As a key mechanism for bringing together stakeholders that could build momentum and trust in the development of local or national carbon farming schemes, MARVIC is organising a series of regional events to disseminate project outcomes and discuss current technical and policy-related barriers and solutions. Two of these events, conducted in the local language and involving regional actors, were held October 4, 2024, in the Czech Republic and October 28, 2024, in Italy, focusing on policy advancements at the European level and their national implications.

In Prague, MARVIC partner Jana Polakova from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague initiated a roundtable in collaboration with MRV4SOC, to discuss the status and next steps in acknowledging the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, as well as the proposal for developing and implementing Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) methods in the Czech Republic. Greet Ruysschaert (MARVIC coordinator, ILVO) presented the MARVIC project and the progress of implementation of the regional roadmap to enable carbon farming in Flanders, Belgium. Additionally, Célia Ruau (MARVIC partner, Agrosolutions) showcased the MRV tool CarbonExtract and carbon farming in France. Experts from the sister project MRV4SOC also participated, sharing their insights and exchanging ideas with researchers, farmer representatives, and government officials in the Czech Republic.

An engaging and significant discussion arose around the geodata collected over decades by one of the subsidiary institutes within the Ministry of Agriculture. This data, stemming from nationwide collection efforts initiated in the 1960s, has, over the past two decades, also included collection of soil organic matter and soil carbon values at the individual farm level, using a consistent methodology across the country and over time. This database is considered a unique ready-to-use resource for the MRV system. Additionally, the Crop Production Research Institute manages a unique LTE network in the country, the data from which could also be leveraged for the MRV system.

In turn, MARVIC partners Silvia Coderoni from the University of Teramo, Andrea Ferrarini, Paolo Sckokai, and Diana Escobar from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart organised a focus group on carbon farming policy coherence in Piacenza, Italy, aimed at guiding the development of effective regulatory schemes and enhancing MRV systems. The event engaged about 30 stakeholders, including farmers, scheme managers, policymakers, and NGOs, to explore sources of policy incoherence impacting the implementation of carbon farming practices.

The focus group was structured around a questionnaire, which will help refine the questions for a broader online survey planned for 2025. The insights gathered during the session are expected to play a crucial role in shaping coherent regulatory frameworks that facilitate the effective implementation of carbon farming initiatives. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the event sought to bridge gaps and promote sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to the overarching climate goals.