Dissemination action
Carbon Farming: The Farmer's perspective
As part of the European project “Carbon Farming Awareness Hub”, TheoRI organized on November 15th on Lesvos island a dissemination action with field visit to an olive oil and an organic olive orchard. The aim was for participants to meet practicing farmers and experience firsthand their views on the potential of carbon farming, its (dis)congruence with existing farm management practices and the challenges its uptake may present to the average farmer.
The aim of this initiative is to raise awareness and promote a broader understanding among participants about carbon farming and its relation to existing farming practices. More than 25 participants were interested in participating, with 15 of them making to the field visit (46.7% female).
The first stop was at the Tzortzis Olive Oil mill, the oldest and largest on the island of Lesvos. Participants learned about the olive oil production cycle, the challenges that the industry is facing due to climate change, and discussed about the required incentives and support mechanisms which would persuade olive farmers, especially the elderly ones, to engage in carbon farming.
The next stop was to “Farmer Evolution”, an organic and mountainous olive orchard. There participants learned how an all-organic olive orchard is run and drew parallels with carbon farming techniques.
The field visit successfully highlighted both the challenges farmers face in engaging with novel regulatory schemata as well as the many affinities between carbon and organic farming. The opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with real producers and farmers, offered participant a unique and authentic experience, and helped them put in context the theoretical information they have received during the lectures. This initiative effectively raised awareness and promoted a deeper understanding of sustainable agricultural practices within the regulatory framework.
