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Biodiversity-sensitive farming means more than just flower strips... On the 20th May 2025, we were pleased to be invited to attend a conference in Frankfurt, 'More Than Just Flower Strips', organised for the EU LIFE project 'Insect-Responsible Sourcing Regions' (IRSR). Graphic: Taskscape composite | Assets IRSR/Global Nature Fund With 40% of global insect species now threatened, their project seeks to tackle this alarming decline through innovative landscape-level approaches, bringing together around 60 demonstration farms across Germany and Italy with food companies of all sizes, as well as NGOs and policymaking bodies. Overlaps with FRAMEwork's research and pilot initiatives mean it was fantastic to be invited to present the project, and its Recodo platform, as well as participate in panel discussions. The opportunity to learn from attendees' experiences, discuss broad issues and consider case studies in breakout sessions was also valuable for the delegation from partners the James Hutton Institute and Taskscape. FRAMEwork's Contribution Project Coordinator Dr Graham Begg (JHI) presented an overview of FRAMEwork in the morning session. Dr Begg emphasised that transforming agriculture requires moving beyond isolated interventions to embrace system-wide, collaborative approaches rooted in local communities and supported by proper facilitation and resources. He opened by establishing the context of agriculture's role in global biodiversity loss through habitat simplification and intensification. This was followed by an explanation of ways current conservation efforts, particularly Agri-Environment Schemes, often prove insufficient due to their farm-level focus, inflexibility and lack of monitoring feedback. Moving to solutions, Dr Begg explored successful collaborative models worldwide, including UK Farmer Clusters, Australian Landcare, Dutch cooperatives and New Zealand's Greening Waipara initiative, highlighting how landscape-scale collaboration encourages ecological restoration and farmer-led innovation. Hutton's Dr Begg Presenting the project | Credit: Taskscape His presentation then detailed FRAMEwork's three-tier approach: Farmer clusters at the grassroots level, supporting resources and tools in the middle tier and overarching scientific and policy integration at the top. Dr Begg offered practical insights from the project's 11 pilot Farmer Clusters across 10 European countries, discussing the challenges of forming and managing clusters, from identifying lead farmers to securing funding and achieving meaningful collaboration. He then presented encouraging data from Clusters showing improved ecological understanding and enhanced ability to deliver biodiversity outcomes, while acknowledging increased workloads. The presentation concluded with an introduction to Recodo, the project's digital information hub, from Theo Simmons (Taskscape), which explored its design, resources, uptake and key learnings. Presenters in the morning sessions also included Dr. Andreas Gumbert, DG Environment at the European Commission, who attended remotely, offering EU-wide perspectives on the protection of pollinators and Patrick Trötschler and Jule Huber, of the Lake Constance Foundation and Georg-August University Göttingenand, who explained the LIFE IRSR and the KOOPERATIV Projects. All in-person speakers were invited to participate in a short panel discussion to close the morning, with interesting questions posed to Dr Begg on the details of piloting the UK Farmer Cluster model in Europe and to Theo Simmons on stakeholder perspectives and the role of media in science communication. Taskscape's Theo Simmons in a panel discussion | Credit: Global Nature Fund Afternoon sessions featured four parallel breakout sessions, each focusing on different aspects of biodiversity enhancement. These included exploring high-potential agricultural measures and landscape connectivity, examining municipal innovations that combine biodiversity with public engagement, discussing citizen science approaches for biodiversity monitoring and investigating new financing strategies for biodiversity in food production. The English-language session on financing strategies was particularly interesting for project attendees. Following a networking break, afternoon sessions concluded with a panel discussion featuring four representatives from business, agriculture and research institutions discussing "Responsible Sourcing Regions in Europe - How Can We Mainstream Landscapes Approaches, Measures and Incentives?". From the project, Theo Simmons (Taskscape) participated as a speaker alongside Andrea Schwalber, Nestlé Germany & Food for Biodiversity, Marek Bingel, Ecoland & Bäuerliche Erzeugergemeinschaft Schwäbisch Hall and Prof. Dr. Nils Borchard, from the DLG's Competence Centre for Agriculture and Food. It turned out to be an interesting discussion ranging from the panellists' favourite foods all the way up to big issues like AI uptake and securing financing for ecosystem resilience in a world increasingly re-focused on global security issues and expanding profits. The day's panel discussions and broader programme were excellently moderated by programmer Patrick Trötschler and the Global Nature Fund's Managing Director Udo Gattenlöhner, who welcomed attendees and closed the conference with a positive summary looking towards the future. Engagement and Impact Recodo's stand | Taskscape Attended by almost 100 people across Europe's NGO, research and business community the conference proved a great knowledge exchange opportunity. Reciprocal social posts before and after the event also helped raise awareness of FRAMEwork and other attending initiatives. Following the conference, members of the project's leadership team co-signed a letter to EU Policymakers. This document was drawn up jointly by the five partners in EU LIFE IRSR across agriculture, nature conservation and the food industry. It summarises key action requirements for the sustainable promotion of biodiversity in Europe. To learn more about IRSR we invite you to explore their website and Guideline resource. We would like to thank the organisers already mentioned for engaging with FRAMEwork and extending an invite to the conference, as well as Jenja Kronenbitter and Kimberly Kürschner from the Global Nature Fund.

