| | | | | | Advanced biodiversity monitoring for results-based and effective agricultural policy and transformationNewsletter #2 | December 2023 | |
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| | | | | Dear Reader, Welcome to our latest BioMonitor4CAP project newsletter. In this edition, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the strides we've made since the project started in December 2022. From innovative solutions to notable achievements, we invite you to explore the developments that have shaped our journey so far. | |
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| | Important goals achieved in 2023 | BioMonitor4CAP has achieved crucial milestones on its path to the project goal. These early successes provide a solid foundation for ongoing progress, paving the way for the successful realization of the project's ultimate objectives: to assess, develop, test, validate, and support the implementation of effective, affordable, and reliable methods, tools, and technologies for monitoring biodiversity in agricultural areas and farmland. Milestone 1 – Geodatabase in operation We are pleased to report an important milestone: the successful completion of Milestone 1 of the BioMonitor4CAP project. This milestone includes a data storage system for both raw and processed data, along with a Web GIS platform (web-based geographical information system) to present the project’s data and results. WebGIS (biomonitor cap. eu) As we move forward, we are not only focusing on incorporating spatial data sources for contextual insights in the major research sites but also committed to enhancing the user experience within the platform. This achievement has been made possible through valuable feedback from consortium partners. As the WebGIS platform is currently in its early stages and contains limited data, it is not freely available. If you want to visit the WebGIS platform, please click the following link to get your password: WebGIS password generator. Thanks to all project partners for their efforts and support to work on advanced biodiversity monitoring systems. | |
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| | | | View of the Web GIS platform. Milestone 9 – Methodology for establishing the observatory database We are delighted to announce that we achieved a significant milestone on the way to establishing the electronic directory network of European biodiversity observatory institutions, that is Milestone 9 in the BioMonitor4CAP project. This milestone aimed to identify relevant observatories, institutions, and networks that collect agro-biodiversity indicators and to facilitate access to this information through the centralization of these data on a website. By gathering the information in a clear and structured way in a centralized point (sub-page of our project site), the developed database will facilitate the development of agro-biodiversity monitoring and surveillance systems in Europe. The methodology is developed within the framework of the Prisma Protocol, which ensures a high standard for data collection. The planned interface will be user-friendly and, for example, allows selecting countries and institutions from a map (see the preview below). The final database will be publicly available at the end of the year 2024. Thanks to all work package (WP) 5 partners for their efforts and support in working on advanced biodiversity networking systems. | |
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| | | | The planned interface of the electronic European Directory Network of biodiversity observatories. | |
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| Review on the the first field season 2023 | Refining approaches and overcoming challenges: a summary of the first field season The project's inaugural field season served as a valuable opportunity to test the feasibility and robustness of our proposed grid sampling approach across a diverse range of geographical settings and farming systems. The project’s five major research sites in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal provided a unique platform to evaluate the applicability of this sampling approach in various environments. This initial phase focused on identifying potential challenges, refining strategies, and making necessary adjustments to ensure the project's success in subsequent field seasons. A central aspect of this trial was the deployment of various devices to gather data on insect and bird abundance, soil biodiversity, and physico-chemical soil parameters. Automated insect cameras enabled accurate AI-powered insect recognition, while automated audio recorders captured bird vocalizations. Soil eDNA (environmental DNA) samples provided further insights into the ground-dwelling biodiversity. In order to validate these methods, pan traps for insect collection, bird surveys along standardized transects, and conventional soil sampling were employed. In this first field season, the BioMonitor4CAP team faced a number of challenges that highlighted the need for further development and adaptation in some areas. The local field teams had to contend with logistical hurdles, including delays in equipment procurement, technical malfunctions, and extreme weather conditions. Additionally, livestock occasionally posed interference with the sampling stations. The lessons learned from the first field season have been compiled into a comprehensive experience table to ensure a successful future field season in 2024. This document serves as a valuable resource for the field teams, providing insights into potential pitfalls and strategies for mitigation. The findings from this first trial will be used to refine the grid sampling approach and optimize data collection methods for the 2024 and 2025 field seasons. First, but statistically not yet verified observations clearly indicate that the choice of the acoustic recorder directly affects the complexity of the assessed bird species lists. In the next step, the species lists obtained with automated devices will be compared against those assessed using the traditional "point-count" method. Possible false negative errors but also false positive errors will be identified, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the different sound recorders. | |
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| | | | Field work impressions: 3) Nico Heitepriem setting up an insect camera, 4) Adham Ashton-Butt installing an Audio Moth device 5) Ameli Kirse placing a pan trap onto a sampling station and 6) the Finnish team preparing sampling in the fields. For further information have a look at our project video and visit the project website w w w. biomonitor4CAP. eu. | |
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| | Research and innovation with focus on biodiversity at Agritechnica 2023 | Agritechnica 2023 demonstrated the innovative power of agricultural technology and the entire agricultural sector. More than 470,000 visitors from 149 countries witnessed the scale of technical progress impressively presented at the exhibition grounds in Hanover. Under the guiding theme of "Green Productivity", more than 300 events were dedicated to technical and environmental aspects, where future challenges in agriculture were discussed. Topics, such as productivity and resource conservation were given a large international stage. At the DLG booth, visitors were able to get a glimpse into the various projects that aim to boost, conserve and monitor biodiversity on farmland. Members of the BioMonitor4CAP team were on site throughout the week to inform visitors about the project. The work of BioMonitor4CAP in the fields was visualized with a camera and Lego wildflowers, attracting numerous visitors. | |
