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Regenerative Farming - Italy
The project is dedicated to empowering Italian farmers through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, including tree planting and agroforestry. The project provides financial incentives and expert agronomic guidance to overcome adoption barriers. The project significantly contributes to mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing soil health, and combating climate change, while transforming Italy’s agricultural landscape into a more resilient and climate-positive system.
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Project information
Regenerating Italy’s farmland with local farmers
The project's purpose is to promote the adoption of sustainable agriculture among local farmers by supporting them in reducing their dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, enhancing soil organic matter, and promoting the efficient recycling of organic materials. The initiative addresses the critical challenges faced by Italy's Mediterranean Basin, such as diminishing water resources, soil erosion, and soil degradation.
The project's approach, which includes practices like minimum tillage, cover crops, and improved crop rotations, aims to increase carbon sequestration in both soil and biomass, while also enhancing biodiversity and the resilience of farms to climate change. The long-term goal is to cover at least 200,000 hectares by 2030, with a projected average annual gross carbon removal of 1,142,682 tons of CO2e over a 45-year crediting period.
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Intervention
ALM (Agricultural Land Management)
Location
Italy
Standard
International Carbon Registry
Sustainable Goals
Project performance
The Earthly rating
The Earthly rating is the industry-first holistic project assessment. Earthly researchers analyse 106 data points, aggregating information across the three vital pillars of carbon, biodiversity and people. Projects in Earthly's marketplace all exceed a minimum score of 5/10.
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Carbon
5.14
tCO₂e per hectare is reduced annually
Biodiversity
1,400
hectares of farmland are implementing regenerative agricultural practices
Social
70%
of the net revenue is shared with farmers
Project impact
Local impact
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This map shows the spatial distribution of the project areas across Italy, including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The green points represent the individual project sites. Together, these sites form a geographically diverse network of farms and landscapes that are central to achieving the project’s objectives. Currently, the project encompasses 67 farms covering a total of 1,474.89 hectares. This baseline will guide future comparisons, enabling the measurement of progress and impact over time.
Project area: through time
To ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the initiative, we will implement a comprehensive geospatial monitoring program. This will involve regular assessments of environmental conditions, with a focus on identifying potential risks (such as fire activity or land degradation) and tracking vegetation cover health over time. The use of satellite imagery and spatial analysis will allow for a timely detection of changes and inform adaptive management strategies.
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Positive for people
The project addresses social issues by empowering farmers and local communities and promoting sustainable prosperity. The project provides a new paradigm for farmers by creating a way for them to access additional income streams through the creation and sale of carbon credits on the voluntary carbon market. This economic empowerment is expected to improve livelihoods and revitalise rural communities. The project's structure also supports local communities through partnerships with local stakeholders.
The project's vision extends beyond ecological benefits to include a comprehensive and multifaceted transformation with a positive impact on society and the economy. The project aims to contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty and Decent Work, and Economic Growth. By providing financial incentives and expert guidance, the project helps to stabilise and potentially increase farmers' earnings, thereby mitigating economic vulnerabilities.
This has led to a notable enhancement of economic stability among participant farmers, resulting in greater resilience against poverty. The project has also contributed to improvements in employment quality by promoting fair labour conditions and investing in skills development, leading to elevated job satisfaction and security for agricultural workers.
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Good for earth
The project is implementing several practices to address drivers impacting biodiversity in Italy, particularly in the Mediterranean region. A core component of the project is the promotion of regenerative agricultural practices, including tree planting and agroforestry. The project works to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which contributes to soil erosion, nutrient loss, and a decline in soil quality. By reducing these inputs, the project aims to prevent the harmful effects of pesticides on humans and the environment, as well as to lower nitrous oxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
A key strategy is the restoration of degraded land through the adoption of agroforestry practices, which are seen as vast natural reservoirs for carbon dioxide. The project also promotes practices that directly foster biodiversity, such as maintaining continuous herbaceous cover through green cover and the use of cover crops. Intercropping, the practice of growing multiple crops in the same field, also enhances soil health through diversified root structures. Additionally, the integration of hedges, rows, and forest patches into agricultural fields provides natural barriers against erosion, supports biodiversity, and improves microclimates.
The project's focus on increasing biodiversity is particularly relevant given the threat of the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, which has devastated olive trees in the region. The project's regenerative practices have been found to help olive trees resist infection by strengthening their natural defences and limiting insect vectors that transmit the bacterium. In real-time, the project has observed positive environmental outcomes, such as reduced erosion and nutrient runoff, and increased resilience to extreme weather. The adoption of agroforestry has also been shown to improve habitat quality and contribute to the overall health of the ecosystem.
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