Presenting the project at an event celebrating innovation with impact in Agriculture areas... Kristina Janečková presenting the project © Czech University Of Life Sciences Project partner the Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS) was recently pleased to host a CAP Network brokerage event between the 29-30th April 2025. The two day conference served as a platform for fostering collaboration and innovation in agricultural and rural development across Europe, providing an ideal opportunity to share H2020 FRAMEwork with a wide range of interested parties. This included aspects like our collective approach to regional farmland biodiversity management, through Farmer Clusters engaged with their communities, our innovative online platform and work helping farmers navigate new CAP requirements. CULS team members Emilie Trakalová and Kristina Janečková held a short presentation for attendees about the project. They were joined by Jan Trávníček from Czech Organics, as Facilitator of the Czech Farmer Cluster seeded and supported by FRAMEwork in Velké Hostěrádky . Knowledge exchange partner Taskscape provided a poster and flyers for the session and attended remotely via the event's online digital platform to engage attendees through posts about the project, its upcoming webinars on relevant topics and the Recodo platform. The event was worthwhile for FRAMEwork, with some attendees making contact with consortium members afterwards and registering for project webinars. It brought together diverse stakeholders from across Europe's agricultural innovation ecosystem, including representatives from Research and Innovation projects, EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, National Contact Points, farmers and their organizations, innovation brokers, advisors, and both private and public funding organizations. Participants also included Managing Authorities, National CAP Networks, universities, spin-offs, and venture capital representatives. © Czech University Of Life Sciences Four main thematic areas aligned with the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 work programme 2025 were focused on: digital and data technologies, sustainable healthy and resilient crop and livestock production, new business models and value chains, and circular water management and soil health. These themes structured the interactive sessions and networking opportunities throughout the event. A key objective of the gathering was to facilitate the preparation of high-quality proposals for Horizon Europe calls, particularly emphasizing the involvement of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups in Horizon multi-actor projects. The event showcased innovations from both Horizon and EIP-AGRI OG projects that addressed practical needs and were suitable for further development, market uptake, and commercialization. © Czech University Of Life Sciences The program included training sessions for participants interested in becoming project coordinators, providing essential skills and practical guidance on managing projects effectively. Field visits were organized around the four thematic areas, allowing participants to see innovative solutions in practice. The event also featured presentations on various funding opportunities beyond Horizon Europe, including the Common Agricultural Policy, European Investment Bank, European Institute of Technology, and European Innovation Council funding mechanisms. By January 2025, approximately 4,000 EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects had been experimenting with and applying innovative practices at the local level, while more than 550 Research and Innovation projects had been funded at the transnational level under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs. The Prague event built upon this foundation, creating an exchange forum to strengthen connections between these initiatives and maximize their contribution to competitive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture and rural areas.

