• Organic farming, crop rotation and cover crops play a fundamental role in reducing agricultural emissions in the European Union.
• According to European Commission estimates, these practices have a mitigation potential of 78 per cent of total CO2 equivalent.
• Organic farming also makes the greatest contribution to protecting carbon sinks.

The conversion to organic farming plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture: this is the finding of a study published recently by the European Commission, which represents the first quantified estimate of the potential contribution of European Common Agricultural Policy interventions (CAP) to the reduction and absorption of greenhouse gas emissions for the period 2023–2027.

The study analyses 19 strategic plans of the CAP relating to as many member states, which account for approximately 92 per cent of the utilised agricultural area of the EU and approximately 95 per cent of EU greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture for 2021.

The CAP's emission reduction potential: organic farming makes the greatest contribution

It is estimated that in 2022 the agricultural sector emitted 366 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), equal to 11 per cent of the EU's total estimated greenhouse gas emissions. According to the conclusions of the analysis, these plans can contribute significantly to the sector's climate targets, with an estimated mitigation potential of up to 31 million tonnes of CO2e per year, primarily through carbon sequestration and reduced emissions from soil.

Crop rotation or crop diversification, the expansion of cover crops and conversion to organic farming are the three agricultural practices contributing most to the estimated mitigation potential (78 per cent combined). In terms of CAP instruments, eco-schemes account for 38 per cent of the estimated mitigation potential, and environmental and climate commitments under rural development for 30 per cent.

Organic farming also contributes to protecting carbon sinks

The analysis also points to a potential positive contribution to the protection of existing carbon sinks of 29 million tonnes of CO2e per year. Support for the maintenance of organic farming accounts for more than half (54 per cent) of the estimated protection potential, followed by forest management (22 per cent) and grassland protection (18 per cent).

"This study shows that in addition to protecting the health of farmers, water resources and biodiversity by reducing the use of synthetic pesticides, the development of organic farming is also essential for reducing emissions from agriculture and increasing carbon sequestration in soil," commented Eric Gall, deputy director of Ifoam Organics Europe. "Using CAP funds to support the conversion to and maintenance of organic farming is a good investment for member states and for nature. Given the many benefits it offers, organic farming should be given a more prominent role in the next CAP and in the future vision for agriculture and food."

The strategic plans allocate 32 per cent of the total CAP budget to voluntary actions promoting environmental, climate and animal welfare objectives. Other EU funds, such as Life, Horizon Europe (in particular Mission Soil) are available to encourage carbon sequestration.