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FRAMEwork has released a sustainability assessment tool that evaluates farms across environmental, economic and social dimensions As the European Union shifts agricultural priorities towards sustainable food production and farmland biodiversity restoration, farmers and policymakers face a critical question: how can we reliably assess and compare the sustainability of farming systems? FRAMEwork has released a comprehensive sustainability assessment tool that evaluates farms across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The approach differs fundamentally from traditional top-down metrics imposed by policymakers. Rather than imposing predetermined indicators, the tool was co-developed with farmers, facilitators, and scientists, incorporating over 30 sustainability indicators spanning land use, pesticide application, water quality, energy, profitability, worker wellbeing, and stakeholder relations. How Does the Assessment Tool Work? The FRAMEwork Sustainable Assessment Tool operates through a practical two-part system: a farmer-friendly questionnaire coupled with an automated calculation spreadsheet that handles complex calculations. Farmers provide information about their farming business over a 12-month period, including crop types, hectares of land, income, subsidies, and pesticide use. The spreadsheet automatically calculates indicators across five sections: agricultural produce, income and capital, resource usage, farming practices, and business policies. Crucially, each indicator is converted into a four-level statement system using colour coding: red, amber, green, and dark green. This visual approach makes results intuitive and solutions-focused. Farmers can self-assess their sustainability, track progress over time, and identify areas where sustainability is declining or improving. What Project Evidence was Used? Testing across the English Farmer Cluster revealed significant results. Of 23 overarching sustainability indicators examined, 11 were found to be significantly above or below their control values, with 8 additional indicators showing meaningful links to biodiversity outcomes. Specifically, farmers with higher sustainability scores demonstrated improvements in corporate ethics, stakeholder dialogue, water quality management, soil health, and reduced chemical inputs. Higher fertiliser use efficiency (£36.24 fertiliser per tonne of produce) and reduced pesticide spray rounds (averaging 5.29 spray rounds per crop per year) were associated with improved sustainability. This finding suggests that more efficient resource use correlates with improved sustainability performance. The tool was subsequently tested and refined across English, Austrian, Scottish, and Czech Farmer Clusters, with feedback ensuring broader applicability across diverse farming systems, from arable to mixed to pastoral operations. The Sustainable Assessment Tool exemplifies FRAMEwork's commitment to bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and farmer practice. Rather than assuming a single 'best' approach, the tool recognises that sustainability is multidimensional and context-dependent. It provides clear, actionable feedback that farmers can use to improve their operations whilst generating evidence that informs policy at regional and national levels. The collaborative development process demonstrates that practical, farmer-centred assessment tools can capture the complexity of real farming systems whilst remaining accessible to non-technical users. Access the full tool and guidance here: https://zenodo.org/records/17898930. Download training resources and explore related project publications at https://www.framework-biodiversity.eu/publications.

Project officially launches YouTube Channel to support legacy dissemination Throughout H2020 FRAMEwork, video has played a central role in connecting our project's actors and audiences across Europe - from short documentaries filmed on farms to expert-led webinars on biodiversity policy and practice. For most of the project's lifetime, these videos were hosted via Taskscape's Vimeo, embedded across the project website and knowledge hub, Recodo, and played at project events and via social media. They received thousands of views and helped foster a sense of a broader European farmer cluster movement, providing entry points for discussion on shared ecological challenges. As part of the project's legacy offer, Taskscape has launched Growing Biodiversity - a dedicated YouTube channel designed to keep this media content freely available and accessible to the widest possible audience. Although the project's media strategy was not deliberately optimised for YouTube, the channel has performed well since its soft launch on 1 May 2025, attracting over 20,000 views and more than 500 subscribers by the end of 2025. While modest, the project is pleased that this sits well above averages for similar projects of this scale. YouTube Shorts have proven particularly effective, offering quick snapshots of activity and opinions across the project, while longer webinar recordings have drawn viewers looking for deeper engagement with the science and policy behind biodiversity-sensitive farming. What Can I Find on the Channel? Beyond YouTube shorts, the channel is organised into five playlists, each offering a different window into the project's work. On the Ground features short documentaries in farmer clusters across Europe, showing how biodiversity measures, community engagement and scientific monitoring help farmers build resilient ecosystems. Video Abstracts makes academic research accessible, covering topics from biological pest control and habitat connectivity to biodiversity recovery and climate adaptation through nature-based solutions. Big-Picture Thinking brings together expert-led webinars exploring the intersection of agricultural policy and biodiversity — from EU Common Agricultural Policy reform and the UK's Environmental Land Management schemes to green finance, natural capital markets and decision tools. Tools for Progress introduces the digital resources available on Recodo, including the FRAMEwork Data Hub, FEAST for spatial mapping and landscape analysis, and FRAMEtest for evaluating farm-level biodiversity measures in transition contexts. Behind the Scenes documents milestones in the project, from our first in-person meeting in Luxembourg to key knowledge exchange visits in Spain and England. You can explore the playlists above in the media section of the FRAMEwork website, or access the full channel Growing Biodiversity on YouTube. Whether you're a researcher, a farmer, a policy maker, or simply interested in the future of sustainable land management there's something there for you!