A round up of recent activity posted on Recodo, our platform for Europe's Clusters. © UVA/Flevolands Agro Collective: Moth Spotting in the Zeeasterweg Farmer Cluster The first half of the year is always a busy time for our FRAMEwork farmer clusters as we make the most of the nicer weather by inviting our communities into the landscape, visiting each others’ projects and carrying out as much biodiversity monitoring as possible. Here’s a round up of all the activity that’s happened during the spring and summer, from Recodo's Farmer Cluster Stories . Wildlife Monitoring and Research Biodiversity data continues to be the bedrock of our research at FRAMEwork and we rely on our clusters to carry out the necessary monitoring across their land.  In Basse Durance, France, visual observation and pan-trap sampling of pollinators has been carried out each month from May to August and a vegetation session was conducted in the first two weeks of July. The below table, which describes the methodology used by our French cluster farmers and their partners at INRAE and GRAB, is a great example of the detailed approach required.  Table: Description of the biodiversity monitoring at the farmer cluster done or planned in 2024   Observation/Sampling   Number   Dates   Taxa   Bird transects  17 transects of 500 meters  Marsh (12th  to 19th) and April (24th  to 26th)   bird   Pollinator transects  15 transects of 500 meters  May (07th to 16th) June (17th to 20th) July (11th to 16th) August (21 th to 27th)  bumble bees, butterflies   Pan-trap sampling  3 to 4 pantraps for each of 15 transects   May (13th to 22th) June (17th to 20th) July (11th to 16th) August (06t to 09th)  Hymenoptera, Diptera   Vegetation, EMBAL protocol  3 to 4 transects of 20mX2,5m for each of 14 transects  April (2nd to 4th)  July (3rd to 16th)  Flora   Cardboard trap  15 apple orchards  June 24 to July 2  October to November (not done yet)   moth larvae, spiders, earwigs   Sentinel preys   15 apple orchards  April (22th to 26th) and May (13th to 22th)  codling moth eggs, aphids   Apple damages  15 apple orchards  June 24th to July 2nd  aphids, codling moths, diseases   Vole presence  15 apple orchards  May (13th to 27th) ;  June 24th to July 2nd ;  October (not done yet)   Microtus duodecimcostatus   In Luxembourg, weather conditions were very rainy over the spring/summer period, which meant it wasn’t a great year for monitoring butterflies and bumblebees. Nevertheless, our cluster managed to conduct all required visits across the four test squares and four control squares. Species identification for the pan trap samples collected will begin in September.  Our Austrian cluster has written up a very informative summary of their monitoring activit y on Recodo, with fantastically detailed descriptions of the methodology and lovely pictures of their samples.  Our Estonian cluster conducted their second round of bird surveys, four rounds of pan trapping, four rounds of butterfly and bumblebee transects and two rounds of vegetation surveys. They were especially focused on monitoring the effects of land abandonment on biodiversity, and conducted pan and pitfall trappings and sentinel surveys to assess this.  A key objective for our UK partner this year was to reconnect habitats that have been divided across the 10,000ha landscape of the cluster   by checking and updating habitat maps and co-creating a cluster-wide plan for improved connectivity. Monitoring results from the period emphasised the importance of achieving this ambition: when five farms from the cluster took part in the Big Farmland Bird Count , of the 46 species of bird they recorded, 17 species were found to occur across 50% of the farms involved.  One of the birds, looking dubious about being counted | © GWCT Of course, we’re always looking to be at the forefront of the latest innovations in monitoring technology. This summer, five farmers from our Netherlands cluster participated in a pilot run by PPP Carbon Farming  to test some monitoring tools created by Earthwatch . They have been testing three different tools - a soil animal test, an insect transect and a bird point count - and you can read a description of how they work  on Recodo.  One of the most special parts of carrying out monitoring occurs when we are able to record a rare species. Happily, a rare Downland Villa beefly was recorded on one of our UK cluster farms in June - one of only 6 recent records in Dorset.  