Lithuania showcases innovation and green transition at the 58 EU PA Directors’ Conference in Copenhagen
The 58th Conference of EU Paying Agencies Directors took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 19–21 November 2025, bringing together the EU Paying Agencies’ senior representatives to discuss innovation, simplification, data governance, and the evolving role of AI in implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the future direction of the CAP development, with a strong focus on interoperability, AI applications, and green transition. The representative of the Lithuanian National Paying Agency (NPA) – Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas – took part in the event and familiarised the audience with the NPA achievements in carrying out the multiple objectives of the CAP in Lithuania.
The sessions of the 58th Conference of EU Paying Agencies’ Directors focused on several key themes, including:
• The use of AI in the administration of support schemes;
• Administrative simplification and improved institutional efficiency;
• Modernisation of processes and advancing the green transition in the agricultural sector.
Over three days, delegates engaged in high-level presentations, thematic workshops, pitches and exchanges on best practices – particularly on AI applications, administrative simplification, aerial monitoring, and performance audit findings.
During the conference a key intervention was made by Tomas Orlickas, Deputy Director of the National Paying Agency (NPA) of Lithuania: “Research and development activities for more effective implementation of Lithuania’s CAP Strategic Plan” In his presentation, Tomas Orlickas highlighted Lithuania’s comprehensive contribution to the EU-funded research, development, and innovation initiatives designed to strengthen the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plan and support the transition towards a more sustainable, modern, and data-driven agricultural sector. The Deputy Director presented Lithuania’s ongoing research and innovation initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency, accuracy, and strategic coherence of the country’s CAP Strategic Plan implementation.
The Deputy Director also pointed out that the NPA’s Research & Development activities are closely aligned with EU priorities for digital transformation, environmental performance, transparency, and administrative efficiency. Tomas Orlickas outlined the importance of environmental monitoring, modelling of agricultural practices and tools that help measure biodiversity, carbon impacts and land-use changes, that are essential for delivering the green architecture of CAP. The showcased key initiatives included a number of projects with a focus on GFarm being among them.
The Gfarm for Life initiative – together with ESA GTIF and related carbon and GHG monitoring work – aims to design, test, and validate reliable methods for assessing and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in agriculture, forestry, and other land-use sectors (AFOLU). Key activities include:
- Creating the foundations for a national carbon-sequestration certification scheme, including the technological infrastructure, carbon registry platform, and mechanisms for data exchange and governance.
- Working with policymakers and sector stakeholders to update national GHG accounting approaches, regulatory frameworks, incentive structures, and role assignments.
Project tasks cover the development of methodologies, calculation tools, carbon mapping, as well as demonstrations, training sessions, and e-learning resources. The initiative will establish a system for monitoring soil organic carbon stocks, support the rollout of a carbon certification and monitoring framework, and deploy digital tools that help farmers operate more efficiently while contributing to EU climate-neutrality targets.
Within the project, the NPA is contributing to the development of a free carbon-credit platform, designed to simplify farmers’ participation and enable them to earn additional income. By providing access to open-source data, the project encourages broader farmer involvement and facilitates their ability to benefit from carbon credits.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, allowing other Paying Agencies to explore how similar innovation-focused approaches could strengthen CAP implementation across the EU. Overall, the conference underscored a shared commitment among EU Paying Agencies to modernisation, interoperability, and innovation, setting the stage for enhanced collaboration.
Shaping Climate-Smart Land Management: Reflections from Our Carbon Credits Workshop
At this year’s AgriFood Forum ’25, our team stepped into one of the most urgent conversations shaping the future of food systems and land use: the evolving role of carbon credits in agriculture and forestry. As the transition toward climate-smart practices accelerates across Europe, the question is no longer if land-based carbon markets will influence agriculture and forestry, but how we prepare ourselves to meaningfully participate in them. This is the question our panel and workshop set out to explore.
During the Forum, we led the panel “Carbon Credits in Agriculture and Forestry: From Brussels to Lithuanian Fields”and followed it with an interactive, hands-on workshop. The combination attracted a diverse audience: farmers, foresters, agribusiness leaders, NGOs, certification specialists, academics, and public-sector representatives — each with a unique stake in how carbon markets evolve.
The goal was simple: bring people together to translate EU-level policy discussions into practical, on-the-ground perspectives. The interactive workshop created space for honest dialogue about what carbon credits mean for Lithuania’s landowners and businesses — not in theory, but in day-to-day practice. Participants worked through questions such as:
- How can agricultural and forestry practices be measured as verifiable climate services?