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| | | | | As part of the technical programme, the session "Smart Agricultural Technology - what can digitalization contribute to biodiversity: Opportunities and challenges of smart agricultural technology" took place during Agritechnica on 15 November 2023. In this session, Ameli Kirse, LIB (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change) gave a short presentation on BioMonitor4CAP and discussed the impact of digitization on biodiversity together with Olivia Spykman, LfL (Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture) and Andreas Meyer-Aurich, ATB (Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy), who presented the project D4AgEcol (Digitization for Agroecology). The session was organized by GIL (Society for Information Technology in Agriculture, Forestry and the Food Industry). | |
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| | What is planned for 2024 | WP1 – Baseline analysis and biodiversity indicators, systems, programs, and policies WP1 will be responsible for the collection and analysis of the state of the art of existing biodiversity indicators, monitoring systems, related measures and their likely adaptation in policy. Geospatial information will be collected and processed in order to bring the Web GIS platform to life, including the first results from the field work activities. WP2 – Developing, testing and calibrating farmland biodiversity monitoring systems In the coming year, in addition to the systems already tested in 2023, additional monitoring devices will be installed. This includes both acoustic sensors and systems based on AI-powered image recognition methods. While some of the devices are already in an advanced stage, others are prototypes in different stages of development. By combining modern devices with traditional standardized methods WP2 partners will be able to design and develop indicators and metrics for effective on-farm biodiversity monitoring. In addition to the already established sampling sites, field experts will be expanded to other European countries as well as Peru. This is done to evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of individual methods under different climatic conditions, landscapes, and forms of land management. In addition methods and biodiversity indicators based on geospatial (ex-situ) data will be developed and tested. WP3 – Validation and demonstration of designed biodiversity monitoring systems Research activities will be extended from 18 fields on major research sites in 2023 to a total of 37 field sites, including 19 fields from selected research sites that will be newly added in 2024. Those “selected research sites” will ensure geographical coverage and allow assessment of specific species and habitats in Austria, Finland, Germany, Peru, Portugal, Poland and the Netherlands. WP4 – Socio-economic proofing of agrobiodiversity measures WP4 is in charge of the usability assessment of agrobiodiversity data and co-creation of framework for agrobiodiversity-enhancing measures with the rural stakeholders. For this purpose focus group interviews were prepared. Four focus group interviews sessions with farmers and farm advisors were successfully conducted and recorded in Finland in 2023 and will be continued in other countries in 2024. WP5 – Ensuring replication, and implementation In 2024, a user-friendly database of relevant Biodiversity Observatory Networks for Europe will be publicly available. The methodology to identify the relevant observatories, institutions, and networks that collect agrobiodiversity indicators was submitted as Milestone 9 in November 2023. WP5 will also work on the development of new CAP policy measures drawing on new biodiversity indicators defined in the project, called bio-schemes (biodiversity-dedicated schemes). Those new measures are to complement the existing echo-schemes. The construction of the bio-schemes will be discussed and consulted with policymakers and farmers. WP6 – Dissemination, exploitation, and communication WP6 will facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing with European, national, and global target groups by building a network of stakeholders. Communication with all involved stakeholder groups will help to create impacts in science and agricultural production to enhance farmland biodiversity. What is planned specifically?- A workshop for farm advisory services on 21 February 2024 during the “DLG Wintertagung” in Leipzig (Germany).
- Participation in the field exhibition DLG Feldtage, 11-13 June 2024 to showcase project's research work and to inform farmers and the general public about enhancing biodiversity.
- Send out our biannual project newsletter to inform all stakeholders about developments, progress and results of the research work.
WP7 – Overall management and coordination The project coordination team and the local project partner in Portugal are planning the annual meeting 2024 in Lisbon. All project partners will meet in March to discuss the project's progress and to plan further research work. We are looking forward to an exciting next year with interesting contacts and discussions, exciting events and the first results from our research work. Thanks for being a part of this project’s network. The whole consortium is wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with joy and laughter! May the coming year bring you success, happiness, and more knowledge about biodiversity. | |
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| | Upcoming activities | Within the project - Provide an overview of methods/indicators for biodiversity and their relationship/integration into the CAP and other policies - as the task "Review of biodiversity indicators in agriculture" has been postponed, we will report on this in the next newsletter.
- Starting research activities on the selected research sites.
Upcoming events - Agricultural Science Days, 10-11 January, Helsinki (Finland) » Read more.
- Grüne Woche (Green Week), 19-24 January, Berlin (Germany)
Grüne Woche is one of the most traditional trade fairs in Germany that also gives current social issues such as climate protection, circular economy, resource conservation and sustainable land use a stage. » Read more. - DLG Wintertagung, 21-22 February, Leipzig (Germany) » Read more.
- DLG Feldtage, 11-13 June, Erwitte/Lippstadt (Germany)
Crop production out of the box – a look beyond one’s own field and new thinking of agricultural practices. » Read more. - World Biodiversity Forum, 16-21 June, Davos (Switzerland)
Under the theme From Science to Action, the third World Biodiversity Forum brings together researchers across all disciplines of biodiversity science with practitioners and societal actors to explore how to move from science to actions and solutions to conserve biodiversity and set us on a path towards transformation for sustainability. » Read more. . | |
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| | | | Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed in this document are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. | |
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