Cluster Knowledge Exchange Events  Collaboration at a landscape level is at the heart of the Advanced Farmer Cluster system that we advocate for at FRAMEwork, so farmers in our clusters have lots of opportunities to get together and exchange ideas, discussing challenges and solutions.  © SSSA On 7th March, Italian FRAMEwork partner SSSA  organised a fun event  to present farmers in the Monte Pisano region with “awards” for their biodiverse olive groves. They jokingly named the award Lo Stafilinide d’Oro  (or The Golden Staphylinide) after an important predator of the olive fruit fly, a pest that negatively impacts olive yields in the region, and presented it to a grove with 18 different species of staphylinids and a total of 119 individual insects!  One of the awards | © SSSA Meanwhile, our Austrian cluster farmers in Mostviertel held a tree-pruning workshop  on 6th March, delving into the theory behind the practice with a talk from an expert in the field and practising techniques together. On 18th May, nine farmers from the cluster had the opportunity to take an informative tour   of “ Naturhof Wieser”  in Haidershofen, a farm with a focus on biological diversity and rare animal breeds.  The Tree Pruning Workshop | © AREC/HBLFA Our UK cluster also enjoyed some fantastic talks. On 7th March, Project Officers from the Isle of White's Sea-Eagle reintroduction project   came to speak to farmers and volunteers about the White-Tailed Sea Eagle   that has been spotted in the skies over the cluster. On 7th March, GWCT Game management expert Mike Swan provided an informative overview of best practice management to control rat populations  on farms and to highlight changes to legislation and products in 2024. On 28th May there was a cluster meeting to discuss techniques to mitigate the effects of a fugal pathogen   affecting ash trees in the region and, on 26th June, the opportunity to  tour ​​The Stubhampton Estate , an extensive network of well-connected habitat farmed using biodiversity-sensitive management techniques.  18th July saw the Netherlands cluster visit the Waalkens farm   on the Zeeasterweg in Lelystad where they toured the farm’s bird field, and heard a presentation on moths from Rik Wever of the Butterfly Foundation .  Our Estonian partner EMU   held a field day for five farmers and a student at Kriisa farm on 11th July, in the Kanepi kihlkund Farmer Cluster . FRAMEwork researchers introduced the positive effects of sown meadow seeds, discussed pest control as an ecosystem service, and demonstrated the use of pitfall traps. Engaging Communities  Spring and summer are great times to welcome our communities onto our farms - hopefully nicer weather means they will get to see the landscape at its best and perhaps spot some interesting biodiversity.  In April, our Born cluster in Luxembourg participated in City Nature Challenge  for the third year running. Ramborn Cider , one of FRAMEwork's Cluster Farms, provided a base for scientists from project partner LIST  and volunteers from the NGO Beetogether to explain to visitors how the app iNaturalist is used, and about the background of its use in the orchards of the cluster. A record number of observations were made this year. Also in April, our Val Graziosa cluster held an event dedicated to edible wild plants   for twenty people from the local community, featuring an expert talk by a farmer from the cluster and an identification walk. The cluster also hosted a successful bioblitz  in May.    On 15th May, EMU  organised a field day for 10 pre-school and 10 high-school pupils, inviting them to use the iNaturalist app to record nature observations at Hauka farm and listen to a talk about biodiversity and its role in food production.   Our Austrian cluster also did fantastic work engaging school children. On 25th June, they facilitated a visit for 13 students to tour ​​a local dairy farm and learn about all the important processes that take place, from working with machinery to milking and caring for the animals. At the farm’s species-rich meadows, the students took part in quizzes and games to learn about biodiversity and ecosystem services.  We hope everyone in our community has had a fantastic summer!   As we move towards the end of the year, we’re looking forward to building on the momentum created by all of this exciting activity and progression FRAMEwork’s research and fieldwork. We want to thank all of our project partners and cluster farmers for their excellent efforts so far.

