Smart Carbon Farming

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-09-24

Description

Description (EN):

The EU agricultural sector ( 8.7M jobs) is under threat (62% farms closed by 2040) and needs to innovate to stay competitive and reach net zero by 2050. Carbon Farming rewards farmers that store carbon or reduce emissions and is key to achieving an economically resilient farming ecosystem in NWE (48% of EU farmed land). To attract and justify payments, a new EU regulation requires reliable certification of carbon performance, but measuring is complex and expensive (20-40% of farming profits). Smart solutions that use promising existing technologies are needed to make it economically viable and scalable. Additionally, farmers lack clarity on practical solutions and the implications of the new policies. Smart Carbon Farming (SCF) transnationally customises accurate, cost-effective carbon monitoring solutions for mineral and peat soils, unlocking carbon farming as a business model and boosting the NWE competitiveness. SCF tests and deploys solutions on 15 pilot farms in 5 NWE countries that obtain accurate results at farm level and cover various regional contexts. SCF conducts training programmes with 50 farmers, positions carbon farming in agri-innovation ecosystems via existing Digital Innovation Hubs (e.g. EDIH Boost Robotics EastNL) and connects to regional & national policies. SCF has 11 partners from 5 NWE countries (BE, NL, FR, DE, IE): 3 technological, 2 knowledge and 6 regional impact organisations for training and dissemination. Partners complement each other in regional contexts (soil type, tech savviness, farm size) and expertise (ISP on business models, GRI on whole-farm monitoring), enabling uptake of solutions across NWE geographies. SCF has a unique holistic measurement approach of in-field testing, combining the most promising technologies at a transnational level. SCF deploys a proven innovative farmer engagement approach for the practical uptake of advanced solutions that enable carbon farming.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Collaboration, Governance, Processes: The first Period of the SCF project led to the successful establishment of a solid project base for the upcoming 4 years. The partners are very motivated and excited, and got to know each other well on both a professional as well as a social level, and various transnational exchanges were held to align perspectives and understand complementarities. The SCF project kicked off with a first face-2-face meeting in Lille in February 2024. A second partner meeting was held in Mons at Lead Partner Multitel’s offices, in June 2024. Multitel, with WP Leads OostNL and VDT, prepared a comprehensive work plan including sub-tasks, responsibilities and deadlines, to facilitate smooth project implementation across partners. The work plan is monitored on a monthly basis. Joint Technical Progress: In addition to individual partners' efforts, a number of joint workshops during the 2 partner physical partner meetings, as well as separate online meetings here and there, to advance on first year activities. WP1: A1.1: the state-of-the-art report on soil carbon monitoring and verification. partner discussions around what needs to be included in the report, who can contribute to what specific aspects, etc. traditional methods of soil sampling as well as the role of new technologies, such as remote sensing, spectroscopy, robotics and AI. A clear report structure and responsibilities were agreed on and various sections are already in an advanced draft status A1.5: communication starter-kit has been delivered: project website and LinkedIn are up and running. On LinkedIn, a partner introduction campaign has been finalised. WP2: A2.1. the pilot implementation plan. tech partners discussions on what requirements are needed from a technical perspective when it comes to the to be selected pilot farms. farmer/pilot partners discussions on what are the needs from farmers, and things to take into account when reaching out to farmers. followed by joint presentations and brainstorms bringing together both perspectives. A2.2. the technology customisation. Tech partners Multitel, ILVO and ConstellR together with several knowledge partners have been discussing, in line with the state-of-the-art discussions, how to integrate their different technological perspectives best into a customised SCF solution to be tested in 2025 in the field. WP3: first scoping of farmer needs regarding the Training & capacity building program Discussions on the set-up and objectives of transversal committees: the Transnational Knowledge Group and the Stakeholder Advisory Board. General: project management structures have been set up, including a detailed work plan excel with all activities, deliverables and detailed sub-activities with deadlines and responsible partners. The project has made good progress, achieving important milestones across all three work packages. Efforts in WP1 have focused on establishing the scientific foundation for carbon farming, with the development of a comprehensive overview of carbon sequestration methods and parameters (D1.1.1, D1.1.3). These findings are driving the conversation within the scientific community and providing essential insights for future advancements in soil carbon monitoring. Work has also started on the carbon farming market diagnosis, with partners defining a structure for the market report (D1.2.1). Alongside this, a communication strategy (D1.5.1) has been developed to engage stakeholders and ensure effective dissemination of knowledge. In WP2, advancements have been made in designing and testing monitoring technologies for carbon sequestration. Initial prototypes have been developed and tested (A2.2), and the criteria for selecting pilot farms have been established (D2.1.2), ensuring that diverse agricultural conditions are represented. These efforts are important to ensure a successful implementation of the monitoring technologies. WP3 has focused on building the capacity of farmers and stakeholders through tailored training programs. Efforts have been made to assess the specific needs of farmers, ensuring that training is relevant and practical. The project has also worked on developing resources to support farmers in adopting carbon farming techniques, including a capacity-building manual for training events (A3.1). Knowledge exchange through peer learning networks (A3.3) and the creation of a stakeholder advisory committee (A3.4) will further support the potential wider implementation of carbon farming practices.

