Establishing a forum dedicated to carbon farming Research and Innovation (R&I) within the CARBONICA platform represents a significant initiative to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community building across various regions and expertise.

This forum is envisioned as an online space that gathers experts from all three Widening Countries (Cyprus, Greece, and North Macedonia) to pool their knowledge, experiences, and insights regarding carbon farming. It transcends geographical boundaries, encouraging participation from local experts and diaspora communities, fostering a diverse and global perspective on the subject.

At its core, this space is inclusive and inviting, welcoming project partners, stakeholders (such as farmers, researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists), and individuals enthusiastic about contributing to climate-resilient agriculture and carbon farming innovations.

 

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Online Roundtable #11 : “From Practice to Impact : Scaling Up Carbon Farming through Innovation, Policy and Markets”

In your opinion, what is the most critical factor for moving carbon farming from pilot projects to widespread, commercially viable adoption in your country?
Option 1: Demonstrating clear economic and agronomic benefits for farmers, supported by practical training and successful local examples.Έχουν ψηφίσει 0 · 0,00%
Option 2: Developing scalable business models through farmer aggregation, value-chain cooperation, investment and access to carbon markets.Έχει ψηφίσει 1 · 100,00%
Option 3: Establishing reliable monitoring and verification systems, harmonised certification standards and supportive policy frameworks in the local context.Έχουν ψηφίσει 0 · 0,00%
1 συμμετέχων

Date: September 30, 2026

Lead Working Group: North Macedonia

Moderator: Jovana Milošavljeva, AgFutura Technologies, North Macedonia

Working Group speakers:

  • George Papapostolou, Reframe Food, Greece (CARBONICA’s Project Coordinator)

Invited Diaspora expert speaker:

  • Nora Gola, Country Director for Kosovo, World Agriculture Forum (Sustainable Agribusiness)

MAP Representatives invited speakers:

  • Goran Balevski, Agricultural Engineer, Organic Farmer and President of the First Organic Cooperative, North Macedonia (Farming sector)

  • Athanasios Kouimtzis, CEO, KOUIMTZIS Group (Industry/Business)

  • Chrystalleni Papadopoulou, Head of Research, Training and Persons Certification, Cyprus Certification Company (CCC), Cyprus (Policy)

Key Outcomes:

  • Scaling carbon farming requires integrated research, policy and market frameworks

Moving beyond pilot projects requires coordinated action connecting scientific knowledge, regulatory frameworks, investment, market opportunities and credible verification. CARBONICA's Multi-Actor Platforms, capacity-building initiatives and business-development activities provide foundations for translating research into scalable carbon farming solutions.

  • Farmer-led practices demonstrate the importance of soil health and agricultural resilience

Practical farming experience highlighted the benefits of no-tillage, cover crops and continuous soil cover for restoring degraded soils, supporting biodiversity and improving resilience to drought and extreme temperatures. Long-term soil health and productivity remain central to successful carbon farming implementation.

  • Farmer adoption depends on trust, practical knowledge and economic viability

Farmers need practical training, local demonstrations and clear economic benefits to adopt new practices. High transition costs, uncertain yields and limited investment capacity remain key barriers, particularly for small farms, highlighting the need for financially viable carbon farming solutions.

  • Aggregation and value-chain cooperation enable carbon farming at scale

Cooperatives, producer organisations and trusted intermediaries can facilitate the participation of fragmented agricultural holdings in larger carbon farming projects. Collaboration among farmers, agribusinesses, buyers, financial institutions and public authorities is essential for reducing implementation barriers and developing commercially sustainable models.

  • Digital monitoring and reliable MRV systems strengthen market readiness

Farm mapping, baseline assessments, digital records and reliable measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) are essential for transparent carbon farming projects. Digital tools can also support farm management, traceability and access to finance, while potential carbon credit revenues should complement direct agronomic and economic benefits.

  • Harmonised standards and credible certification frameworks support trustworthy carbon farming

Standardised soil carbon measurements, greenhouse gas quantification and independent verification are essential for comparable and credible results. International ISO standards and the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Framework (CRCF) provide technical and regulatory foundations for transparent certification, preventing double counting and strengthening market confidence.

  • Connecting existing initiatives supports long-term carbon farming adoption

Research projects, pilot activities, technology providers and public programmes must be connected through coordinated policies, investment and stakeholder collaboration. CARBONICA's Academy, Multi-Actor Platforms, technical resources and business-development networks can support knowledge transfer and continued adoption beyond the project's funding period.

💬 We invite Forum members to share their views by responding to the pinned poll above. Your input helps enrich the discussion and reflect diverse perspectives from across the carbon farming community!

 

elEL

CARBONICA’s Acceleration Programme is underway!

Are you a start-up or SME in Greece, Cyprus, or North Macedonia working on carbon farming?

Apply by 30 May 2025 for expert support, training, and investor-ready tools.