Project publishes framework categorising private incentive mechanisms designed to support biodiversity-friendly agriculture across Europe Beyond government schemes, farmers across Europe face a rapidly expanding landscape of private incentive mechanisms specifically designed to promote biodiversity-friendly agriculture. FRAMEwork has developed a comprehensive framework for understanding and categorising these diverse mechanisms and has conducted extensive research assessing how they interact with farmer behaviour and cluster-level conservation goals. The D6.3 report presents a systematic categorisation of private incentive schemes relevant to contemporary European agriculture. These mechanisms range considerably in scope and design. What Forms do Private Incentives Take? Market-based mechanisms such as premium prices for biodiversity-friendly products allow consumers to support environmental outcomes directly through purchasing decisions. Supply chain certification schemes set environmental standards across production chains, creating quality assurance mechanisms that appeal to environmentally conscious retailers and consumers. Labels and ecolabels allow producers to signal environmental commitment to consumers, commanding price premiums that reflect added environmental value of products. Private retail standards set environmental requirements for suppliers wishing to stock products on supermarket shelves, creating both opportunities and barriers to participation. Direct marketing strategies enable farmers to capture additional value by selling directly to environmentally conscious consumers through farm shops, farmers' markets and subscription schemes. Privately funded payments from conservation organisations or companies seeking environmental offsets provide direct financial support completely independent of government programmes and policy changes. The heterogeneity of these schemes creates both opportunities for farmers to diversify income streams and complex challenges for coordination across multiple initiatives operating simultaneously. How to Coordinate Private and Public Incentives? Understanding private incentive mechanisms is increasingly important as farmers diversify income sources and as major companies integrate environmental commitments into procurement policies and corporate social responsibility programmes. Private schemes often complement public programmes effectively and can drive significant innovation in practice design, testing approaches that governments may later adopt at scale. However, they also create notable coordination challenges, particularly when multiple schemes operate simultaneously with potentially conflicting environmental requirements. These schemes may not target conservation priorities most effectively from a landscape perspective, potentially missing valuable opportunities for landscape-scale biodiversity gains where conservation action is ecologically most important. FRAMEwork's research explores how private and public incentives can work together more effectively within clusters to enhance landscape-scale biodiversity outcomes and farmer engagement. By understanding the complex interaction between these mechanisms, policymakers and practitioners can design more coherent incentive systems that strategically leverage the strengths of both private and public approaches. Cluster-based approaches offer particular opportunities for coordinating diverse incentive sources, reducing administrative burden for participating farmers, and targeting them strategically towards shared conservation objectives that transcend individual farm boundaries. Clusters provide natural forums where farmers can share information about incentive opportunities and discuss their experiences with different schemes. Access the full framework and findings at https://zenodo.org/records/7115617 or explore more FRAMEwork resources at https://www.framework-biodiversity.eu/publications.

Project exploring multi-benefit approaches to enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services at landscape scale. Landscape Scale Our project piloted the first network of Advanced Farmer Clusters in the EU. Clusters support farmers collectively achieving conservation and sustainability interventions important to them, and their regions. Joined-Up Thinking We used our Farmer Clusters as living labs for research-in-action insights. Research from the project spanned ecological and social sciences, exploring how people can be empowered to better manage biodiversity. more Landscape Leaders Interested in Farmer Clusters? Start with our free course sharing 15 years experience across the UK and EU.... course People + Technology We convened for nature through Citizen Science apps, community engagement approaches and innovative tools. We connected people with tech that helps them benefit from, and improve, biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural areas. more Media Centre explore interactive multimedia content... Should Agricultural Policy Experiments Use 'Real' Farmers? A new study examines the validity trade-offs when using farmer samples in economic experiments designed to inform agricultural policy. Economic experiments are increasingly used to test the design of agri-environmental policies before they are rolled out at scale. But most laboratory experiments use student volunteers rather than the farmers who would actually participate in such schemes. Does this matter? A new project-funded study published in Q Open directly addresses th RESEARCH How Does Identity and Risk Appetite Shape Preferences for Agri-Environmental Contracts? A new study finds that farmer identity influences contract choices more strongly than risk aversion, with implications for how biodiversity schemes are designed and offered. Agri-environmental schemes are a primary tool for encouraging farmers to manage land for biodiversity, but uptake varies widely. Understanding what drives farmers’ choices between different contract designs is essential for improving scheme effectiveness. A new project-funded study published in Q Open u RESEARCH 1 2 3 4 5 Legacy guide View our legacy materials, and results from across the project, 2020-2025... explore Your platform Get Inspiration from our info hub, supporting agricultural stakeholders... explore About us Find out more about the project's consortium, participants and leadership... explore