Project outputs: Transnational Carbon Farming Roadmap(EN)
Carbon Monitoring Solutions(EN)
Monitoring Solutions Piloted
(EN)
Carbon Farming Training Participants(EN)
Website: http://smartcarbonfarming.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_4) Improving territorial resilience in NWE through innovative and smart transformation

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 013 Digitising SMEs (including e-Commerce, e-Business and networked business processes, digital innovation hubs, living labs, web entrepreneurs and ICT start-ups, B2B)

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: Multitel asbl

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999643589

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0470.813.848 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Department: Artificial Intelligence Department

Address: Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Department address: Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.multitel.eu

Total budget: EUR 1 030 535.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 618 321.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 412 214.00

Contractors:

Name: Bax Innovation SL
VAT registration or tax identification number: ESB62822010
Name: Bax & Company
VAT registration or tax identification number: ESB62822010

Tgo AG

Name: Tgo AG

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 880601212

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE353835910 | 56/203/10260 | HRB 217458 AG Oldenburg (EN)

Address: Werner-Baumbachstraße, 49661 Cloppenburg, Germany

Department address: Werner-Baumbachstraße, 49661 Cloppenburg, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.tgo.ag

Total budget: EUR 358 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 215 040.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 143 360.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Nederland NV

Name: Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Nederland NV

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 993544035

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL813800973B01 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7301 BG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7301 BG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.oostnl.nl

Total budget: EUR 349 380.31

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 209 628.18

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 139 752.13

Constellr GmbH

Name: Constellr GmbH

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 892296211

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE330829807 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße , 79100 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Department address: Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße , 79100 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.constellr.com

Total budget: EUR 490 770.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 294 462.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 196 308.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Ver de Terre Production

Name: Ver de Terre Production

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 892569363

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR16824978373 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: chemin des Peltier, 27160 Breteuil sur Iton, France

Department address: chemin des Peltier, 27160 Breteuil sur Iton, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.verdeterreprod.fr

Total budget: EUR 192 738.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 115 642.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 77 095.20

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority

Name: Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority

Department: Environment, Soils & Land Use Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999466952

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE 0650202 O | CHY9086 | Charity CHY Number (EN)

Address: Oak Park, R93XE12 Carlow, Ireland

Department address: Oak Park, R93XE12 Carlow, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.teagasc.ie

Total budget: EUR 433 154.61

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 259 892.76

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 173 261.85

Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw- en Visserijonderzoek

Name: Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw- en Visserijonderzoek

Department: Plant Science Unit + Food & Technology Unit

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998175591

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0262.172.489. | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

Department address: Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be

Total budget: EUR 933 375.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 560 025.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 373 350.00

Niedersachsen Netzwerk Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioökonomie e.V.

Name: Niedersachsen Netzwerk Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioökonomie e.V.