Looking back at a busy year across the project's network! graphic by Taskscape Building on the progress of previous years, 2024 saw our Farmer Clusters across Europe engaging in a diverse range of activities aimed at enhancing on-farm biodiversity and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices. Explore overviews of Farmer Cluster Stories , posted by some of our Clusters to their free profiles on Recodo ,  our knowledge and action platform. Advancing Biodiversity Knowledge and Monitoring A significant focus across numerous Farmer Clusters was the enhancement of understanding and the implementation of effective biodiversity monitoring. The Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster   in the UK exemplified this through their annual Bird ID refresher Course led by a GWCT expert in February, preparing members for the Big Farmland Bird Count 2024. This count, involving five farms, recorded 46 different bird species, including priority farmland birds like the Corn bunting, Yellowhammer, and Skylark. This cluster also conducted a Veteran Tree survey day in early December, training volunteers and farmers to document these important landscape features and their associated species. Similarly, the Zeeasterweg Farmer Cluster  in the Netherlands actively explored self-monitoring possibilities using Earthwatch tools during a meeting on February 5th. Farmers tested tools for measuring water quality, soil fauna, insect transects, and bird point counts, with particular interest in transect counts for pest controllers and citizen science involvement in bird counts. A follow-up meeting on February 15th discussed the results of biodiversity monitoring from previous years, highlighting the importance of habitats like field edges and farmyards. The Burgenland Farmer Cluster  in Austria continued its biodiversity monitoring program initiated in 2023, focusing on the Issoria lathonia butterfly and indicator plants, with farmers carrying out independent monitoring on defined transects. Monitoring surveys in 2024 for this cluster focused on vegetation, pollinators, and birds, conducted along the same transects as in 2023. The Buchan Farmer Cluster  in Scotland received preliminary results from their biodiversity monitoring during 2024 at their annual meeting in November, with discussions including the impact of weather on pollinators. Creating and Connecting Vital Habitats Habitat creation and the improvement of ecological connectivity remained a core objective for many Farmer Clusters. The Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster  began developing a cluster-wide plan for improving habitat connectivity across its 10,000ha landscape, with an initial workshop in February focusing on hedgerows, woodlands, and pollinator habitats. Farmers reviewed and amended habitat maps to identify gaps in the network for targeted future habitat creation. In the Czech Republic, the completion of a biodiversity path in the Velke Hosteradky Farmer Cluster  in November 2023, was follwed by an official opening in May 2024, aiming to educate visitors about local biodiversity and organic farming. The event was a huge success with 100s of biodiversity observations and visitors! The Mostviertel Farmer Cluster  in Austria saw its members actively planting species-rich hedges to promote biodiversity, protect against erosion, and provide refuge and food sources for insects and birds. The Mostviertel Farmer Cluster also explored biodiversity on Nature Farm “Wieser,” where the focus is on biological diversity and rare animal breeds, including the planting of new hedges and orchards. Meanwhile, the Kanepi kihlkund Farmer Cluster  in Estonia saw its facilitators featured on the nature program "Osoon," highlighting the importance of diverse agricultural landscapes with elements like grassy strips and hedgerows for pest management. Farmers in this cluster also discussed the benefits of herbaceous field edges in promoting plant and insect biodiversity and providing resources for natural pest enemies. Addressing Environmental Challenges and Practices Farmer Clusters actively engaged in addressing specific environmental concerns and promoting best practices. The Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster  held an informative meeting on Ash dieback in May 2024 to understand its impact and discuss mitigation strategies, including a visit to managed forests to learn about continuous cover forestry. The cluster also addressed best practice in rat control in April 2024, with a GWCT expert providing guidance on minimizing risks to the food chain amidst changing legislation and product resistance. The importance of providing winter seed food for farmland birds while managing the attraction of rats was also discussed. In Austria, the Mostviertel Farmer Cluster  organized a workshop on fruit tree pruning in March to maintain tree health and biodiversity in orchards. Fostering Community Engagement and Education Engaging the wider community and raising awareness about biodiversity were key activities. The Mostviertel Farmer Cluster  organized a nesting box building workshop in December, bringing together farmers, families, and experts to create new nesting opportunities for local birds and provide winter insect habitat. The Val Graziosa Farmer Cluster  in Italy held an event on spontaneous edible plants in olive groves in April, highlighting their ecological and health benefits and promoting farm diversification, engaging olive growers, local associations, and citizens. This cluster also held a Local BioBlitz in May 2024, involving local organizations and