FRANCE | Carbon-Agri

by The French livestock institute (IDELE), the Interprofession of meat and milk (Interbev and CNIEL) and farmers associations (CNE)

Description

Since 2013, ruminant breeding sectors have been engaged in the fight against climate change.
Today more than 12,000 cattle farms are involved in low carbon initiatives. Many technical levers for reducing GHG emissions and increasing carbon storage are offered to farmers to reduce the carbon footprint of milk and meat produced.
In order to certify these emission reductions and this additional carbon storage, the French livestock institute (IDELE), the interprofession of meat and milk (Interbev and CNIEL) and farmers associations (CNE) developed the “CARBON AGRI” methodology, which is labelled by the new “Low Carbon Label” created by the French Ministry of Ecology.
France Carbon-Agri association, created by breeders’ representatives, facilitates the implementation of agricultural projects to reduce GHG emissions in France. The objective is to involve and support farmers and their technical partners in their low carbon initiatives and create the link with the actors – communities, companies – who want to support financially and transparently innovative projects for the climate.
Many economic players (Paris City Hall, BNP Paribas, La Poste, J.O. Paris 2024, Metropole of Nancy, etc.) testified their desire to achieve carbon neutrality and support the low carbon transition. The Label “Bas-Carbone” provides a certified framework for the development of local voluntary compensation projects.
This is a low carbon voluntary policy creating a training phenomenon involving all stakeholders. An innovative compensation perspective, this label will remove the obstacles to change.

Results

On September 30, 2019, the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition approved the CARBON AGRI methodology.
This certification makes operational the certification of low carbon projects implemented on farms. In this context, France CARBON AGRI association was created to ensure project engineering and thus provide support to regional or national project sponsors. The first call for projects is now open, the project holders and/or farmers can come forward with the association or the Institute of Livestock.

Climate smartness*

The political support and the particular commitment of the leaders of this initiative have helped its scaling, as a result of a public-private partnership.
In addition to that in CARBON AGRI description, it is mentioned that, in order to promote mitigation with the creation of low carbon labels, the project has created the opportunity for some farmers to have access to new markets and improve their income. For all the above, CARBON AGRI is line up with CSA pillars by reducing emissions and increase producers’ income.
It is recommended to generate a portfolio of practices that helps to reduce GHG emissions, increase productivity and improve the adaptive capacity of the cattle system to climate variability events.