BIOBIO – Indicators for biodiversity in organic and low-input farming systems
Category: Biodiversity and land-use
Country: Switzerland
Contact person:
Dr. Felix Herzog
Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon, ART
Reckenholzstrasse 191
Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon, ART
Reckenholzstrasse 191
8046 Zurich, Switzerland
felix.herzog@art.admin.ch
felix.herzog@art.admin.ch
Overview:
Organic and low-input farming systems have been shown to benefit farmland biodiversity although a generic indicator system to assess these benefits at the European level is lacking. The BIOBIO project will therefore pursue the following objectives:
- Conceptualization of criteria for a scientifically-based selection of biodiversity indicators for organic and low-input farming.
- Assessment and validation of a set of candidate biodiversity indicators in representative case studies across Europe and in countries beyond Europe (ICPC countries).
- Preparation of guidelines for the implementation of biodiversity indicators for organic and low-input farming for Europe and beyond.
Aims:
Existing indirect farm management indicators as well as direct indicators for genetic, species and habitat diversity will be assessed for their scientific soundness, practicality, geographic scope and usefulness for stakeholders. Candidate indicators will be tested in a standardised design in twelve case studies across Europe and later in three ICPC countries. Case study regions will include pannonian, alpine, boreal, Atlantic and Mediterranean grassland systems (both organic and/or low-input), rain fed organic farms under temperate and Mediterranean conditions, mixed organic farming, organic special crops and low-input tree/agroforestry systems. Plot, farm and regional scales (where applicable) will be addressed. The investigation will include new agricultural practices, e.g. soil conservation, crop rotation management, seed and crop mixtures and economic issues relating to the costs of indicator measurement and to benefits of biodiversity as perceived by different groups of the population. Stakeholders, such as farming communities, conservation NGOs and administrators, will be integrated at critical stages of the indicator selection process. A handbook with factsheets will be produced for validated indicators and a sampling design for biodiversity monitoring in organic and low-input farming systems across Europe.
Project Structure
BioBio consists of seven Work Packages. The working relationships between these are as follows:
Project Structure
BioBio consists of seven Work Packages. The working relationships between these are as follows:
Timeframe of the project
2009 Conceptual phase
2010 Case studies Europe
2011 Data analysis and case studies beyond Europe
2012 Data analysis and communication of results
2009 Conceptual phase
2010 Case studies Europe
2011 Data analysis and case studies beyond Europe
2012 Data analysis and communication of results
Partners:
| Switzerland | Federal Department of Economic Affairs FDEA Research Station ART (Project coordinator) |
| Hungary | Szent Istvan Egyetem |
| United Kingdom | Aberystwyth University |
| Norway | Norsk Institutt for Skog og Landscap |
| Austria | Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur Wien |
| Netherlands | ALTERRA B.V. |
| Germany | Technische Universitaet Muenchen |
| Spain | Universidad de Extemadura |
| Italy | Universita degli Studi di Padova, Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di Bologna |
| France | SOLAGRO, Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique |
| Bulgaria | Institute of Plant Genetic Resources |
| Ukraine | Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University |
| Tunisia | Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts |
| Uganda | Faculty of Agriculture, Makarere University |
Outputs:
Case studies
Candidate indicators will be tested in 16 case studies across Europe and beyond.
Candidate indicators will be tested in 16 case studies across Europe and beyond.
| A: | Organic arable farming (Marchfeld region) |
| BG: | Semi-natural low-input grassland (Rhodope mountains) |
| CH: | Organic mountain grassland with cattle (Swiss Alps) |
| D: | Organic mixed farming (Southern Bavaria) |
| E: | Mediterranean low-input dryland tree crops & Organic olive plantations |
| F: | Organic arable farming (Gascony valleys and hills) |
| GB: | Organic mountain grassland with sheep or cattle or mixed upland farming |
| H: | Semi-natural low-input grassland (Homokhatsag) |
| I: | Organic vineyards (Veneto & Friuli Venezia Giulia) |
| N: | Organic and low-input grassland with sheep (Hedmark) |
| NL: | Organic horticulture (Twickel area) |
| Ukraine: | Organic mixed, low-input and intensive farming systems (Forest-Steppe zone) |
| Tunisia: | Low input and organic olive groves & Cork oak agroforests |
| Uganda: | Organic subsistence and commercial farming (Kayunga District) |
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Organic farming: relies on crop rotation, green manure, biological pest control, compost and mechanical cultivation, aiming to build the soil fertility without using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides |
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Low-input farming: often located in marginal regions, e.g. mountain areas, where intensification is not feasible |
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Organic and low-input farming: often they occur together |
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