Updated 31/01/2025

Cultivating Change: How Farmers Can Implement Innovative Carbon Farming Practices

by Elisa Vainio and Mariana Salgado

Identifying the obstacles to implementing carbon farming practices and developing strategies to overcome them is a crucial first step in establishing a Service Design Lab focused on Carbon Sequestration. This initiative is part of the IRSCC project, where we are collaborating with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG), and the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS ERIC). By leveraging the strengths of each organisation, we aim to effectively address the challenges associated with carbon farming.

In Hauho, Finland, a workshop engaged Carbon Action farmers in brainstorming obstacles and actions to advance carbon farming practices.

Identifying Obstacles

Farmers identify some key obstacles to adopting carbon farming methods:

Attitudes: Shifting to carbon farming practices requires a shift in mindset, and thus, the attitude of farmer is the most important thing. Moreover, attitude change is needed from all – from those in the food value chain, politicians determining the boundary conditions, as well as consumers. Resistance to change in general and to innovative agricultural practices can hinder progress.
Knowhow & learning: Lack of knowledge among farmers was identified as an obstacle for wider application of carbon farming methods. Carbon farming requires some understanding of the carbon sequestration processes and gaining knowledge on the best practices. Importantly, farmers should also be ready to try and observe what works best for their farm and fields. Gaining the information and applying it may be an obstacle to some farmers, and it was estimated that sometimes carbon farming may seem harder than it is.
Communication Gaps: Adequate communication regarding unsuccessful carbon sequestration cases can foster understanding. Current educational approaches may not align with farmers' needs, and might not allow peer exchange, making it difficult for them to adopt new practices.
Lack of Financial Support: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is not as progressive as it should be, not ensuring enough financial backing for carbon farming practices. Financial insecurity is already a major problem in many farms in Finland, hindering progress and application of new innovations, as well as impairing farmers’ wellbeing.
Lack of Representation: Farmers in our workshop were concerned on the absence of farmer representatives in the formulation and implementation of carbon policies limits the effectiveness of these initiatives.
Contextual Ignorance: The unique agricultural context of Finland is often overlooked in broader discussions about carbon farming.

Proposed Actions to Overcome Obstacles

To tackle these challenges, we propose several actionable strategies:

Promote Knowledge Exchange and Peer Support
Facilitate networks where farmers can share experiences and learn from one another.
Highlight successful carbon farming practices to inspire others within the community.
Encourage learning through real-life examples and positive communication, demonstrating the benefits of new methods.
Enhance Situational Awareness and Decision-Making
Educate farmers on the importance of situational awareness when making decisions about their practices.
Encourage flexibility in traditional farming approaches, promoting a mindset open to experimentation and adaptation.
Provide tools and resources that assist farmers in planning for changing conditions, fostering resilience.
Encourage Experimentation and Holistic Learning
Support farmers in gradually integrating carbon farming practices into their operations through experimentation.

Promote a holistic approach to planning that incorporates long-term observations and adjustments based on changing conditions.

Conclusions

Successful carbon farming extends beyond mere technical implementation; it requires cultivating a robust learning environment where farmers can gain insights, share experiences, and develop confidence in adopting new practices. Our Service Design lab needs to address these obstacles collaboratively and pave the way for more sustainable agricultural practices that contribute significantly to climate change mitigation efforts.

These proposed actions will enable to further develop the Service Design Lab ensuring it effectively meets the needs of farmers as we prepare for the upcoming implementation of the carbon farming directive. By considering farmers' needs and enhancing their capacity to implement effective carbon sequestration methods, we can foster a more resilient agricultural landscape.

The needs of other stakeholders will be explored as part of our work in future steps.

Service Design Labs

Demonstrators

Catalogue of Services

Cultivating Change: How Farmers Can Implement Innovative Carbon Farming Practices

Identifying Obstacles

Proposed Actions to Overcome Obstacles

Conclusions

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