Objectives

Computer tool

Development of a software tool to assess energy consumption as well as GHG emissions in farms. This common comprehensive tool is intended to be applicable throughout the whole of the European Union, as it will take into account the diversity of agricultural systems in the different Member States.


Action Plans in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Design and implementation of specific Action Plans for farms located in the four countries that participate in the project. Based on the information provided by our common software tool, all project members will determine the necessary actions required to reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption in farms, and will propose farming practices that contribute to achieving these reductions.


Comprehensive proposals.

Comprehensive proposals for action will be developed to serve as a basis for developing new agri-environmental measures and contribute to other European or national programmes. These will be aimed at increasing the sustainability of farms and their contribution to climate change mitigation.

The instruments of the European agri.environmental policies have been so far focused on water and biodiversity, thus it is especially relevant to make proposals that also contemplate direct measures against climate change.

Capacity building.

Training sessions and events to awareness of stakeholders of the agriculture sector in relation to climate change will be organised throughout the project.

Benefits

• Creation of a computer tool for the evaluation of farms that is applicable in the European Union, free to use and that will be available at the project’s website. This software tool will include innovative and complete information on mechanisms for combating climate change through agriculture.
• Provision of advice to those interested in using the computer tool.
• Possibility to use the obtained information not only in national and European agricultural policies, but also in climate change policies post 2012.
• Identification of specific farming practives that contribute to reducing GHG emissions from farms and mitigating climate change.
• Results which are applicable in the different agricultural systems and will be particularly useful in order to transfer the results throughout the European Union.
• Promotion and application of the best practices in agriculture that are most effective in combating climate change.
• Knowledge transfer between the groups and sectors involved, as well as to the different economic agencies and regions of the European Union.
• Promotion of conservation and responsible consumption of energy and reduction of agricultural GHG emissions, improving at the same time agriculture’s potential as carbon sink.
• Diffusion of proposals related to agricultural efficiency and the environment.
• Support for efficient crops and production methods.
• Support of responsible consumption by informing consumers about the ecological footprint of agricultural products in relation to GHG/energy consumption.