Carbon Farming

Carbon farming is a set of agricultural practices designed to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in soil or biomass. By improving soil health and increasing organic matter, these practices not only help fight climate change but also open new revenue streams through carbon credits and ecosystem service payments.

1. EU Programs

The European Union is investing heavily in carbon farming through the Green Deal, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and Mission Soil initiatives

• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2023–2027): Eco-schemes that reward practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and agroforestry.

• Horizon Europe: Funding calls under themes like “Soil health,” “Carbon sequestration in farming systems,” and “Nature-based solutions.”

• LIFE Programme: Projects focused on carbon storage, regenerative agriculture, and boosting soil biodiversity.

• Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) (launching 2026): The EU’s roadmap for a voluntary certification framework for carbon removals.

Support also exists closer to home, especially in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe:

2. National/Regional Programs

Pilot programmes on soil carbon measurement by ministries or agri-tech innovation hubs.

NGO-led or private platforms building MRV systems (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) to track carbon sequestration results.

3. Private & Hybrid Mechanisms

Beyond public funding, there are market-driven ways to finance carbon farming:

• Voluntary Carbon Markets (e.g., Nori, Verra) for selling verified carbon credits.

• AgriTech Accelerators offering seed funding for carbon-smart startups.

• Corporate Sustainability Programmes from companies like Nestlé and Unilever, which support regenerative farming through contract partnerships.

HOW CARBONFARMING IS REGULATED IN EU? 

The European Union has taken a major step toward making carbon farming a credible, transparent, and investable practice.

At the heart of this is the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) — a regulation designed to certify carbon removals, including soil carbon, across all member states.

On 6 December 2024, the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (EU/2024/3012) was officially published in the EU’s Official Journal. This marks the creation of the first EU-wide voluntary framework for:

• Certifying carbon removals from farming and forestry.

• Recognising carbon storage in products.

• Ensuring consistent quality standards across Europe.

Why this matters for farmers and innovators

The CRCF sets EU quality criteria for carbon removal projects and defines clear monitoring and reporting rules. This means:

• Farmers and project developers can prove their carbon sequestration results with recognised standards.

• Investors and buyers can trust that purchased carbon credits truly deliver climate benefits.

• The risk of greenwashing is reduced through strict verification processes.

How AgriVentures Supports Carbon Farming?

At AgriVentures, we see carbon farming not just as a trend, but as a key pathway to climate-positive agriculture - one that benefits both the planet and farm profitability.

Through our platform, we help:

Farmers & Cooperatives adopt regenerative practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, agroforestry, and biochar application.

Startups & Innovators align their business models with EU climate goals and emerging carbon markets.

Industry Stakeholders connect with the right tools, funding, and partnerships to scale impact.

We guide our community in:

• Navigating EU and national funding instruments like Horizon Europe, the LIFE Programme, and rural development funds.

• Testing and implementing MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) tools to track and validate carbon sequestration.

• Participating in voluntary carbon markets to monetise climate-positive practices.

On this page, you’ll find practical pathways to:

Join funded pilot projects across Europe.

Access digital carbon measurement tools.

Partner with climate-tech companies developing cutting-edge solutions for soil carbon monitoring and carbon credit trading.

We actively monitor EU regulations in carbon farming, ensuring our partners are always ahead of policy changes — from certification standards to reporting requirements.

By putting these safeguards in place, the EU is making it easier to attract funding for innovative carbon removal technologies and scalable regenerative farming solutions.

At AgriVentures, we guide farmers, cooperatives, and innovators toward the right funding streams to make carbon farming both environmentally and financially rewarding. Opportunities span EU-level programmes, national/regional schemes, and private or hybrid mechanisms.