Search for a command to run...
The DigitAF (DIGItal Tools to help AgroForestry) project, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to overcome barriers to the widespread adoption of agroforestry in Europe. The project aims to utilize agroforestry to bridge the gap between high-level EU climate targets and the faltering delivery of emission reductions in the land sector. To achieve this, DigitAF focuses on developing open-source digital tools, supporting policy design, assisting farmers, and enhancing value chains through local living labs. A major focus of the project's research is the evolving European regulatory landscape, particularly the new Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the LULUCF Regulation. The report emphasizes that robust, cost-effective Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) methodologies are essential for credible carbon farming certification. It outlines the complexities of proving "additionality" and managing carbon reversal risks, noting that agroforestry poses lower risks compared to traditional forestry. The project comprehensively analyzes existing voluntary carbon markets, evaluating international standards like Verra against emerging national registries, and discusses the strategic trade-offs between local subsidies and global corporate buyers. Furthermore, it explores the highly debated potential for a statutory Agricultural Emissions Trading System (Agri-ETS) in the EU. While an Agri-ETS could align agriculture with climate goals, the report warns of significant implementation hurdles, including the administrative burden of farm-level MRV and the economic risks to smaller farmers. Drawing on global benchmarks from Africa and North America, DigitAF highlights the value of participatory monitoring, aggregation, and cooperative governance. Ultimately, the project advocates an integrated climate-nature finance architecture. By treating biodiversity as a core objective rather than a mere co-benefit, DigitAF positions agroforestry as a crucial, nature-based solution to achieve a resilient, carbon-neutral European agricultural sector by 2050.