Explore a directory of resources created by the project, for anyone interested in the transition to nature-positive farming. Shared Mission? explore resources on our knowledge + action platform. Learn More All Resources To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Explore a directory of project participants from across our consortium partner organisations... Dr Paul van Rijn University of Amsterdam (UVA) Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) Read More Prof. Marika Mänd Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) Read More Dr Aliyeh Salehi University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Thomas Rellensmann Osnabrück University (UOS) Read More Prof. Kathleen Lewis University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More Dr Carlos Sánchez Fundación Artemisan (FA) Read More Dr Roger Draycott Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Read More Prof. David Kleijn Wageningen University Read More Moritz Fritschle University of Osnabrück (UOB) Read More Dr Joan Masó The Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) Read More Julie Borg National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Dr Thomas Delattre National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Fanny Tran James Hutton Institute Read More Dr Andrew Green University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More Mark Young James Hutton Institute Read More Beatrix Keillor James Hutton Institute Read More Dr Sarah Vray Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Dr Simone Martino James Hutton Institute Read More Dr Marco Beyer Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Dahlia Domian International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Read More Assoc. Prof. Lukas Zagata Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Jan Travnicek Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Adriana Clivillé, CREAF CREAF Read More Dr Bertrand Gauffre National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Dr Pierre Franck National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Raja Imran Hussain University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Doug Warner University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More Marie-Luise Wohlmuth University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Pauline L’hote National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Dr Eve Veromann Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) Read More Clare Buckerfield FWAG UK, South West Read More Dr Benedetto Rugani Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Dr Claire Hardy James Hutton Institute Read More Marietta Metzker University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Dr Youri Martin Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Mrs Laurence Gerard Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Dr Iris C. Bohnet Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Dr Lisette Cantu Salazar Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Theodore Simmons Taskscape Associates Ltd Read More Dr. Raja Imran Hussain BOKU Read More Prof. Stefanie Engel Osnabrück University (UOS) Read More Gonzalo Varas Romero Fundación Artemisan (FA) Read More Dr Eha Kruus EMU Read More Dr Niamh McHugh Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Read More Emilie Trakalova No content yet. Please check back later! Read More Dr Graham Begg James Hutton Institute Read More Dr Gabriele Gollner University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Silva Sulg / Vilumets Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) Read More Dr Riina Kaasik Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) Read More Alastair Simmons Taskscape Associates Ltd Read More Ollie Lansdell Taskscape Associates Ltd Read More Alena Wranova Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Read More Louise Amand Capitals Coalition Read More Dr Arne Janssen University of Amsterdam (UVA) Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) Read More Dr. Vasileios P. Vasileiadis Syngenta Crop Protection AG Read More Constance Lausecker Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Prof. John Holland Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Read More Rachel Nichols Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Read More Dr Malayka Picchi Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Daniela Ablinger HBLFA Read More Eng. Xavier Mestdagh Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Read More Martina Dürauer International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Read More Luis Fernando Villanueva Fundación Artemisan (FA) Read More Dr Finn Danielsen Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology (NORDECO) Read More Dr Claire Lavigne National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Prof. Paolo Báberi Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Moritz Fritschle Osnabrück University (UOS) Read More Professor Petr Sklenička Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Dr Fabian Thomas Osnabrück University (UOS) Read More Dr John Tzilivakis University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More Annie Flynn Taskscape Associates (TAL) Read More Dr Simone Marini Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Assoc. Prof. Kristina Janeckova Molnarova Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Alexandra Georges-Picot Taskscape Associates Ltd Read More Jürgen Friedel University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Prof. Thomas Frank BOKU Read More Michael Køie Poulsen Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology (NORDECO) Read More Prof. Thomas Frank University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Dr Anna Camilla Moonen Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Dr Rodolphe Sabatier National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Virginia Bagnoni Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Dr Nicholas Aebischer Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Read More Gill Banks James Hutton Institute Read More Dr Iosif Mporas University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More Dr Steffen Fritz International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Read More Ivelina Georgieva No content yet. Please check back later! Read More Dr Servane Penvern National Institute for Researching Agriculture and Environment (INRAE) Read More Ester Prat The Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) Read More Dr Walter Starz Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg- Gumpenstein (HBLFA) Read More Jan Trávníček Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS) Read More Dr Gitte Kragh Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology (NORDECO) Read More Dr Cristina Domingo-Marimon The Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) Read More Gerid Hager International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Read More Dr Juergen Friedel University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Read More Francois Warlop Research Group in Organic Farming Read More Dr Ruggero Petacchi Sant'Anna School Of Advanced Studies, Pisa (SSSA) Read More Dr Douglas Warner University of Hertfordshire (UOH) Read More