Background Anthropogenic climate change has become a well accepted fact. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, anthropogenic emissions have led to an increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming. Combating climate change is a key priority for the EU, which has put in place specific targets for 2020, including: a 20% reduction in GHG emissions; 20% of energy from renewable sources; and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. The Council of Europe has set the target of an 80-95% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to the effects of climate change. However, it is also one of the main contributors to the problem: GHG emissions from agriculture accounted for 10.3 % of all GHG emissions in the EU in 2009. Different agricultural practices and technologies have been developed to help mitigate GHG emissions. These include the improved management of arable and grazing land, and the restoration of degraded and cultivated organic soils. Whilst these approaches have shown some success, the overall impact is not sufficient and in some cases, measures undertaken can have adverse effect on other aspects of sustainability, such as biodiversity and food security. Objectives The SOLMACC LIFE project aims to demonstrate a set of innovative, climate-friendly farm practices under experimental conditions. These practices will demonstrate benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and coherence with other sustainability objectives. The project thus hopes to promote the wide adoption of more environmentally friendly farming practices and inform the ongoing development of policy and debate around climate change and agriculture. The project will demonstrate a set of four, innovative, climate-friendly farming practices: 1. Optimised on-farm nutrient recycling; 2. Optimised crop rotation with legume-grass leys; 3. Optimised tillage system; and 4. Agroforestry. These will be implemented on 12 organic farms in Sweden, Germany and Italy. The project expects to show a reduction of around 15% in the carbon footprint of plant products and greater resilience to the consequences of climate change on the pilot farms. It also expects to show coherence with other sustainability objectives of the European Union, such as the control of soil erosion, biodiversity conservation and enhancement, and the efficient management of natural resources, such as water. By successfully demonstrating the technical and economic viability of the interventions, the project hopes to contribute to the mainstreaming of these, as yet, uncommon agricultural practices and, in turn, to the achievement of European environmental objectives. Expected results: The successful implementation of an innovative set of climate-friendly farm practices on twelve organic farms in Sweden, Germany and Italy; A 15% reduction in GHG emissions from agricultural activities; An improved capacity to adapt to the negative effects of climate change; A richer debate on EU policy around climate change and agriculture.