At the Expert Group on Carbon Removals on 23 April, the European Commission presented advancements in developing certification methodologies for carbon farming under Regulation (EU) 2024/3012. As the delegated act nears finalisation, with legislative approval expected this summer, Copa and Cogeca acknowledge several improvements that better reflect with the operational realities of farmers, forest managers and agri-cooperatives.
The updated methodologies introduce greater flexibility in quantification, allowing a combination of modelling, direct measurements, and default emission factors. This adaptation accommodates diverse pedo-climatic conditions while managing monitoring costs. Uncertainty treatment has been refined, reducing deduction factors and offering more flexible calculation methods over time. Monitoring requirements have also been streamlined, with shorter monitoring periods for soil carbon and agroforestry and better alignment with activity cycles. Importantly. Clarifications on ILUC limitations avoid premature assumptions, acknowledging current quantification challenges. Finally, the framework now better recognises early movers, a long-standing demand from sectors.
However, critical issues remain unresolved, risking low farmer participation. Baseline setting complexities, restrictive eligibility criteria and long-term forestry monitoring obligations could exclude viable practices like conservation tillage or fertilisation improvements, as well as negatively impact the appeal to implement these practices. Without addressing these, the framework risks being underused.
Still, certification alone will not create a functional market. A strong demand-side framework will be essential to ensure farmer participation and long-term credibility. In that sense, the Commission intends to launch annual calls for CRCF projects, explore an EU Buyers Club, and further develop blended public and private financing approaches.
For farmers and forest managers to engage with CRCF, its framework should be economically viable and administratively feasible ensuring carbon farming becomes a practical opportunity, not just a theoretical ambition.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
