Copa-Cogeca released an animation video covering 10 points on carbon farming. The European Commission expects carbon farming to contribute 42Mt of CO2 storage by 2030.

Copa-Cogeca, which defends and represents European farmers and European agri-food, forestry and fishery cooperatives, has released an animation video to explain the topic of carbon farming, which is defined as farm management practices that aim to deliver climate mitigation in agriculture. The video, which is prepared with the support of European Livestock Voice, covers 10 points on carbon farming on i.a. the agricultural potential and the funding models.

According to the latest public study commissioned by the European Parliament in 2021, additional EU carbon farming mitigation potential ranges between 101-444 Mt CO2-e per year, equivalent to approximately 3-12% of the EU’s total annual GHG emissions. It implies that carbon farming could offset 26% of the EU’s agricultural yearly emissions even at the low end of its estimated potential.

These figures remain general estimates only at this stage. They will greatly depend on the type of mechanisms and schemes put in place by public and private operators and the popularity and success of these schemes among the agricultural community. The European Commission expects carbon farming to contribute 42Mt of CO2 storage by 2030, making agriculture a key strategic sector for achieving its “Fit for 55” strategy.

Practices can increase the rate of carbon sequestered into soil and plant material to create a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere. But, behind the concept, what concrete opportunities and operational mechanisms can there be for livestock farming and its role in tackling climate change?

Agriculture and especially livestock farming can be key contributors to the climate neutrality goal. Livestock can naturally reduce carbon emissions by capturing CO2, where emissions come from the atmosphere as only a few other sectors could.