C-OLIVAR Operational Group: Validation of an innovative methodology to capitalize on carbon accumulation practices in olive groves

The ultimate goal of the C-OLIVAR project is to develop and validate the methodological approach to calculating carbon credits in olive groves and to disseminate strategies to optimize organic carbon accumulation in a wide range of olive grove types, including tools for their evaluation.

Through this objective, C-OLIVAR aims to support regional and national governments, as well as olive growers, in implementing management strategies that result in greater accumulation of organic carbon, and therefore a greater contribution to climate change mitigation and the decarbonization of the olive sector, and the conversion of this carbon into credits exchangeable for euros on the voluntary market.

The main expected results are:

1. Development of a methodological guide for calculating carbon credits in olive groves.
2. Development of a digital tool available to technicians and farmers to guide decision-making in increasing soil organic carbon levels and improving the natural capital of olive groves at the farm level.
3. Increased accumulation of organic carbon and ecosystem services (biodiversity, soil, water) and the circular bioeconomy in the network of collaborating farms and in other farms of owners who participate in dissemination actions.
4. Creation of outreach materials aimed at promoting: i) the implementation of management practices that lead to an increase in the amount of organic carbon, and ii) the development of a voluntary carbon credit market.