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Carbon farming Certification system (CarbFarmS) The transition towards result-based agriculture sector
The overall objective of the “Carbon farming Certification system: The transition towards result-based agriculture sector (CarbFarmS)” project is to develop a roadmap for farmers and decision makers on implementation of Carbon farming Certification system for Latvian conditions, allowing to reach The Green Deal goals in connection with low-carbon circular economy principles. Selected carbon farming solutions and possible result-based payment schemes will be analysed vs its climate, environmental, economic, and social viability. The main aspects to be analysed within the research include: result-based carbon farming schemes, feasibility assessment of proposed solutions, the potential for climate change mitigation. Within the project, carbon farming solutions will be identified, their importance in reducing GHG emissions will be determined and evaluated, indicators for the assessment of solutions will be developed, a risk assessment will be carried out and a roadmap will be developed for the implementation of result-based carbon farming solutions in Latvia. The project is based on consecutive multi modelling approach combining (1) literature review, (2) indicator analysis method, (3) multi-criteria descion-making analysis (MCDA), (4) economic analysis and (5) life cycle assessment (LCA). ). Combination of the mathematical models deployed in the project will result in a roadmap on carbon farming solutions for Latvia in mid-term and long-term.

PROJECT FUNDED BY:

Latvia’s state budget Fundamental and Applied Research Project

Project No. lzp-2023/1-0055

PROJECT DURATION:

1st January 2024 – 31st December 2026

PROJECT BUDGET:

300 000,00 EUR

SCIENTIFIC LEADER OF THE PROJECT:

Jeļena Pubule

PUBLISHED:

30.01.2024.

Today, June 11, CarbFarmS student Edīte Meikulāne successfully defended her master’s thesis under the supervision of Professor Jeļena Pubule. Edīte created her thesis within the framework of the Project’s Work Package 2, focusing on key performance indicators for results-based carbon farming.

Today, June 4, Kristiāna Elza Rozīte defended her bachelor’s thesis. Elīna’s work was created as part of a project aimed at supplementing the literature data set with field data. The work measured the accumulated carbon in sea buckthorn plantations in fruit bushes of different ages. One of the most interesting findings in the work is that weather conditions significantly affect the seasonal carbon balance – frozen branches in cold springs reduce the carbon accumulated during the growing period.

On May 14-16, 2025, at the International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies, Edīte Meikulāne presented the study Multi-Criteria Assesment Of Carbon Farming: Evaluating Key Performance Indicators , and professor and senior researcher Jeļena Pubule presented the study Transforming Energy Use in Agriculture: Pathways to Sustainability and Climate Neutrality in Latvia .

Today marks exactly one year since we launched the CarbFarmS project! Today also marks the end of the 2nd work package. Data was collected from other studies and statistics in growth zones relevant to Latvia. Unfortunately, the conclusions are not surprising – there are indicators, however, the available literature data does not provide a complete data set that would cover all indicators. As the project continues, data will be collected from several Latvian farms, thus providing a complete data set for the modeling work package.

The scientific publication Carrier Material and Microbial Selection for Enhanced Methane Production in Ex-Situ Biomethanation was published on December 30, 2024. The authors of the publication are Zane Kušnere, Lauma Laipniece, Veronika Liberova, Dace Lauka.

The scientific publication Carbon Farming: A Systematic Literature Review on Sustainable Practices was published on December 21, 2024. The authors of the publication are Lelde Vištarte, Anna Kubule, Līga Rozentāle, Jeļena Pubule.

On November 2, 2024, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher Ruta Vanaga participated in the SWH radio program “Mind Will Save the World”, where she talked about practical ways to save energy. Listen to the program HERE.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

2024

  1. Kušnere, Z., Laipniece, L., Liberova, V., Lauka, D. Carrier Material and Microbial Selection for Enhanced Methane Production in Ex-Situ Biomethanation. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 2024, Vol. 28, No. 1, 952.-964.lpp. ISSN 1691-5208. e-ISSN 2255-8837. Available from: doi:10.2478/rtuect-2024-0072
  2. Vištarte, L., Kubule, A., Rozentāle, L., Pubule, J. Carbon Farming: A Systematic Literature Review on Sustainable Practices. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 2024, Vol. 28, No. 1, 895.-909.lpp. ISSN 1691-5208. e-ISSN 2255-8837. Available from: doi:10.2478/rtuect-2024-0068

PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES

2025

  1. International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies | May 14 – 16 | Riga, Latvia | Edīte Meikulāne | Multi-Criteria Assesment Of Carbon Farming: Evaluating Key Performance Indicators
  2. International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies |May 14 – 16 | Riga, Latvia | Jeļena Pubule | Transforming Energy Use in Agriculture: Pathways to Sustainability and Climate Neutrality in Latvia