Business Models in Carbon Farming: Insights from the CARBONICA project

The article “Business Models in Carbon Farming: Insights from the CARBONICA Project” explores how structured business model development can support the uptake and scalability of carbon farming practices across Widening regions. Against the backdrop of growing demand for naturebased solutions and performance-based climate finance, the CARBONICA project demonstrates how entrepreneurial support mechanisms can align environmental ambition with economic viability. The analysis focuses on three strategic levers: carbon insetting as an integrated supply chain approach; premium product badges as market incentives; and diversified revenue streams combining product sales, certification, and carbon credits. Central to this framework is the CARBONICA Accelerator, a modular programme targeting start-ups, SMEs, and farmers in Cyprus, Greece, and North Macedonia. The Accelerator provides tailored support through training, mentorship, and policy-aligned guidance, enabling actors to design investable models rooted in agro-ecological practice. A total of 32 participants have engaged with the Accelerator, representing diverse business types and development stages. To ensure GDPR compliance, all examples in this article are anonymised using country–type–number identifiers (e.g. GR-SME-1, MK-FRM-2). Together, these components illustrate how carbon farming can transition from fragmented experimentation to a coherent, scalable, and inclusive model of climate-smart entrepreneurship—one that is both grounded in place and relevant across regions .