The first CRCF Days, held on 20–21 May in Brussels, marked an important step towards building a robust carbon removals and carbon farming market in Europe. With the CRCF Regulation nearing full implementation, the event showcased significant progress: certification schemes can now apply for European Commission recognition, and the EU Buyers’ Club is gaining momentum, setting the stage for a robust and credible carbon removal and carbon farming market in Europe.
From Policy to Action: CRCF Enters Operational Phase
Over two days, more than 500 stakeholders from across the carbon removals and carbon farming value chain gathered in Brussels, including policymakers, buyers, project developers, certification schemes, financial institutions, NGOs, farmers and foresters. Discussions focused on the practical implementation of the CRCF framework and on showcasing credible, viable action on the ground.
The EU Buyers’ Club, structured as a voluntary market coordination platform for both permanent removals and carbon farming will play a crucial role in mobilising public and private capital under the CRCF. By fostering predictable demand, it aims to accelerate the transition from pilot projects to large-scale deployment. A momentum is clearly building up through a coalition of key willing investors ranging from companies, financial investors, and public authorities which will play a key confidence and market building capacity in the emerging EU CRCF market.
Day 1: Permanent Removals
With the first CRCF methodologies for permanent carbon removals (BioCCS (Biomass with Carbon Capture and Storage), DACCS (Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage) and biochar now adopted, the discussions focused on the following upcoming milestones:
- Recognition of certification schemes: existing schemes for permanent removals can now apply for CRCF recognition. Further guidance on the application process was presented during a dedicated webinar on 1 June. You will soon be able access the slides and watch back the recording here.
- The EU Buyers’ Club emerged as an important early mechanism to aggregate corporate demand and de-risk investments and demonstrate action on the ground. Several potential offtake agreements unlocking investment decisions in CRCF projects are expected to be announced by the end of 2026.
- Effective combination of private and public funds both from the EU (Innovation Fund or European Innovation Council) as well as national State aid was highlighted as key to scaling up and accelerating CRCF market deployment.
Day 2: Carbon Farming
The second day focused on carbon farming, and on how the CRCF framework can support more resilient EU agri-food and forestry value chains. Farmers and foresters are at the forefront of this transition. The first methodologies providing the rules for carbon farming, covering mineral soils, peatland rewetting, and afforestation, are in the final stages of adoption by the Commission providing a robust, standardised framework for these activities.
A dedicated survey, closed on the 26 May, offered the opportunity to dive into the opportunities and challenges to scale up the EU voluntary carbon farming market and provided the pitch for the discussion on day 2 with all market actors.
Key take-aways from the discussions:
- Enhancing supply chain collaboration with a public-private partnership approach is a key enabling factor for both agri-food and forestry value chains to strengthen resilience, decarbonisation and competitiveness. Effective combination of private and public funds from the EU (such as the Competitiveness Fund), the CAP, and national State aid is essential to scale up carbon farming projects in the EU.
- Derisking investments through innovative financing solutions, such as the recently announced EU-wide call for efficient use of bio-based or low-carbon fertilisers in the recently published Fertilisers Action Plan, a potential future CRCF Facility or financial guarantees covering delivery and permanence risks are needed to boost confidence and investments in carbon farming.
- Providing guidance on uses has emerged as a key enabler. The CRCF review to be presented as part of the package of a proposal for national targets at the end of 2026, will evaluate how CRCF can be used effectively for climate reporting under GHG Protocol and SBTi.
All presentations and session recordings from the CRCF Days are available here.