- What does it take for a soil or forest management improvement to qualify for a carbon credit?
- Which certification schemes are trusted, and what do they require?
- How ready are companies to buy land-based credits, and what are they looking for?
What emerged was a shared realisation: carbon credits are not a future vision — they are already reshaping supply chains, investment decisions, and land-use strategies across Europe. Lithuania has a strategic opportunity to position itself well, but only with coordinated action.
The conversations at AgriFood Forum ’25 made one thing clear: Lithuania has a strong foundation for becoming a frontrunner in climate-smart agriculture and forestry. With its scientific expertise, digital readiness, and increasingly engaged landowners, the country is well-positioned to shape credible, transparent, and competitive carbon market solutions.
But success requires coordinated effort — across sectors, ministries, science institutions, and communities. The Forum discussions were an important step in building this shared understanding.
Carbon credits are often discussed as a technical topic, full of terminology and requirements. But at their core, they are about how we value land, how we support the people who manage it, and how we build systems that reward climate-positive action.
AgriFood Forum ’25 showed that Lithuania is ready to be part of this conversation — not as a follower, but as a contributor and leader.
GFarm Joins CRCF Methodology Development Workshop
The GFarm for LIFE team was proud to participate in the workshop organised within the project “Technical support for the development of carbon farming certification methodologies”, commissioned by DG CLIMA to Wageningen University & Research.
The workshop brought together a wide range of EU-funded initiatives to explore how ongoing research can support the development of certification rules under the new CRCF Regulation.
GFarm for LIFE contributed insights on how integrated monitoring, improved forest management practices and harmonised data systems can help build robust, transparent and resilient carbon-farming methodologies.
During the discussion, the team presented how GFarm’s national-scale MRV approach: combining field data, remote sensing and existing national datasets - can strengthen the evidence base for CRCF implementation. The project demonstrated which improved forest management practices are most effective for increasing long-term carbon removals and boosting ecosystem resilience, including closer-to-nature forestry techniques, enhanced structural diversity, longer rotations and selective harvesting.
GFarm also highlighted the importance of including all major carbon pools: living biomass, deadwood and soils, to avoid trade-offs and ensure realistic accounting. The project further emphasized the need to integrate climate-driven disturbance risks such as drought, fire, storms and pest outbreaks into business-as-usual baselines so that potential carbon benefits are not overstated.
As discussions turned toward baseline approaches, GFarm advocated for regionalised, standardised baselines grounded in existing data systems and complemented by project-specific measurements when necessary. This hybrid approach balances accuracy, comparability and practicality - key principles for CRCF.
Finally, the team showcased how the project’s monitoring tools, data harmonisation efforts and pilots of climate-smart practices contribute to minimum sustainability safeguards, support DNSH compliance and ensure that carbon-farming actions deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, soil health and water retention.
Overall, the workshop provided an excellent opportunity to share GFarm’s progress and learn from fellow EU projects working toward the same goal: building credible, science-based and user-friendly methodologies for future carbon-removal certification across Europe.
EC representative: NPA is an example to follow
Last week Oliver Sitar, Director of the European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG Agri), accompanied by representatives of the EC agricultural and rural development policy sector, and of the Ministry of Agriculture, visited the National Paying Agency (NPA) in Lithuania.
The purpose of the visit to the NPA was to familiarise with the institution’s key processes, the principles of EU support administration and monitoring. The EC representative was particularly interested in the NPA as an organisation with its 26 years of experience, annually paying out around 1 billion euros of the EU support to the agricultural sector. In his presentation, NPA Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas explained how the agency’s knowledge and experience have been accumulated, applied and improved on a regular basis, thus shaping the unique history of the NPA’s activities. He also outlined the innovative tools that are actively implemented and used, as well as their benefits and future prospects. The NPA Deputy Director also highlighted the role of international projects with the participation of the NPA. These initiatives play a significant role in further development, testing and introduction of innovations in the daily activities of the institution.
Among the highlighted projects – EU LIFE programme Green Farm for LIFE / ESA GTIF / Carbon & GHG Monitoring (Area Monitoring & Carbon Credits System). The purpose of the project – to develop, pilot and validate accurate assessment and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in agriculture, forestry, and land use (AFOLU). The project activities include:
- Designing frameworks for a national carbon absorption certification system, developing technological infrastructure, carbon register / platform, and data exchange / governance;
- Engaging policymakers and stakeholders to adapt national GHG assessment, regulatory needs, incentive systems, and responsibilities.
