EUROPEAN-WIDE NETWORK OF PILOT FARMERS IMPLEMENTING AND DEMONSTRATING CLIMATE SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A CARBON NEUTRAL EUROPE

Main research question/goal

In several countries, the agricultural sector is working with specialized researchers to develop more climate-resilient practices. This Climate Farm Demo project aims to incrementally stimulate the knowledge and adoption of "climate smart" agricultural practices and solutions in as many as 28 European countries. Concretely, a network of 1,500 pilot farms is build that participate in various knowledge exchange activities. In the local farming community around these farms, the set of workable climate smart solutions is further disseminated. The aim is to help existing agricultural production systems adapt to climate change and to become a carbon-neutral agricultural sector by 2050, thus contributing to the EU climate strategy. 

Research approach

Advisors guide the 1500 pilot demonstration farmers to apply climate adaptation and mitigation measures on their farms, and to monitor the measures in terms of impact. The pilot farmers in turn demonstrate both technical and social innovations to a wider group of farmers, in 6 interactive demonstration campaigns. We also allow new new and innovative climate smart solutions to emerge, through co-creation in 10 living labs across Europe.

Relevance/Valorisation

An accessible toolbox of models, methods and instruments emerges, based on findings of the network. To further stimulate the adoption of climate smart solutions by the agricultural community, this project also identifies and demonstrates a set of potential public and private rewarding systems. With built-in strategic collaboration with other relevant projects and initiatives and with policy makers working around these issues, we expect the insights from this project to be widely disseminated. Much attention will be paid to communication at both EU and national levels in this project. 

Funding provider(s)
EU Horizon Europe