Researchers’ recommendation: Opportunities for Peatlands and Paludiculture in the EU Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027)

A network of international research organisations prepared a Policy Brief related to the topic of peatlands and paludiculture, containing recommendations for EU Member States for their CAP Strategic Plans. The Policy Brief was prepared for the EU Pavilion day at the COP26 United Nations Climate Conference, focused on agriculture, land-use and forestry. SOMPA was one of the projects involved in writing the brief. The main author for the compilation of …

Policy brief: Definition of paludiculture in the CAP

The European common agricultural policy (CAP) is currently being outlined, and the realization of the emission reduction potential of peatlands is also being discussed. Would paludiculture turn peat fields from a problem into a solution? A number of European research institutes and associations received a request from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG Agri) to provide further information on wetland cultivation in the context of the …

Policy Brief: Climate smart agricultural policy requires a reform of incentives to minimize emissions from cultivated peat soils

Post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must safeguard and stimulate the preservation of carbon-rich soils through protection of peatlands. Functional peatlands are the most space efficient long-term carbon store and sink in our planet’s biosphere. However, croplands on peat soils are currently large emission sources and they account for more than 25% of total emissions from agriculture and agricultural land use in the northern Europe. A group of leading peatland experts …

Blog: Reaching sustainable peatland use in Europe – momentum for change in CAP reform?

Transforming drained peatsoils to paludiculture would help mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the EU 2050 carbon neutrality agenda. Synergy effects with water and biodiversity protection and novel business opportunities are key advantages of paludiculture in comparison to many other peatland use methods. The climate impact of cultivated peatlands is significant as they are 2.5% of the total agricultural area but produce almost 25% of the total agricultural GHG …