CIRCULANDIA is designed as a European “learning system”: some places act as demonstrators (where solutions are developed and tested first), while others act as replicators (where solutions are adapted and implemented in a new context). NORSØK is responsible for adapting the knowledge to local conditions in Møre og Romsdal, so that more resources from local food production can be recycled and contribute to new value creation.

Mapping and evaluation of regenerative methods

One of the first major work packages focuses on systematising and comparing existing frameworks and tools for regenerative agriculture – both in Europe and internationally. NORSØK contributes to this work together with the Finnish Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG). This includes looking at criteria and assessment systems, tools for advisory services and implementation, where there are gaps, overlaps or a need for harmonisation, and what approaches are best suited to different countries, production systems and value chains. This is important because regenerative agriculture today often consists of many strong initiatives, but with unclear shared definitions and uneven documentation. The project will help create more precise practice and better comparability.

Bringing European knowledge to Møre og Romsdal

Møre og Romsdal County Council will work to introduce methods and models from the European partners into a Norwegian context. Here, NORSØK will support the adaptation and testing of regenerative models and nutrient-management solutions, contribute to the development of courses and training in collaboration with a local agricultural school, and connect lessons from European demonstrations to practical regional implementation. This is not about “copying” Finland or France – it is about translating solutions. Climate, soils, farming structures, value chains, regulations and geography are different, and must be taken seriously.

Tools, handbooks and training

CIRCULANDIA will develop practical tools that can be used by municipalities, advisors, farmers and business stakeholders. Several of the key outputs are closely linked to NORSØK, including handbooks on regenerative agriculture adapted to local conditions, tools and guidelines for circular nutrient management, and a modular training programme for regenerative farming.

In CIRCULANDIA, strong emphasis is placed on documenting the climate impacts of regenerative agriculture in a more precise and scalable way. The project will therefore further develop and test a satellite-based monitoring solution (MRV – monitoring, reporting and verification) that can track changes in land use and estimate carbon emissions and removals, including carbon stored in soils.

The satellite measurements will be tested on 100 hectares of agricultural land in Møre og Romsdal before being verified through ground-based measurements. The aim is to create a stronger and more verifiable basis for assessing the climate impact of measures in agriculture, while also making it easier to track developments over time and compare results across countries.

CIRCULANDIA takes a clear systems perspective. Transitions to more sustainable practices happen faster and have greater impact when agronomy, markets, municipalities and policy move in the same direction.

For this reason, the project links regenerative farming and soil health with local food systems and public procurement, as well as reusable packaging and consumer behaviour. Crucially, solutions are tested across regions and European networks. This is where the strength of European collaboration lies: when several regions test solutions in parallel, we can learn what actually works, what needs to be adapted, and how measures can be scaled.