Climate Smart Soil for ZERO-CARBON farms

The region faces significant impacts of climate change, requiring joint measures in protection, prevention, and sustainable landscape management. This project involves research, pilot actions, and demonstration of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and recarbonization techniques, including: 1) soil organic cover (cover cropping and organic mulching), 2) nutrient management, 3) no-till, reduced, and conservation tillage, and 4) crop diversification.

A public-private-people partnership, “Soil Health Living Labs,” will be established to restore soil fertility, improve health, and increase carbon storage through innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices. These advancements will be shared through joint outreach, education, and capacity-building initiatives.

The project seeks to raise awareness among farmers, stakeholders, policymakers, and the public about sustainable soil management and to foster cross-border cooperation on adaptation and climate change mitigation strategies.

• Establishment of Soil Health Living Labs, engaging farmers, cooperatives, agronomists, policymakers, farmer unions, academia, and experts to co-identify challenges and explore innovative solutions.
• Three study tours showcasing successful projects with a positive SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) balance, offering practical insights on climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Six “Experiences and Lessons Learned” workshops.
• A series of six “Training of Trainers” (ToT) sessions.
• A conference on climate change and soil recarbonization.
• Expanding climate-smart agricultural practices will strengthen the resilience of farmers and communities throughout the program area.