A system analysis of carbon farming schemes in support of the wider implementation of carbon farming in Flanders (Belgium)

Throughout Europe, numerous carbon farming schemes have been developed in the past decade, ranging from simple to more elaborated. Recently, schemes are increasingly being developed for the agricultural sector, with projects focusing on carbon removals (carbon sequestration) in agricultural soils and woody landscape elements, as well as focusing on reduced and/or avoided emissions at the farm level. These projects outcomes, with significant climate mitigation and adaptation potential, can be realised by altering the farm management, more specifically through the implementation of ‘carbon farming practices’.

Despite the numerous carbon farming initiatives being developed, no regulatory framework exists yet, and consequently, carbon credits or certificates may be of variable quality. Therefore, in the LIFE CarbonCounts project (LIFE20 PRE/BE/019), we explored carbon farming schemes that have the potential to be feasible, reliable and cost efficient for Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Flanders is a highly urbanised region, in which the agricultural sector represents approximately 50% of the open space and which is characterized by medium size farms compared to other EU countries.

We adopted a qualitative research approach: conducting in-depth interviews with stakeholders from various professional backgrounds, organizing two workshops with policy stakeholders, and extensively reviewing carbon farming schemes in Belgium (e.g. Claire, Soil Capital), our neighbouring countries (e.g. Label Bas Carbone, Stichting Nationale Koolstofmarkt, Woodland Carbon Code…) and internationally (e.g. Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard). All this information was combined in a system analysis (Chapter 2), building on systems thinking, and subsequently we analysed the multitude of aspects (components) to be considered when developing carbon farming schemes. Specifically, we studied the relevant policy context (Chapter 3) and investigated different carbon farming scheme designs, with a strong focus on the governance system, guiding principles (e.g. additionality, permanence, carbon leakage…) and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, as these are the backbone of carbon farming schemes (Chapter 4).

Besides that, we looked at the opportunities of building a geodataplatform (Chapter 5) and considered some emerging technologies and scientific insights that may increase the cost-efficiency of MRV systems (Chapter 6). On top of that, we also studied the principles of and evolutions in the Voluntary Carbon Market (Chapter 7), and considered the different aspects of carbon farming as a business model (Chapter 8). Finally, we came up with an overview of challenges and potential issues of carbon farming (Chapter 9). This system analysis report will be used as a knowledge base and will be shared with various stakeholders, enabling us to collaboratively design a roadmap (to be published in an additional science-to-policy report) with recommendations for a widely accepted and more widespread implementation of carbon farming in Flanders. On top of that, we will lay the foundations of an action platform for carbon farming in Flanders.