CDRfarm

Carbon farming—CDR measures in agricultural systems such as agroforestry, biochar, and conservation agriculture—offers significant potential to help Germany achieve its 2045 net-zero and 2050 negative emissions targets under the Bundesklimaschutzgesetz. Yet deployment remains limited, hindered by information gaps, bureaucratic obstacles, insufficient institutional capacity, and unclear regulatory frameworks.

CDRFarm develops a decision support tool and comprehensive carbon farming option profiles to inform land managers, training and extension services and policymakers on implementation challenges. The project addresses three core objectives: (1) collating all relevant information on diverse CDR options in agricultural systems and filling knowledge gaps through targeted model simulations, (2) identifying implementation bottlenecks and devising strategies to overcome them, and (3) developing realistic adoption scenarios to assess effects on net carbon balance, global markets, and sustainability targets.

Carbon farming profiles provide structured information across three dimensions: (1) the technical potentials including permanence and required expertise, inputs, infrastructure, and market needs; (2) farmers’ and agricultural enterprises’ readiness for implementation, considering risk perception, economic conditions, access to financing, physical resources, education, and advisory services; and (3) institutional and legal frameworks, including value chains, subsidies, carbon payments, and regulatory requirements. These profiles support the identification of necessary adjustments to regulatory, legal, and institutional frameworks. Quantitative scenario analysis addresses two critical gaps identified in CDRterra phase 1. The LPJmL model is expanded to include silvopastoral systems and analyse sequestration rates across CMIP6 climate scenarios, addressing uncertainty from future climate conditions. The MAgPIE model projects adoption scenarios based on legal, capacity-related, and economic factors, assessing interactions with other sustainability targets and global market effects. These scenarios are then applied at the regional level to determine comprehensive net carbon balances. Stakeholder engagement through two workshops with farmers, policymakers, and associations ensures practical relevance and broad dissemination of results across Germany, Europe, and globally. CDRfarm thus contributes to the development of sustainable and practical CDR strategies that meet the demands of climate protection and sustainability.