.png?token=jCFNMdu_ykyNk8r3rONhXE1j66XwaUJvVb6K3epTUzI&amp;expires=1787065138 245w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/small_Smart_Carbon_Farming_logo_922c1b1eab.png?token=P7bZMkwYPXjzu8GVIWmzDJFhPcAFoo022bk689Rw9mk&amp;expires=1787065138 500w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/medium_Smart_Carbon_Farming_logo_922c1b1eab.png?token=Km-jgD8VtjYAbxXV2qqIHaI9aeb9v7l9zFWV1-bSNSg&amp;expires=1787065138 750w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/large_Smart_Carbon_Farming_logo_922c1b1eab.png?token=1gvqK4qkf5kovyFVj4zBcpyqsQFR5Tnjj15SnrgUkHU&amp;expires=1787065138 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"></figure>

The Interreg project “Smart Carbon Farming” promotes carbon farming as a sustainable solution for farmers and the environment. Carbon farming is an agricultural method in which carbon is sequestered in the soil. This removes CO2 from the air and stores it. This technique improves soil health, reduces fertilizer use, and has a positive impact on the climate.