The project tasks include creating methodologies, calculation tools, carbon maps, demonstrations, training, and e-learning. The project will develop a system for monitoring soil organic carbon storage, fostering a carbon absorption certification and monitoring framework, and implementing digital tools for farmers to improve efficiency and contribute to EU climate neutrality goals. Within the scope of the project, the NPA contributes to developing a free carbon credit platform that will make it easier for farmers to earn additional income. By getting access to open-source data, farmers will be encouraged to participate and benefit from carbon credits.
The guest was especially impressed by the advanced remote monitoring tools that are used and continuously developed by the NPA and expressed his positive view on their further elaboration. This area attracted significant interest and numerous questions from the visitors regarding both the current benefits of these tools – ensuring the quality, efficiency, convenience and reliability of inspections – and their future perspectives. EC representative Oliver Sitar noted that the NPA’s operations and certain processes, particularly inspections, deserve attention across Europe, and that innovative technologies, such as satellite-assisted optimisation of monitoring, should serve as an example for institutions working in the agricultural sectors of other EU Member States. He expressed a firm position that the dialogue between the NPA and EC representatives should continue.
Oliver Sitar’s visit to the NPA was an important part of his broader mission to gain first-hand insight into Lithuania’s agricultural sector, with the aim of ensuring a fair and robust future for the EU Common Agricultural Policy and support conditions in the 2028–2034 financial perspective. The visit was organised by the EC Representation in Lithuania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture.
From Brussels to Lithuanian Fields: How Carbon Credits Are Shaping the Future of Agriculture and Forestry
As the European Union accelerates its transition toward climate neutrality, farmers and foresters increasingly find themselves at the center of the discussion. Their lands - our fields and forests - hold some of the strongest potential to remove carbon from the atmosphere. But how will this potential be measured, certified, and rewarded? And what does the new EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) mean in practice for Lithuania and the wider Baltic region?
These were the driving questions behind the international initiative GFarm for Life, which hosted a dynamic panel discussion titled “Carbon Credits in Agriculture and Forestry: From Brussels to Lithuanian Fields.” The event brought together EU experts, national policymakers, and practitioners navigating the rapidly evolving carbon farming landscape.
Setting the Scene: EU Pathway to Climate Neutrality
The keynote presentation was delivered by Christian Holzleitner, Head of Unit for Land Economy and Carbon Removals at the European Commission’s DG CLIMA. His intervention provided clarity on where Europe stands today - and where it aims to be within the next three crucial years.
Ch. Holzleitner outlined the EU’s pathway to climate neutrality, highlighting the essential contribution of carbon removals and the need for robust, science-based certification. Under the CRCF Regulation, Europe is laying the groundwork for a transparent system that can reliably measure and verify carbon removals generated by farmers, foresters, and landowners. A few priorities stood out from his presentation:
- Launching the EU market for carbon farming credits – a structure that will allow farmers and foresters to voluntarily enter the system and generate certified credits.
- Diversifying demand – not only from food and biomass processors within the value chain, but also from actors outside it, such as corporate buyers committed to net-zero targets.
- The emergence of the EU Buyers’ Club – an initiative expected to create coordinated, trustworthy demand for high-quality carbon removal credits.
- Clearer guidance coming soon – with the next three years set to define methodologies, monitoring rules, and operational models for large-scale adoption.
Together, these developments signal that carbon farming is shifting from experimental projects to a structured and regulated market opportunity.
A Regional Conversation With European Relevance
Following the keynote, an outstanding panel of experts explored how these European developments translate into national policies and concrete actions on the ground. The panel brought together: Tomas Orlickas – National Paying Agency (Lithuania), Krystyna Springer – Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Rovena Grikienė – Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Algis Gaizutis – Forest and Land Owners Association of Lithuania (FOAL), Diāna Līva – Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia, Eimantas Pranauskas – Lithuanian Association of Agricultural Companies. Moderated by: Romualdas Lapickis (AgriFood Lithuania)
The conversation surfaced a shared understanding: carbon farming and removals offer significant environmental and economic opportunities, but only with clear rules, effective monitoring, and stable incentives. Among the key themes discussed were:
- How national administrations are preparing to implement the CRCF framework.
- The readiness of farmers and foresters to participate in voluntary carbon markets.
- The importance of building trust: transparency, verification, and long-term certainty for credit buyers.
- The unique Baltic perspective, including cross-border collaboration and shared ecosystem challenges.
