Closing a chapter, opening new paths: The legacy of Farms4Climate

From innovative carbon farming strategies to community-driven solutions, Farms4Climate's Final Showcase in Salamanca highlighted key achievements, challenges, and the path forward for sustainable food systems.

After three years of working towards transforming Mediterranean agricultural systems into regenerative and sustainable models, the Farms4Climate project has officially reached its conclusion. Together with farmers, researchers, business representatives, and policymakers, we have empowered local communities, promoted gender-transformative dynamics, and fostered eco-entrepreneurship across the Mediterranean region through our Living Labs in Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, and Spain.

The culmination of our journey was marked by an insightful and dynamic Final Showcase in Salamanca, Spain, an event designed to highlight key results and outcomes while exploring the challenges faced throughout the project and strategies for overcoming them. Organized by AIR Institute on March 26th and 27th, the event featured a series of presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions where the Living Labs shared their experiences and achievements.

Following the opening remarks by the project's coordinator, Carla Gonzalez Gemio (AIR Institute), a series of presentations explored the broader context of Carbon Farming in the Mediterranean, with a focus on Farms4Climate results. First, Andrea Ferrarini (UCSC) discussed Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of carbon removals and digital technologies for sustainable agriculture, drawing insights from his work in the TomaTO-C Living Lab in Northern Italy. From his perspective, "We must create credibility in these practices, going beyond carbon credits. We need to foster trust and scalability, emphasizing the environmental benefits of maintaining them over time."

Thoraya Seada (SEKEM) then examined the barriers and solutions encountered in Egypt regarding the implementation of organic agriculture. She also highlighted the impact of the Economy of Love initiative and the importance of developing regional certification schemes that truly reflect each country's needs and operate closer to its people. Finally, Tristano Bacchetti De Gregoris (SAE Innova) shared the advancements towards a European framework for carbon removal certification, discussing the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) policy process.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Constantinos Machairas (IFOAM), focusing on key strategies for community organisations in carbon farming to create a sustainable future. Building on her earlier talk, Thoraya Seada emphasized that "Farmers value being part of a community—a group that supports them and helps them face challenges. Knowledge and experience are not measured by certificates; what truly matters is the real, practical work that farmers do in the field. Through our work, we can feel the tangible changes in farmers' lives."

In turn, Aina Calafat (IFOAM) shared her concerns: "In recent years, our societies have regressed in terms of natural resources, water, and soil conservation," she lamented. In her view, the path forward is clear: "We must build strategies collaboratively, connecting public administrations, consumers, retailers, farmers, and tourists. We need to implement changes to transition towards a better quality of life through a more agroecological approach that enhances biodiversity and captures carbon."

During the discussion, Alba Mininni (UNIBAS) reflected on her experience: "Initially, farmers are hesitant to change their practices; they need evidence that the results will be beneficial. However, each season presents new challenges, and as farmers seek solutions, seeing positive outcomes motivates them to adopt these practices themselves." Similarly, Bezaiet Dessalegn (ICARDA) stressed the importance of practical demonstrations: "Technology must be tested at the farm level. If you can prove that it works under real farm conditions, farmers will adopt it. For true sustainability, the whole community must be involved, ensuring added value, whether through cost savings, improved yields, better land management, or water conservation."

The second day of the event was dedicated to exploring the experiences and results of each Living Lab. Presentations were delivered by Thoraya Seada (SEKEM), Wiekert Visser (HU), Teodoro Berloco (Agreenment), Alba Mininni (UNIBAS), Miguel Ángel Gómez (AVA), Andrea Ferrarini (UCSC), and Thouraya Azizi (INRGREF). Additionally, AIR Institute presented some of the digital tools developed using blockchain technology, while Constantinos Machairas shared insights on Community-Based Organisations. According to Machairas, "We envision a transformation of food systems. Technology has the potential to revolutionize food production, but it must be embraced by communities. Building these communities requires trust. We need to speak their language, listen to them, learn from them, and advocate with and for them."