Monitoring, reporting and verification of soil carbon and greenhouse gases balance

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-MISS-2022-SOIL-01-05

Call

Monitoring, reporting and verification of soil carbon and greenhouse gases balance

Summary

This topic supports the implementation of key actions of the European Commission Communication on sustainable carbon cycles and carbon farming and the upcoming regulatory framework on carbon removals certification:

Project results should contribute to all of the following outcomes:

  • The relationships between carbon flux dynamics of typical carbon farming practices and its driving factors (ecophysiology of ecosystems) as well as the impact of climate change on soil organic carbon (and as a consequence on soil fertility and food production) are better understood.
  • The development of standards to track payment systems for carbon farming and, of methods to consider the maintenance of carbon already stored in soils in carbon farming schemes is enhanced.
  • Reduced administrative and financial burden associated with carbon farming management practices.
  • Increased stakeholder faith and robustness of standards in voluntary (or other) carbon markets, leading to increased potential for revenue opportunities.

Detailed Call Description

The success of carbon farming in Europe will be judged on the quantity and longevity of the sequestration of carbon in plants and soils (by enhancing carbon capture and/or
reducing the release of carbon to the atmosphere). To upscale carbon farming successfully, and to establish long-term business perspectives, it will be essential to standardise
methodologies and rules for monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) the gains or losses in the carbon sequestered. Currently, private schemes apply very different benchmarks and rules to the carbon credits placed on the voluntary markets. Without a high degree of transparency, environmental integrity, and methodology standardisation buyers will be hesitant about the quality of the offered carbon farming credits. Furthermore, land managers will find it difficult to estimate their potential revenues and policy makers will be reluctant to allow the use of such credits for compliance in the regulatory framework. In consequence, it will be challenging to develop a successful market.

Call Total Budget

€14 000 000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of around EUR 7.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.

Thematic Categories

  • Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
  • Energy
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Associations
  • Central Government
  • Educational Institutions
  • International Organisations
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • Local Authorities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Call Opening Date

12/05/2022

Call Closing Date

27/09/2022

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia
P.O.Box 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Phone Number: +357 22205000
Email Address: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/

Contact Person:
Myrto Anastassiadou
Contact Phone: +357 22 205 069
Contact Email: manastassiadou@research.org.cy