by Ristovska, Natasha1, Ilija Pop Stefanija1, Milosavljeva, Jovana2, Pavlopoulou, Christina3, Kontogianni, Aimilia3, Gryllia, Artemis3, Nikorelos, Vasileios3, Stavrinides, Menelaos4, Papoutsa, Christiana5, Nikolaou, Eirini5, Papapostolou, George6
Introduction
As the global urgency to mitigate climate change intensifies, carbon farming has emerged as a strategic pathway to transform agriculture into a climate-positive sector. By promoting practices that increase carbon sequestration in soil and biomass, carbon farming can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil health, biodiversity, and farm resilience. However, the successful implementation of carbon farming relies not only on technical innovation but also on robust, aligned, and forward-looking policy frameworks. This white paper presents a comparative policy landscape and gap analysis focused on three widening countries under the Horizon Europe-funded CARBONICA project—Greece, Cyprus, and North Macedonia. It aims to support policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in understanding the readiness and barriers of national policies related to carbon farming and the broader digital and green transition in agriculture. Through an in-depth review of institutional frameworks, national legislation, strategic plans, and stakeholder insights, the paper identifies key enablers and obstacles within each country’s governance context. Particular attention is given to the alignment with the European Green Deal, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the EU Digital Strategy, as well as the extent of integration of carbon farming in Smart Specialization Strategies. The findings are based on desk research, interviews, and surveys conducted within the CARBONICA project framework. This comprehensive approach ensures that both formal policy structures and on-the-ground perceptions are considered in shaping targeted recommendations for advancing low-carbon farming systems. Ultimately, this analysis contributes to strengthening regional collaboration through the CARBONICA Excellence Hub and serves as a foundation for developing policy masterclasses, capacity-building initiatives, and actionable strategies for climate-resilient agriculture in the Mediterranean and Western Balkans.