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 933960427

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE283022690 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Kompaniestr. , 49757 Werlte, Germany

Department address: Kompaniestr. , 49757 Werlte, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.3-n.info

Total budget: EUR 153 300.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 91 980.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 61 320.00

Green Restoration Ireland Co-Operative Society Ltd

Name: Green Restoration Ireland Co-Operative Society Ltd

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 887048414

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N/A | 5940R | Registration number (EN)

Address: Killeshin Rd, R93 K883 Carlow, Ireland

Department address: Killeshin Rd, R93 K883 Carlow, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.greenrestorationireland.coop

Total budget: EUR 59 133.30

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 35 479.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 653.32

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Contractors:

Name: BioLogiQ Solutions
VAT registration or tax identification number: IE 3499860TH

Boerenbond Projecten vzw

Name: Boerenbond Projecten vzw

Department: Team Climate and Technology

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 951451467

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0443.086.793 | N/A | N/A (EN)

Address: Diestsevest, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Department address: Diestsevest, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.boerenbond.be

Total budget: EUR 309 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 185 472.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 123 648.00

Zuidelijke Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie

Name: Zuidelijke Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 969231858

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 807.453.183.B01 | 18054307 | Chamber of Commerce (EN)

Address: Onderwijsboulevard, 5223 DE ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Department address: Onderwijsboulevard, 5223 DE ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.zlto.nl

Total budget: EUR 300 867.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 180 520.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 120 346.80

Contractors:

Name: Moord DR
VAT registration or tax identification number: KVK 24492873
Name: Eurofins
VAT registration or tax identification number: NL807445654B01

ONTWIKKELINGSMAATSCHAPPIJ OOST NEDERLAND NV

Name: ONTWIKKELINGSMAATSCHAPPIJ OOST NEDERLAND NV

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 993544035

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL813800973B01

Address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7301 BG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7301 BG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.oostnl.nl

Total budget: EUR 349 380.31

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 209 628.18

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 139 752.13

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Tgo AG

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Development Agency East Netherlands NV

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Constellr GmbH

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Ver de Terre Production

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Own Capital of the Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Lower Saxony Network Renewable Resources and Bioeconomy e.V.

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Green Restoration Ireland Co-Operative Society Ltd

