MARVELA

Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH₄) are the main non-CO2 greenhouse gases from agriculture, significantly contributing to the EU climate footprint. Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and implementing the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming regulation requires robust farm-level solutions to reduce non-CO2 GHGs and related air pollutants while ensuring effective monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). MARVELA will address these challenges by improving farm level monitoring methodologies, harmonizing data metrics, exploring effective mitigation strategies, and advancing practical knowledge that enable researchers, farmers and policymakers to act decisively. The project develops, adapts and optimizes nine innovative tools, including low-cost sensors and model-based systems, for on-site measurement and proxy prediction of CH₄, N2O, and ammonia (NH₃) emissions across five pedo-climatic zones. Tools are validated in 14 agricultural practices covering manure management, livestock feeding and grazing, and soil management, selected from a long-list of agricultural mitigation measures. MARVELA reduces monitoring uncertainties, improves data usability, and refines the DATAMAN database to provide region-specific emission factors and support UNFCCC reporting. Partners implement 25 mitigation measures in seven European countries, generating evidence to inform EU and regional plans. Integrated models and multi-dimension sustainability assessments clarify how practices and climate change affect direct and indirect non-CO2 GHGs, identifying strategies while minimizing trade-offs. The project delivers an MRV toolkit and the MRVsphere platform as backbones to support training, outreach, and capacity building. International collaboration, including the EU-China FAB initiative, broadens scope and applicability. MARVELA provides improved MRV frameworks, actionable practices, and stronger stakeholder capacity to support the EU transition to resilient, low-emission farming.