b'FLUXES The European Greenhouse Gas Bulletinsector. Moreover, with open data, we will reduce the implementation cost. All in all, the ICOS network has greatpotential to complement other key data sources to monitor, report and verify carbon removals, Gmez- Research can help create Gimnez continues. The demo sites include five ICOS stations: Hurdal inmore knowledge so that Norway, and Brasschaat, Dorinne, Lonze and West-malle in Belgium. people can adapt carbon The contribution of the ICOS scientists from thefarming practices to their demo sites has been very useful. They will help the MRV4SOC-project make the most of the available data- context, whether it is the sets, she adds. size of the farm, the climate Increasing understanding or other conditions in their of carbon farming country.On top of supporting greenhouse gas emission invento-ries and contributing to MRV systems, ICOS data canDr Marilyn Rolandalso be used to understand the effectiveness of carbon farming. This approach, where land use practices aimed at increasing carbon stored in vegetation and soil are rewarded, is seen as a crucial way for the agricultural sector to contribute to climate change mitigation.However, it is also important to keep track of itsMeasurements made using the eddy covariance successes. For example, the ICOS Westmalle station inmethod are particularly interesting for developing an Belgium is running a long-term experiment to measureMRV for carbon farming.the impacts of carbon farming. The field is split intoThe technique, central to all ICOS ecosystem two areas: one with carbon farming practices and thestations, measures the exchange of CO2 between terres-other managed in a business-as-usual manner. Thetrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. This is key to get difference is then measured by comparing the parallela high level of accuracy.eddy covariance setups of each field. Eddy covariance measurements can play a big role On the business-as-usual side, there is a rotation ofin MRV because they are such a good way to accurately maize, followed by a winter crop. But on the experi- measure carbon sequestration. This is something that is mental side, we try to improve the crop rotations byreally in demand in Europe right now, Roland says. including more permanent crops that can grow all yearMeasuring the success of carbon farming is key as round, or by growing crops with deeper roots, so carbonlandowners are increasingly interested in it. can be stored deeper in the soil, explains Tim DeThe landowners are quite eager to collaborate with Meulder, Principal Investigator at the Westmalle station. us and become more sustainable because agriculture Then, there are crops such as clover, beans and peashas gotten such a bad name in terms of its climate which can be ploughed under the soil when the mainimpacts in the recent years. There is a big movement crop is harvested to increase the amount of carbon inamong the farmers that is striving to change that, she the soil, he continues. explains.Dr Marilyn Roland, who manages several ICOSResearch can help create more knowledge so that stations, including Westmalle, believes the stationspeople can adapt carbon farming practices to their research has the potential to inform carbon farmingcontext, whether it is the size of the farm, the climate practices in Belgium and beyond. or other conditions in their country, she adds.'