Good Practice - Project
Carbon farming pilots open new income opportunities for Dutch farmers and foresters
Simple land-use changes and carbon storage practices co-funded by CAP helped Dutch farmers create new climate income opportunities linked to healthier soils and landscapes.
General information
RDP Priority
- P2. Competitiveness
RDP Focus Area
- 2A: Farm’s performance, restructuring & modernisation
RDP Measure
- M16: Cooperation
Beneficiary type
- Non-governmental organisation
Summary
This Dutch cooperation project explored how farmers and landowners can earn income through storing carbon in soils, trees and biobased crops. Five practical pilots across southern Netherlands tested realistic carbon farming approaches linked to arable farming, agroforestry and biomass production.
Farmers worked alongside researchers, advisors and private investors to develop business models capable of rewarding climate-friendly land management. Activities included testing cover crops, reduced tillage, agroforestry systems and crops such as hemp and miscanthus while developing practical monitoring tools using field measurements, satellite imagery and remote sensing.
Findings showed that relatively simple farm diversifications and land-use adjustments can create valuable new income streams linked to carbon sequestration. Farmers gained a clearer understanding of carbon markets, climate services and private financing opportunities while strengthening soil quality and long-term farm resilience.
Such good practice represents a motivational model for building practical climate business opportunities directly within working agricultural and forest landscapes.
Results
- Five pilots covering more than 150 hectares tested carbon sequestration approaches linked to soil management, agroforestry and biobased cropping systems.
- More than 50 farmers participated directly in testing practical carbon farming methods and business models connected to carbon credits and ecosystem services.
- The project contributed to the expansion of the Netherlands’ largest arable carbon sequestration scheme, now covering more than 1 000 hectares and over 8 000 tonnes CO₂ sold through local investor partnerships.
- Knowledge exchange between farmers, advisors, investors and researchers strengthened understanding around climate-friendly land management while creating stronger foundations for future carbon farming markets adapted to Dutch agriculture.
Promoter
Coöperatief Collectief Agrarisch Natuurbeheer West Brabant U.A.
Funding
Total budget: 1 263 377 (EUR)
RDP support: 1 260 857 (EUR)
Private/own: 2 520 (EUR)
Topics
Resources
Context
Carbon sequestration continues to move rapidly from scientific discussion into mainstream agricultural policy as governments and businesses search for practical ways to reduce climate impacts while strengthening land resilience. Farmland soils, trees and perennial crops are now recognised as valuable carbon stores that can support climate mitigation alongside productive agriculture.
Many farmers already apply practices that improve soil organic matter, diversify crop systems or strengthen landscape biodiversity. Carbon farming creates opportunities to connect these land management choices with new forms of environmental income linked to carbon markets, ecosystem services and climate finance.
The Netherlands has placed strong attention on agricultural carbon storage within national climate ambitions, including targets for increasing carbon sequestration in farmland soils. Despite this policy interest, many farmers still face uncertainty around measurement systems, certification rules, market reliability and long-term economic returns.
Carbon farming can appear technically complex and financially risky without practical local examples showing how business models may work under real farm conditions.
Southern Netherlands provided a strong testing environment because the region includes diverse soil types, active agricultural collectives and farmers interested in innovation linked to climate resilience.
Existing cooperation between landowners, advisors and agri-environmental organisations created favourable conditions for practical experimentation.
This provided a project context to learn more about how relatively accessible changes in land management could generate reliable environmental income opportunities for farmers and foresters.
Objectives
The project sought to develop realistic and scalable business models allowing farmers and landowners to earn income through carbon sequestration activities linked to soils, trees and biobased crops. Creating practical financial incentives for long-term climate-friendly land management formed a central objective behind the pilots.
Testing reliable and cost-efficient monitoring systems aimed to improve trust around carbon certification and strengthen transparency for future carbon markets linked to agriculture. The project planned to combine field measurements, remote sensing and digital tools within workable Monitoring, Reporting and Verification systems adapted to Dutch farming conditions.
Improving farmers' knowledge around carbon farming opportunities formed another important ambition. Practical testing and cooperation with market actors aimed to help farmers better understand possible revenue streams linked to carbon credits, ecosystem services and blended public-private financing approaches.
