Purpose
This deliverable explores how soil health indicators can be integrated into the EU Carbon Farming Certification Framework, complementing carbon-centric metrics with a more holistic approach. The aim is to ensure accountability for multiple soil-related benefits while promoting synergies with other EU policies, including the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the Common Agricultural Policy.
Intended Audience
The report is primarily intended for EU and national policymakers, certification bodies, and stakeholders involved in carbon farming, soil health monitoring, and climate policy. It is also relevant for researchers and land managers seeking practical approaches to embed soil health into carbon farming schemes.
Description of Main Activities
The work involved:
• Analysing the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation and its certification methodologies.
• Assessing the wider EU policy framework to identify synergies and avoid trade-offs.
• Selecting and testing soil health indicators in InBestSoil case studies across diverse biogeographic regions, focusing on agricultural sites.
• Testing an indicator-based approach for certifying soil health as a voluntary co-benefit within carbon farming schemes, using data from the selected sites.
Key Results
• A multi-indicator framework combining physical, chemical, and biological metrics was proposed to assess soil health co-benefits.
• SOC-based indicator: The Observed/Typical SOC (O/T SOC) index emerged as a practical and less biased alternative to the SOC/clay ratio for evaluating soil structural quality.
• Positive impacts: Carbon farming practices tested in InBestSoil agricultural sites generally improved soil structural quality, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass compared to conventional management.
• Policy alignment: Strong synergies were identified between carbon farming certification and the Soil Monitoring Directive, Nature Restoration Regulation, and CAP eco-schemes.
Research and Practice Implications
The findings highlight the feasibility of integrating soil health indicators into carbon farming certification, offering a pathway to incentivize multifunctional land management. Future research should refine indicator thresholds and explore cost-effective monitoring solutions, while practice should focus on harmonizing soil health assessments with existing EU frameworks to reduce administrative burden.
Policy Implications
To maximize benefits, EU and national authorities should embed soil health indicators into certification methodologies, align monitoring with the Soil Monitoring Directive, and promote synergies with CAP and restoration targets. Establishing regional benchmarks and supporting capacity building will be key to successful implementation.
Conclusion
By incorporating soil health into carbon farming certification, the EU can accelerate the transition toward sustainable land management, delivering climate, biodiversity, and socio-economic benefits. This approach strengthens the Soil Mission objectives and provides a robust foundation for future policy development.
Publication Date: 2026-06-19