citizens in identifying plant, animal, and fungal species using iNaturalist. Additionally, they awarded the Premio “Lo Stafilinide d’Oro” in March to the olive grove with the highest diversity and abundance of rove beetles, linking biodiversity to natural pest control. The Kanepi kihlkund Farmer Cluster  hosted high school students and nursery school kids at Väike-Hauka Farm in May 2024 for a workshop on sustainable farming practices and the role of landscape, using iNaturalist to enhance observational skills. The Velké Hostěrádky Farmer Cluster officially opened its biodiversity path in May 2024, attracting around 250 visitors and promoting learning about local biodiversity and organic farming. In Austria, the Mostviertel Farmer Cluster  participated in "Landwirtschaft pur! Citizen Science am Biohof Schuller," where students learned about biodiversity and indicator plants. Building Out Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange Collaboration with external organizations and the sharing of knowledge remained crucial. The Buchan Farmer Cluster  welcomed the North-East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NESBiP) to their annual meeting in November to discuss biodiversity monitoring results and future plans. The Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster  hosted Project Officers from the Isle of Wight's Sea-Eagle reintroduction project in March, providing insights into the ecology of these birds sighted in the cluster area. The Mostviertel Farmer Cluster  collaborated with ÖKL and the “Diversity on my Farm” project for their fruit tree pruning workshop. The Born Farmer Cluste r in Luxembourg collaborated with LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology) for their camera trapping project. Four Clusters in Austria, Czechia, Scotland and Estonia were filmed during the summer of 2024. Meanwhile, nine Clusters had videos  released about their activities during the year, with Mostviertel and Velke Hosteradky using these in some Cluster meetings and events. Creating Innovations in Biodiversity Assessment Several clusters explored innovative methods for assessing biodiversity. The Born Farmer Cluster  utilized camera traps in orchards, capturing over 54,000 images of wildlife. They introduced the Picture Pile app to facilitate the sorting and analysis of these images by farmers, stakeholders, and volunteers. The Zeeasterweg Farmer Cluster  tested various Earthwatch self-monitoring tools, including those for soil fauna, insect transects, and bird point counts, exploring their practicality and value. Providing Tailored Recommendations Farmer Cluster facilitators played a vital role in providing guidance and support to individual farmers. The facilitator for the Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster  offered advice on habitat management for wildlife, including hedge replacement and transitioning to new Environmental Land Management Schemes to ensure the economic sustainability of nature-friendly farming between January and March 2024. In Austria, discussions within the Burgenland Farmer Cluster  revealed that many more biodiversity measures were already in place than initially reported, highlighting the need for accurate documentation and future planning at the individual farm level. Overall, 2024 was a year of significant activity and learnings across our Farmer Clusters. Through collaborative monitoring, targeted habitat management, community engagement, and the adoption of innovative approaches, these clusters continued to demonstrate their vital role in fostering biodiversity within agricultural landscapes across Europe. The diverse initiatives undertaken in 2024 underscore the growing potential of farmer-led collaboration in promoting more sustainable and biodiverse farming systems.

Cluster network news moves to our beta platform! © Taskscape Media We're pleased to share that you can now follow news from our Farmer Clusters on the public beta of Recodo , our knowledge and action platform. The beta site launched online in September 2023, and since then Clusters have been populating their profiles with information and news items. Stories from this website's blog archive have also been imported to offer an overview of individual Clusters' activities from their creation. Recodo provides an online home for our Network as well as new and existing Clusters across Europe and the UK. The platform is also being developed as a place to share useful knowledge and resources on biodiversity with key landscape stakeholders. Public beta screenshot | IIASA In 2021, project Work Package 3 partners IIASA  and Taskscape  began developing the site: holding workshops on user requirements within the project consortium, developing branding and testing mock-ups with leading Cluster farmers.  The platform is currently in the final stages of being reviewed by key user groups outside the project. This process will confirm interest from target audiences identified for the site and enable us to further understand and serve their needs. As part of this process, IIASA is carrying out a full design refresh of the platform and core content is being developed and updated by project partners. We hope to offer valuable visitor journeys for different users - so please keep an eye out for more information about Recodo's publicly promoted launch, scheduled for early summer 2024. Public beta screenshot | IIASA Summaries of project Farmer Clusters' activities will continue to be published here on the FRAMEwork website and old stories will remain available. But we encourage you to now look to Recodo for the latest news!

