Meo Carbon Solutions (MCS) is pleased to announce the official launch of a new research and development project funded by the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR). The project aims to develop one of Germany’s first certification systems aligned with the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Regulation (CRCF), supporting the implementation of high-quality carbon removals activities within the EU.

In November 2025, the FNR published a funding call to develop and advance certification systems that support the national implementation of the CRCF Regulation in Germany (with a focus on Carbon Farming). Building on the long-standing expertise in the development of sustainability certification systems—including ISCC System, HORTICERT and the Food Security Standard—and close engagement with the evolving regulatory framework, through participation in the European Commission’s Expert Group on CRCF, MCS successfully applied for the project.

During the FNR conference “Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming – Opportunities and Applications for Agriculture and Forestry” in Berlin, MCS officially received the grant approval on 23 June 2026. The project commenced immediately afterward on 1 July 2026 and will run for a period of two years.

The project will establish a comprehensive certification system covering the carbon farming activities currently foreseen under the CRCF Regulation. Initially, the system will include:

• Afforestation
• Carbon Farming in Agriculture (including Agroforestry)
• Peatland Restoration and Rewetting
• Reduction of Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Carbon Storage in Long-Lived Products

Improved Forest Management (IFM) will be integrated as soon as the EU Commission develops the corresponding CRCF methodology. By bringing these methodologies together within a single certification system, the project aims to provide a harmonized, practical and transparent solution that enables project developers to implement high-quality CRCF-compliant projects across multiple land-use sectors.

A central objective of the project is to develop a certification system recognized under the European CRCF Regulation. To achieve this, MCS will implement pilot projects to test and validate the methodologies under practical conditions based on the delegated acts expected to be published by the European Commission in summer 2026. These pilots will help ensure that the system is scientifically robust, practical and ready for implementation.

The long-term ambition is to position the system among the first CRCF-aligned certification systems in Germany and Europe. In doing so, the project will support the generation of high-quality Carbon Farming Units. The CRCF Regulation marks a major step forward in European climate policy by establishing the first harmonized framework for certifying carbon farming and carbon removals activities across the EU. Through common rules for additionality, long-term storage, monitoring, reporting, verification and sustainability safeguards, the regulation strengthens environmental integrity, transparency and trust while creating the foundation for a European voluntary carbon market.

As an organization involved in developing the CRCF Regulation from its early stages, MCS is proud to help translate the European regulatory framework into practical certification solutions. Through this project, we look forward to working with stakeholders from science, different sectors, industry and public authorities to help shape the future of high-quality CRCF certification in Germany and across Europe.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the FNR and the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH) for their trust and support in funding this project through the “Sustainable Renewable Resources” funding program. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the national implementation of the CRCF Regulation and look forward to working together with stakeholders from across Europe to establish robust, transparent and science-based certification solutions for carbon farming.