Why This Discussion Matters
Carbon farming is more than a policy tool—it is becoming a new economic activity that can reward land managers for practices that enhance soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and support biodiversity.
For Lithuania and neighboring countries, this shift offers both opportunities and responsibilities: Opportunities to attract investment, strengthen rural economies, diversify farm income, and scale nature-based solutions. Responsibilities to ensure land practices are sustainable, measurable, and aligned with broader climate objectives.
The GFarm for Life discussion highlighted that success will rely on cooperation across sectors—policy, science, farming communities, and industry.
Moving Forward
As Europe enters a new phase of climate action, the agriculture and forestry sectors have a chance to lead. With the CRCF Regulation setting the rules, and demand for carbon removals growing rapidly, farmers and foresters can become essential partners in delivering climate neutrality. Events like this one - bridging Brussels and Lithuanian fields - play a crucial role in ensuring that the transition is informed, inclusive, and grounded in real-world experiences.
Gfarm at AgriFood Forum’25: Turning Carbon Ambition into Action
On Wednesday, November 26, the Gfarm team will take part in AgriFood Forum’25, held at the historic Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius. As part of the programme, Gfarm will host a panel discussion titled “Carbon Credits in Agriculture and Forestry: From Brussels to Lithuanian Fields”, focusing on one of the most pressing and promising topics for the future of land use and sustainability.
The panel aims to bridge the gap between European-level policy development and the realities of local implementation. While carbon markets and climate regulations are often shaped in Brussels, their real impact is felt on farms, in forests, and across rural landscapes. This discussion will explore how EU ambitions around carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate neutrality can translate into practical, measurable outcomes for Lithuanian farmers and forest managers — as well as new economic opportunities for the wider agricultural sector.
Following the panel, participants will be invited to take part in a hands-on workshop, “From Soil to Market: Carbon Credits and Sustainability.” This interactive session is designed to go a step further, turning theory into practice. Farmers, forest managers, agribusiness leaders, and sustainability experts will come together to examine how land-based carbon credits can reshape land use practices, support more sustainable management, and become a tangible part of business and climate strategies.
The workshop will also address how agricultural and forestry activities can evolve into measurable, verifiable, and tradable climate services. In addition, it will showcase how forward-thinking companies are beginning — or are already — to integrate carbon credits into their sustainability commitments and supply chain models.
AgriFood Forum’25 promises to be an important meeting point for those shaping the future of food systems, land use, and climate action in Lithuania and beyond. The Gfarm team looks forward to engaging in meaningful discussions and working together to build more sustainable solutions for our landscapes and our communities.
Will you be joining the conversation?
The full agenda of the event: https://www.digitalfarm.lt/
Lithuanian experts participated in an international conference on the application of Earth observation technologies for carbon accounting
The latest Earth observation technologies used for climate change monitoring and carbon dioxide removal accounting were discussed at a conference held in Copenhagen on October 7–10. Lithuania was represented at the event by Marius Balčius and Ernesta Ažukaitė, senior specialists from the National Forest Inventory Division of the State Forest Service (VMT), and Martynas Rimgaila, advisor to the Direct Support Control Division of the National Paying Agency.
The Second Conference on Earth Observation for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of Carbon Removals was attended by representatives of the European Commission, the European Environment Agency, and numerous governmental, non-governmental, and scientific institutions.
The event focused on how Earth observation technologies can contribute to improving monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector accounting, and the implementation of European climate policy objectives.
"Events like this empower the exchange of experiences and strengthen the capacity of national institutions to use spatial data for climate policy implementation and carbon accounting," says Marius Balčius, Chief Specialist at the National Forest Inventory Division of the State Forest Service.
The conference shed light on the latest research and projects related to satellite data, laser scanning (LiDAR), and other Earth observation methods used in preparing greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories for the LULUCF sector.
From 2027, all EU Member States must monitor land use changes in the LULUCF sector using geographic data, as provided for in the adopted LULUCF Regulation No. 2018/841. The topics discussed at the conference reflected the direction of research and scientific work being carried out in Lithuania. The knowledge gained and experience shared with representatives of other countries allowed us to assess the relevance of our work and confirm that our efforts are heading in the right direction in improving LULUCF GHG inventory accounting.
Draft versions of the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) methodologies for carbon sequestration farming were also discussed.
