The EU's Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) has been adopted — but the methodologies are still in development. Experts at ISCIA have drafted a position paper for the European Commission, highlighting key concerns and recommendations from the soil carbon industry for a science-backed, high-integrity approach to carbon removals in the agricultural sector.
Here is the top-line overview of ISCIA's input:
Baselines Matter
Standardised baselines alone may not accurately reflect on-the-ground realities. We need a flexible approach that allows project developers to choose between standardised or project-specific baselines.
Use Case Accounting — distinguishing between offsets and insets
Different use cases will ensure a fair open market and support farmers in differentiated accounting. We can ensure methodological clarity by utilising both intervention and inventory accounting.
Longer Monitoring Periods — integrity in long-term permanence
Carbon sequestration is a long-term process — short monitoring periods could reduce the credibility of EU carbon credits. We believe a high-integrity market should require 40 years permanence.
By addressing these concerns, we believe the delegated acts can foster innovation, empower farmers and contribute meaningfully to the EU's climate goals. ISCIA strongly endorses the CRCF's role in enabling the expansion of high-quality carbon removals across the EU. We call on the European Commission and policymakers for a strong CRCF methodology design to support farmers and credible carbon farming.
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