The project further aimed to strengthen climate mitigation through increasing carbon storage within soils, biomass and agroforestry systems.
Activities
Launching the project began with establishing cooperation between BoerenNatuur Brabant West, ZLTO, Louis Bolk Institute, pioneering farmers and market actors interested in carbon farming opportunities. Partners selected five pilot regions across southern Netherlands based on soil conditions, landscape characteristics and farmer engagement.
Exploring business opportunities formed the next stage of implementation. Market scans identified companies and organisations interested in supporting carbon sequestration through carbon credits or ecosystem service payments. Discussions examined different financial models linked to certification systems, long-term contracts and combined public-private financing structures.
Launching five practical pilots allowed farmers, advisors and investors to test carbon sequestration methods under real agricultural conditions. Activities focused on soil carbon storage, agroforestry systems, biobased crops and carbon insetting approaches. Farmers participated directly in co-design sessions, deciding which practices to apply and how to monitor results.
Testing practical land-use changes became an important part of field implementation. Pilot farms introduced cover crops, reduced tillage systems, agroforestry elements and biobased crops such as hemp and miscanthus. These relatively accessible adjustments explored how climate-friendly management could fit within productive farming businesses.
Developing monitoring, reporting and verification protocols formed another major activity area. Researchers tested carbon calculators, satellite imagery, remote sensing technologies and soil sampling methods to improve reliability while reducing monitoring costs. CAP funding supported practical field validation for these systems.
Knowledge exchange activities supported wider dissemination. Regional workshops, field visits, information sessions and a final conference involving more than 150 participants shared lessons with farmers, policymakers, advisors and carbon market actors. Public brochures, online updates and media communication further strengthened awareness around carbon farming opportunities.
Main results
- Five regional pilots covering more than 150 hectares generated practical experience with carbon sequestration linked to soils, agroforestry systems and biobased crops. Field measurements recorded carbon storage ranging from 1-4 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually, depending on soil conditions and farming practices.
- More than 50 farmers participated directly in testing climate-friendly land management approaches linked to potential carbon revenue streams. Cover cropping, reduced tillage, agroforestry and biomass crops provided practical examples showing how relatively straightforward farm adjustments can support new income opportunities alongside productive agriculture.
- Developing and validating monitoring, reporting and verification systems improved transparency around carbon sequestration measurement. Combining soil sampling, satellite imagery and remote sensing technologies strengthened confidence among farmers, researchers and market actors involved in future carbon certification systems.
- The project helped strengthen one of the Netherlands’ largest arable carbon sequestration programmes covering more than 1 000 hectares and over 8 000 tonnes CO₂ linked to local investor financing.
- Cooperation between agricultural collectives, private companies, researchers and policymakers created stronger networks supporting future climate business models within Dutch agriculture. Farmers gained a clearer understanding of carbon markets, environmental services and opportunities to blend CAP support with private climate financing.
Key lessons
- Carbon farming becomes easier for farmers to adopt when business opportunities remain practical, transparent and closely connected to everyday land management decisions. Relatively accessible adjustments like cover crops, reduced tillage or agroforestry strips can generate environmental value alongside potential financial returns.
- Building trust around carbon markets requires reliable monitoring systems supported by practical field testing. Combining remote sensing technologies with on-farm measurements helped strengthen confidence around carbon certification and reduced uncertainty for both farmers and investors.
- Cooperation between agricultural organisations, researchers and local businesses proved particularly valuable for translating climate policy into workable rural business models. Local companies showed strong interest in supporting nearby sequestration activities where environmental investments remained visible within regional landscapes and farming communities.
- Good practice pilots further highlighted how climate mitigation can support wider farm resilience through healthier soils, diversified production systems and stronger long-term land management planning.
This project has truly accelerated our understanding of how to make carbon farming a viable and rewarding practice for farmers. Seeing the pilots in action confirms that with the right models and monitoring, carbon farming can become a sustainable income source.
Being part of this pilot opened my eyes to the real benefits of carbon farming-not just for the climate but also for improving soil health and resilience on my farm. It’s a win-win.
The collaboration between farmers, researchers, and market parties in this project creates a powerful foundation for scaling carbon farming beyond just these pilots.