BioMonitor4CAP and KOMBI at DLG-Feldtage
Biodiversity monitoring up close: BioMonitor4CAP and KOMBI present
practical insights at DLG-Feldtage
DLG-Feldtage is one of Europe’s leading outdoor events for agriculture, bringing together farmers, researchers, companies, and policymakers to explore the latest developments in the sector. This year, the projects BioMonitor4CAP and KOMBI – Cooperative Agri-Nature Conservation joined forces at a shared stand to show how biodiversity monitoring can work in real agricultural practice – and why it matters for the future of farming.
Over three days, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about innovative monitoring methods, exchange ideas with the project teams, and discover how biodiversity data can support both agricultural practice and environmental policy.
Pop-up talks: where science meets practice
Each day at 10:30 a.m., the team hosted short pop-up talks at the stand. These lively sessions introduced the core ideas behind biodiversity monitoring in agricultural landscapes: Why do we need reliable data on biodiversity? How can farmers benefit from monitoring results? And what role does the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) play in this context?
The talks attracted strong interest and led to many engaging conversations with visitors from both research and practice.
Guided tours: four stations, four indicators
At 11:00 a.m. and again at 4:00 p.m., visitors were invited to join guided tours on biodiversity monitoring. Across four stations, the BioMonitor4CAP team presented key biodiversity indicators and explained the methods used to assess them.
Insects
Insects are essential to agricultural ecosystems. They pollinate crops and wild plants, help regulate pest species, and provide an important food source for birds and mammals. At this station, visitors could explore how insect diversity is monitored and evaluated.
The methods presented included conventional approaches such as sweep netting and light traps, as well as newer technologies like AI-supported image analysis of insect trap samples. The team also introduced acoustic monitoring tools such as AudioMoth and SongMeter, which offer promising new possibilities for long-term insect monitoring.
Birds
Farmland birds such as the skylark, lapwing, and grey partridge are important indicators of the ecological condition of agricultural landscapes. Because they respond to changes in land use, habitat structure, and food availability, they can reveal broader trends such as a lack of landscape features or a decline in insect abundance.
Visitors learned about traditional point counts as well as the use of automated audio recorders, including AudioMoth devices combined with AI-based species recognition tools such as BirdNET.
Soil
Soil is far more than a medium for plant growth – it is a living ecosystem in its own right. Its biological properties influence water retention, nutrient cycling, and the long-term productivity of agricultural land. This station focused on soil biodiversity as a foundation of healthy soil functions.
Two complementary methods were presented. The first was the use of nematode indices, which help reveal changes in soil food webs and respond sensitively to different management practices. The second was eDNA (environmental DNA) analysis. Using metabarcoding, researchers can detect bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates from soil samples at the same time, creating a much more comprehensive picture of biodiversity below ground.
Landscape – linking to KOMBI
The final station highlighted the wider landscape context in which all other biodiversity indicators interact. Structurally rich landscapes – including hedgerows, field margins, flower strips, and water bodies – are essential for pollination, erosion control, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation.
This also provided the link to the partner project KOMBI, which focuses on cooperative approaches to agri-environmental conservation. The central idea is simple: biodiversity measures in the landscape are often most effective when farmers work together to plan and implement them across farms and regions. KOMBI develops and tests exactly these kinds of collaborative approaches in practice.
A strong signal for the future of agriculture
DLG Field Days 2026 clearly showed that biodiversity monitoring is not just a scientific exercise. It is a practical tool that can help make agriculture more resilient, evidence-based, and future-oriented.
Together, BioMonitor4CAP and KOMBI demonstrated how closely research and farming practice can be connected – for measurable biodiversity, better-informed decisions, and more vibrant agricultural landscapes.
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