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Boerenbond Projects

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organisation

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

Multitel Innovation Center

Smart Carbon Farming

Partners and Projects info

East Netherlands Development Agency

Smart Carbon Farming

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Smart Carbon Farming

Project acronym: Smart Carbon Farming

Project ID: NWE0200230

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2027-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Climate Farm Demo (EN) | The Climate Farm Demo (CFD) Horizon funded project aims to increase, speed-up and disseminate the adoption of climate smart farming practices and tools. To reach this goal, it will set-up a network of pilot farms across Europe and associated countries. It will take a multi-actor approach by connecting 1500 farmers (known as pilot demo farmers) and their climate farm advisors to implement adaptation and mitigation action plans with the aim of increasing knowledge exchange and cross-fertilisation.
SCF will synergise with CFD and presently shares three key partners with the project (ISP, ZLTO, ILVO). Both consortiums will connect and support each other in disseminating findings and upscale the advent of carbon farming across NWE farmers and farm advisors.
(EN), Climate Smart Advisors (EN) | Climate Smart Advisors (CSA) is the sister project of Horizon’s Climate Farm Demo. CSA is led by SCF partner ILVO, and seeks to connect and mobilise the EU Agricultural advisory community to support the transition to “Climate Smart Farming”. Other SCF partners (ISP, ZLTO) also participate in this ambitious project and can synergise the two projects due to the intentions to create an EU-wide network, boosting the role of climate agri advisors for knowledge exchange and enhancing dissemination of novel strategies deployed for climate financing.
SCF will actively engage with both Horizon sister projects, including participation in networking and dissemination events, sharing lessons learned on the challenges related to novel financing tools to boost the investments and impact generated by carbon farming.
(EN), EDIH H2020 SmartAgriHubs
(EN) | SmartAgriHubs (2018-2022) had the aim to unleash the innovation potential for the digital transformation of the European Agrifood Sector. SmartAgriHubs sought to connect over 300 digital innovation hubs, 9 regional clusters and 106 agrifood experts.
SCF will synergise with this network and lead the policy uptake and investment de-risking of carbon farming innovation across European Digital innovation Hubs. SCF will identify the SmartAgri hubs and participate with them, together with SCF partners ZLTO and ILVO who were founding members of SmartAgriHubs within the Horizon project.
(EN), EDIH Boost Robotics EastNL (EN) | Boost Robotics EastNL is a private EDIH that supports SMEs with their digital transformation using proactive innovation brokers. The project focuses on Robotics & Sensing Technology in Manufacturing, Healthcare and particularly AgriFood. It is located in the East Netherlands (Gelderland & Overijssel) and consists of 18 partners and 30+ network partners, synergising with the work of SCF partner Oost NL who can liaison to explore opportunities on sensors, robotics and A.I. testing for agrifood sector. (EN), Carbon Farming (EN) | The Interreg NSR “Carbon Farming” (2018-2021) project aimed for a double goal: mitigating climate change and improving agricultural soils. The project was implemented by 3 founding partners of SCF (ZLTO, ISP, 3N) and enabled the implementation of carbon sequestration (CS) techniques on farms: fixing CO2 from the atmosphere into soils and improving the soil quality and biodiversity.
SCF takes inspiration from Carbon Farming and its focus on healthy soils, by adding new angles of innovation, accelerating CS techniques and carbon monitoring solutions to assess CS with an evidence based approach. The three partners serve the SCF consortium by transferring knowledge and creating a liaison between past learnings and future innovations needed to scale and accelerate carbon farming to a larger pool of farmers and technological expertise. Building upon policy whitepapers and novel business models.
(EN), Carbon Connects (EN) | Interreg NWE’s Carbon Connects (CC) aims to reduce the high carbon footprint of peatland soils in Northwest Europe by introducing new bio-based business models developed for sustainable land management practices. SCF Partner ILVO and Associate organisation AC3A participated in this project and bring to SCF many learnings for its carbon monitoring needs and revenue stream generations. In fact, part of SCF will be centred around carbon monitoring solutions for peat soils (along with other mineral soils) and much of the past learnings from CC can help support the project in identifying the most cost effective methods to track carbon amounts sequestrated by peat soil and how funding or incentive schemes can give back the benefits to farmers which follow re-wetting practices and agroecological biobased techniques in their soils. (EN), Care Peat (EN) | Care-Peat is an Interreg NWE project with 12 partners working together to reduce carbon emissions and restore the carbon storage capacity of different types of peatlands in North-West Europe. The main partnership consists of 7 knowledge institutes and 5 nature organisations. Care Peat, along with Carbon Connect, forms the building blocks which inspire SCF’s attention to peat soils, due to their past focus on developing and testing new techniques and socio-economic strategies for carbon reduction in peatlands. SCF partners aim to follow the insights gathered from such projects to build on more innovation for the farming sector as a whole and provide alternative monitoring and incentive models to farmers across NWE. (EN), LIFE Carbon Farming (EN) | The LIFE Carbon Farming project aims to reduce by 15% the carbon footprint of mixed crop livestock farms thanks to the development of a result-based system funding mechanism. This LIFE project builds on harmonised tools to standardise their farming assessment and carbon mitigation practices and share similar objectives to SCF’s ambitions to re-shape the carbon farming ecosystem and upscale innovating revenue streams for crop farmers. SCF partner Teagasc is a LIFE CF partner promoting carbon removal farming methods and disseminating novel carbon offsetting mechanisms. (EN), Credible (EN) | SCF AO AC3A is also partner in Horizon’s CREDIBLE project dedicated to Carbon farming practices, standards of certification and MRV techniques. Credible will be building a network focussing on similar topics of SCF, further incentivising the synergy we wish to facilitate together with partner VDT and their AO AC3A. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 610 773.22

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 766 463.92

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 766 463.92. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

2024 State-of-the-art report on carbon sequestration modelling & calculation methods
2027 State-of-the-art report on carbon sequestration modelling & calculation methods
Parameters report
Carbon Market State Report
Collaboration Guidelines
1 MoU on Collaboration Guidelines
1 Policy Analysis Report
4 Policy Roundtables
1 Policy Recommendations Paper
Communication Strategy
Final Event
Pilot Plan
Pilot selection criteria
Technology adoption and compatibility report
Final technology selection
Solutions Assessment
Long Term evaluation report
Pilot dissemination material package
Training & Capacity Programme manual
35 Participation Certificates
Communication material for capacity building promotion
Evaluation report
Advisory Booklet
Terms of Reference P2P Programme
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
SCF innovation advisory report
First rounds of match-making events
Second rounds of match-making events

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-09-24

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

742 / 742 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Smart Carbon Farming

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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