Reduction of Agricultural GReenhouse gases EmiSsions Through Innovative Cropping systems

[LIFE 2019-2023]

The LIFE AGRESTIC project aims to foster the adoption by EU farmers of innovative and efficient cropping systems that have a high potential for climate change mitigation.

It also aims to widely distribute innovative tools and knowledge for climate change ready and resource-efficient agriculture. The proposed experimentation includes the introduction of legumes and catch crops in the crop rotations in order to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration and organic nitrogen supply. The introduction of a decision support system (DSS) is also planned to ensure efficient management of the innovative crop rotations, with a focus on diminishing the use of external inputs (nitrogen fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) and non-renewable resources (soil and fuel).

The project addresses specific objectives of the LIFE Regulation regarding the reduction of GHG emissions in the agricultural sector. The collection of data and the modelling of GHG fluxes from soils will also contribute to knowledge on emissions accounting, according to rules set out in the Decision No 529/2013/EU.

Expected results:

• Reduced agricultural GHG emissions by 167% of total CO2 eq at the pilot sites, and the increase of soil carbon sequestration, by designing and implementing on three demonstration sites N- and C-Efficient Cropping Systems (ECSs) with higher potential of carbon storage and nitrogen efficiency and lower GHG emission rates compared to Conventional Cropping Systems (CCSs);
• A web-based DSS for supporting farmers in a resource-efficient management of ECSs, aimed at reducing GHG emissions and production costs (reduction of 33% of fungicides and 20% of herbicides use), while maintaining or increasing yields, product quality and safety, and the farmer’s economic return;
• The implementation of a prototype for automated and continuous monitoring of soil GHG fluxes, in order to: i) measure the potential of ECSs in reducing soil emissions compared with CCSs; ii) calibrate and validate a model for estimating soil GHG emissions and implementing the model into the DSS;
• Valorisation of GHG emissions and carbon storage mitigation potential of ECSs through market-based and/or policy-based measures, supporting national and local policies through the analyses of ECS-based simulation scenarios, and providing a dataset for more accurate LCA analyses;
• The design of a quality label scheme for ECSs based on carbon footprint and ecosystem services, coherent with the indications of ISO14025 international standard for type III environmental labels and declarations, for a minimum of two food chains; and
• Involvement of national and EU stakeholders (50 000 individuals expected to be reached) to:
  1. ensure their real needs are met and the proposed innovation is feasible and effective;
  2. increase the innovation acceptance and the future exploitation of the project results;
  3. create local agreements and regional collaborations on soil and ecosystem services; and iv) ensure replicability and transferability of the DSS across the EU

Project website »

This project is funded by Life+ under the agreement LIFE17 CCM/IT/000062