During the event, the project GFarm, implemented in Lithuania and funded by the LIFE program, was presented. The project stand attracted the interest of participants, who were curious about the activities and expected results. Martynas Rimgaila, a representative of the National Paying Agency (NPA), one of the project partners, presented the agricultural part of the project, while representatives of the VMT presented aspects of the project related to forests and their potential in the field of carbon certification.
Experts from EU countries discussed how spatial data can help increase transparency, reliability, and comparability among countries implementing climate commitments.
Lithuania hosts the 24th Conference of the Baltic and Polish Paying Agencies
On 24–26 September 2025, the National Paying Agency (NPA), Lithuania, invited the paying agencies of the Baltic States and Poland to the conference “Innovations and Technologies – the Driving Force of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development 2023–2027”. Agricultural progress, good farming practices, and the use of artificial intelligence in the paying agency activities were the main topics discussed by the conference participants this year.
The conference was dedicated to discussing current issues in the agricultural sector, innovations and sharing experience in support administration.
NPA Director Fortunatas Dirginčius welcomed the conference participants and emphasized that today, in the field of agriculture, when implementing the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development of Lithuania 2023–2027 (Strategic Plan), many tasks are being taken over by robots and automated systems: “Modern methods of plant fertilisation, automated processes, innovations that allow monitoring farm activities and performing their analysis are no longer the future. Farmers are already using such tools today.”
The presentations delivered during the conference included those by NPA’s Director presenting digital solutions in implementing the Strategic Plan, by the Control Department Director on ALNSIS 1.0 and 2.0 regarding control and administrative systems, followed by presentations of the Latvian paying agency representative about shared Earth Observation platforms, insights from private innovation providers (on image classification, Sentinel-2 image use). Representatives of paying agencies from Estonia and Poland held discussions on the digital and information technology solutions used in their activities and stressed their importance in administering support measures.
In addition, during the conference a cooperation agreement was signed with the Polish Paying Agency (ARMA). A particularly relevant topic was discussed too – the conclusion of the 2014–2020 Rural Development and Aghriculture programming period. Conference participants shared the challenges they are facing and looked for ways to overcome them.
Active and meaningful discussions with colleagues from the Latvian, Estonian, and Polish paying agencies were especially valuable in seeking joint solutions on how to improve the support administration process and ensure smooth and high-quality agency work.
The presentation delivered by the NPA Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas focused on the NPA’s international projects, the interplay of support measures under the Strategic Plan, and lessons learned through its implementation. The international projects were presented as elements integrated in an overall digital ecosystem that includes parcel delineation, crop classification, and remote sensing, supporting Lithuania’s CAP Strategic Plan and more biodiversity-sensitive agricultural policy. In his presentation the NPA Deputy Director also focused on the international projects as part of a wider area modeling and monitoring system being developed by the National Paying Agency, highlighting the EU LIFE Programme Green Farm for LIFE project among them:
EU LIFE programme Green Farm for LIFE / ESA GTIF / Carbon & GHG Monitoring (Area Monitoring & Carbon Credits System) – with its purpose to develop, pilot and validate accurate assessment and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in agriculture, forestry, and land use (AFOLU). The project activities include:
- Designing frameworks for a national carbon absorption certification system, developing technological infrastructure, carbon register / platform, and data exchange / governance.
- Engaging policymakers and stakeholders to adapt national GHG assessment, regulatory needs, incentive systems, and responsibilities.
The project tasks include creating methodologies, calculation tools, carbon maps, demonstrations, training, and e-learning. The project will develop a system for monitoring soil organic carbon storage, fostering a carbon absorption certification and monitoring framework, and implementing digital tools for farmers to improve efficiency and contribute to EU climate neutrality goals. Within the scope of the project, the NPA helps to develop a free carbon credit platform that will make it easier for farmers to earn additional income. By getting access to open-source data, farmers will be encouraged to participate and benefit from carbon credits.
Representatives of agencies from Estonia and Poland held discussions on the digital and information technology solutions used in their activities and stressed their importance in administering support measures.
In addition, during the conference a cooperation agreement was signed with the Polish Paying Agency (ARMA). A particularly relevant topic was discussed too – the conclusion of the 2014–2020 Rural Development and Aghriculture programming period. Conference participants shared the challenges they are facing and looked for ways to overcome them.
Active and meaningful discussions with colleagues from the Latvian, Estonian, and Polish paying agencies were especially valuable in seeking joint solutions on how to improve the support administration process and ensure smooth and high-quality agency work.
