Advancing Biodiversity Monitoring for Agriculture at the 2nd Annual BioMonitor4CAP Meeting in Warsaw!

Last week, representatives from BioMonitor4CAP partner institutions across Europe and Peru gathered in Warsaw for the 2nd Annual Meeting, hosted by IRWiR PAN. This event marked two years of progress in this ground-breaking initiative, which is leading the way in monitoring biodiversity within European agricultural landscapes. By advancing these efforts, the project is paving the way for more sustainable farming practices.

Over three productive days, participants discussed the project's results and challenges and set the course for future BioMonitor4CAP activities. The active exchange - both during and between sessions - fostered synergies and facilitated knowledge sharing, strengthening collaboration across disciplines and countries.

Strategic Focus on Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement
Beyond assessing project progress and work package reports, the first day focused on outreach and stakeholder engagement strategies. The partners discussed optimizing interactions with other related projects and programs, establishing an agro-biodiversity network, and effectively engaging farmers, farm advisors, and policymakers.

Key Milestone: Establishing the EU Biodiversity Observatory
One of the project's key milestones is to unify various European biodiversity databases into a single EU Biodiversity Observatory, creating a more coordinated and effective monitoring system. By centralizing these resources, the project aims to facilitate access to valuable information on agro-biodiversity indicators, fostering greater collaboration and understanding in the field.

During their work, the project team identified more than 500 institutions that potentially hold data on agro-biodiversity. The next step is to process the collected information and make it available to the public. With this, the project makes a crucial contribution to building and establishing an extended European network for coordinated observatories for AgroBiodiversity Monitoring.

Identifying and Integrating Agro-Biodiversity Indicators
Another central goal of the project is to determine which agro-biodiversity indicators are best suited for effective integration across all project activities. During the meeting, a selection of potential indicators on soil, insects, birds, and land cover was presented as part of this process. This involves:

• Developing and implementing appropriate methods to monitor these indicators,
• Understanding farmers' perceptions of the chosen methods and indicators, including their usage and perceived importance,
• Ultimately monitoring the indicators and implementing them into relevant policies.

Planning for the Final Sampling Season
Looking ahead, the participants strategized the final BioMonitor4CAP sampling season in 2025. They also worked on developing an agro-biodiversity monitoring system that is scientifically robust, practical for implementation, and aligned with policy needs.

Paving the Way for Sustainable Agriculture
The BioMonitor4CAP project is a powerful example of how science, technology, and policy can come together to enhance agriculture while conserving nature. This collaborative effort is paving the way for innovative biodiversity monitoring solutions and practical implementation.