BioMonitor4CAP for enhanced agrobiodiversity maintenance and conservation

Increasing agricultural intensification in recent decades combined with the challenges of climate change are key drivers of the biodiversity crisis. Farmland biodiversity is essential to building resilient agri-food systems, and improved conservation measures for farmland biodiversity are needed to stop biodiversity loss and the negative effects such loss has on food production.

Regenerative farming practices such as diverse crop rotation, cover crops, intercropping and agroforestry increase crop diversity, but regenerative agriculture also aims to support the diversity of wild species. Simple and reliable biodiversity indicators and monitoring methods are tools farmers and other stakeholders can use to verify the effectiveness of regenerative farming practices. Such monitoring methods need to be applicable for farmers to ensure efficient biodiversity monitoring at the farm level. Therefore, studies should analyze farmers’ views on advanced monitoring methods and their views on biodiversity on their farmland. Understanding these views can help to develop targeted policy measures, which can further support the application of monitoring techniques on farms and enhance conservation of farmland biodiversity.

Research in best practices and the transfer of agricultural knowledge and innovation (AKIS) to farmers and other stakeholders aid policy development and build farmer capacity. The University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute is examining and assessing the scientific literature of existing biodiversity monitoring methods, suitable indicators and proxies as well as stakeholder perceptions of farmland biodiversity. In addition, novel monitoring technologies such as eDNA soil sampling and acoustics will be piloted in field trials in Finland and in other participating EU countries. The aim of the project is to support European policies aiming to enhance farmland biodiversity. Here, we present the project’s aims, preliminary results of the literature review, and the upcoming farmer-based research and field trials.

The research is part of BioMonitor4CAP, a Horizon Europe funded research project that develops, tests and validates advanced biodiversity monitoring systems below- and above ground in agricultural landscapes at the farm scale.