Interactive Field Demo and Networking Opportunity in Rozalimas Forest (Pakruojis) – 30 October
Forests are becoming smarter. With the help of digital technologies, we can now monitor forest health, assess sustainability, and make better management decisions faster and more accurately than ever before. To bring these innovations closer to practice, the GFarm project is organising an interactive field demonstration and networking event on 30 October in Rozalimas Forest, Pakruojis.
Co-organised by AgriFood Lithuania, Beta via, and Melda, the event will gather forestry professionals, researchers, and technology developers to explore how digital tools can support sustainable forest management and strengthen the green transition.
Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to see innovative digital solutions in action and discuss how technology can make forestry more data-driven, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
Event Programme
10:00 – 10:30 Registration and coffee
10:30 – 10:40 Welcome remarks (Meldas Lampickas, UAB MELDA)
10:40 – 11:00 Test before invest – live demonstration: data collection using thermal and hyperspectral cameras (Jonas Pakaušis, BetaVia)
11:00 – 11:20 How digital technologies are transforming forest infrastructure planning (Dr. Sonata Grabusovė, BetaVia)
11:20 – 11:40 Satellite-based forest sustainability in the GFarm initiative (Romualdas Lapickis, AgriFood Lithuania)
11:40 – 12:30 The ICAERUS digital tool for business model analysis and decision-making (Linas Didžiulevičius, BetaVia)
12:30 – 13:00 Questions, answers, and networking
The GFarm field demo in Rozalimas Forest is more than just a showcase of technology – it is an opportunity to connect with experts who share a vision of a more sustainable and innovative forestry sector. Participants will gain valuable insights into practical applications of digital tools, from real-time data capture to strategic planning and sustainability assessment.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eKCRDVaJ
ICE Conference: Lithuania’s AMS vision showcased by the NPA
On 9–11 September 2025, the IACS Community Exchange (ICE) annual conference, organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with the EC DG AGRI and the French Paying Agency (ASP) took place in Reims, France. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission (EC), national authorities, research institutes, and industry to discuss the future of agricultural monitoring and data-driven policy in the EU.
The 3-day programme covered a broad range of topics dedicated to the implementation and evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Key sessions focused on: IACS quality assessment and upcoming reporting obligations; data sharing for evidence-based policymaking and farm-level services; advances in LPIS updates, including the use of AI; integration of space and Earth Observation (EO) technologies into CAP monitoring; experiences of Member States (MS) and candidate countries with Area Monitoring System (AMS) implementation; the role of industry and innovative solutions in supporting Paying Agencies.
At the ICE conference Lithuania was represented by Tomas Orlickas, the Deputy Director of the National Paying Agency (NPA). He familiarised the conference participants with the status and vision of the AMS in Lithuania, with the possibilities of developing smart, data-driven public services and with the respective Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and LIFE projects.
Alongside the technical sessions, the conference also offered opportunities for EU MS, EU candidate countries and stakeholders to exchange best practices on agricultural monitoring, climate adaptation, biodiversity, and carbon accounting.
At the conference the Deputy Director of the NPA Tomas Orlickas delivered a presentation titled “What’s Next After AMS? Strategy of Lithuania.” The presentation outlined Lithuania’s forward-looking vision of the AMS and its evolution into a more integrated, data-driven approach to agricultural governance.
Alongside the projects funded under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, including Horizon 2020 ENVISION, EIFFEL, AgriDataValue, Birdwatch, Mr. Orlickas in his presentation highlighted Lithuania’s pioneering work in carbon monitoring and certification under the LIFE programme “Green Farm for Life” initiative. This programme is developing a national framework for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment and carbon removal certification in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sectors. The NPA’s efforts focus on three main areas:
- Accurate GHG assessment and reporting at farm, regional, and national levels;
- Creation of a Carbon Register to ensure transparent monitoring, accounting, and data exchange;
- Development of standards and incentives for farmers to adopt climate-positive practices.
By integrating carbon monitoring into the broader Area Monitoring System, Lithuania aims to provide strong support to sustainable land management, prepare for future EU regulatory requirements, and actively contribute to Europe’s climate neutrality objectives.
Showcased at the ICE conference, this work demonstrates Lithuania’s vision of a Paying Agency that goes beyond compliance — one that enables farmers to engage in the climate change mitigation and climate neutrality solutions while ensuring fair income and environmental sustainability.
Through this forward-looking vision, presented at the international conference, the Lithuanian NPA proves its commitment to ensuring that agricultural monitoring supports not only compliance and efficiency, but also the long-term ecological sustainability of Europe’s farming landscapes.