OrganicClimateNET is building a unique European network of organic farms to better understand how farming systems can both adapt to climate change and contribute to climate mitigation.
The network already includes 260 pilot organic farms across 12 European countries, representing a wide diversity of agricultural systems and environmental conditions. Farmers surveyed in 2024/25 provide a large dataset for analysing climate challenges directly observed at farm level.
A network reflecting Europe’s climatic diversity
One of the main strengths of OrganicClimateNET lies in the broad range of climates represented. Farms in the network span very contrasting conditions, linked to farm latitude and landscape, from sea level up to over 1,200 metres elevation.
Average rainfall is 550 mm/year for arable farms and near 750 mm/year for mixed livestock farms or permanent crop farms. If the mean temperature of the network is 11°C, farms dedicating more than 25% of agricultural area to permanent crop undergo 17°C, as they are mainly located in Spain, Italy and Portugal.
This diversity makes the network a powerful “living laboratory” for identifying locally relevant solutions for organic agriculture under climate pressure, to think together on how to adapt and mitigate climate change.
Organic farming systems already facing adaptation challenges
The OrganicClimateNET farm network is composed of 70% mixed crop–livestock systems, so-called farms rearing animals like cattle or small ruminants, poultry or pigs and having grassland or annual fodder crops to feed them, as well as part of the farm area dedicated to cash crops sometimes.
13% of the network is arable farms and 17% permanent crop farms.
In Germany, Spain, Finland and Romania, average farm area dedicated to cash crop is between 38% and 69%, while grassland is over 50% in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Ireland and Latvia hubs.
These organic farms perceive various threats linked with climate change. Extreme weather and water management issues are the two main risks identified, followed by changes in the growing season and threats to soil quality.
Water management and climate extremes: key priorities
Across Europe, climate change is already reshaping farming conditions through more frequent extremes: droughts, heavy rainfall events and shifts in growing seasons.
Water management emerges as a critical issue, especially in southern regions. In the network, 20% of farmers irrigate at least part of farm agriculture, from 2% to 72%, with higher shares in several Mediterranean countries.
These findings confirm that adaptation will require both technical solutions and knowledge exchange between farmers facing similar pressures.
Soil protection at the core of climate resilience
The analysis also highlights how central soil is in farmers’ climate concerns. Organic farms are increasingly aware of risks linked to soil degradation and carbon loss.
Erosion risks are reported across all farm profiles. Water erosion is particularly noted in arable farms, where 34% of farmers declared having already identified soil losses, followed by permanent crop farms, with 31%, and mixed livestock farms, with 29%.
This confirms that climate resilience requires strong soil conservation strategies.
Moreover, the dataset shows the presence of peat soils in 24% of farms, including 46 farms with small areas and 16 with larger peat surfaces, underlining the importance of protecting high-carbon soils in a carbon mitigation strategy.
Looking ahead: carbon assessment and farm climate strategies
This first large-scale characterisation of the OrganicClimateNET farm network provides an essential foundation for the next phases of the project.
The upcoming steps will focus on:
- Conducting farm-level carbon assessments,
- Supporting farmers in building tailored climate mitigation and adaptation strategies,
- Strengthening organic farming’s contribution to European climate goals through practical, evidence-based approaches.
By combining robust data, peer learning and on-farm climate action, OrganicClimateNET aims to support organic farms as key actors of a resilient, climate-friendly European agriculture.