Throughout 2023, the FRAMEwork network of Farmer Clusters was abuzz with activities! Our consortium and Farmer cluster network were promoting biodiversity, sharing knowledge with our communities, and implementing sustainable practices. From monitoring wildlife to organizing workshops and events, here's a roundup of the noteworthy activities that took place.  Wildlife Monitoring and Research Robust data is vital to the Framework approach and monitoring biodiversity formed the basis of numerous cluster activities and meetings throughout the year.  In June, Framework farmers in France were trained to use endoscopic cameras to monitor bat populations   in their orchards.    Fundación Artemisan   conducted a successful programme of small game monitoring to evaluate the impact of project actions on various species. An important focus was the red-legged partridge, a species under severe decline owing to intensive agriculture conducted in the olive groves, both for the mechanical farming and pesticides used.  Our Netherlands cluster gathered a great deal of useful data on yard planting and natural pest control over the year. Martine Schoone has written up some of the conclusions  they were able to draw about the important hoverfly population, the peak seasons for field edges, and optimum plant species.  Meanwhile, our partners in Austria  began a new roll-out of monitoring training programmes  with their clusters in light of their government’s new OPUL scheme.  Of course, the link between Citizen Science and biodiversity monitoring continues to form an important part of Framework’s research and there were several successful examples of this at work throughout the network. In July we covered the great work of our Austrian cluster , and our Dorset cluster have since also held well-attended events in May and June where volunteers from the local community were trained in monitoring small mammals and pollinators. One volunteer emailed to say: “I learnt so much which I look forward to putting to practical use soon. It is very impressive to hear about what you have already done and plan for the future, and the knowledge you have collectively is amazing.”  Stakeholders visiting the Aguilar Cluster to see sustainable measures in action | © ARTEMISAN Cluster Knowledge Exchange Events In May, our Aguilar Cluster hosted a fantastic knowledge exchange event, inviting network members from across Europe to observe their work restoring biodiversity to the region’s olive groves. We wrote up the highlights here .  In July, the James Hutton Institute   hosted an action-packed day  highlighting their work on the long-term impacts of an integrated cropping system on whole-system sustainability. Attendees were able to observe some of the institute’s tech initiatives, including a monitoring robot from Small Robot Company and vertical growth towers managed on site by Intelligent Growth Solutions. It was a day of full of great discussions and future-thinking.    In September, there was a lively exchange of ideas when the  Austrian Farmer Cluster and scientists from Raumberg Agricultural School convened to visit farms, observe biodiversity initiatives, and discuss sustainable practices . This was followed by the "Cultural Landscape Then and Now"  event in Straßwalchen, which provided our farmers with insights into a different region and its challenges, and the techniques used by farmers there to create new habitats and species-rich meadows.  In England, Framework partner the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust  organized a cluster meeting in November at Crichel House to discuss the benefits of water quality sampling, and share techniques for conducting it. Similarly, French partners INRAE , G RAB , and GRCETA  invited farmers for a winter meeting  in December to evaluate the data collected through the season, discuss observations of the bat boxes, flower strips and bird nests, and plan for the upcoming season. The close of the year saw our Mostviertel cluster host a Christmas nest box building workshop  that brought the community together and resulted in 24 new nesting opportunities for local birds.  Our Mostviertel Cluster with their bird boxes | @ HBLFA Engaging Technology and Communities Exploring useful tech was a continued priority throughout the network. Earlier in the year, we covered the widespread uptake among the network of the iNaturalist tool  and since then several more Bioblitz’s have taken place using the app. During 2023, BioBlitzes were held in Estonia, Italy and Scotland. Consortium partner Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, who support our Italian 'Val Graziosa' Farmer Cluster, helped hold a Bio Blitz in April . The events saw over one hundred people participating, including local families, who made 430 sightings of a total of 199 species. These numbers allowed the initiative to rank eighth in the Italian classification of the City Nature Challenge! Biodiversity walks took place in the Calci Olive Groves' area, during both day and night, with expert scientists accompanying participants and describing species observed along the way.  SSA also conducted several training sessions on digital monitoring for farmers in the Monte Pisano region. A key focus was the Poderi app which can be used for rationalising agronomic practices and integrates field monitoring functionalities with decision support systems. These sessions allow local olive growers, allowing become active in collective regional olive fruit fly monitoring. Helping them to gain insight and provide scientific evidence bases for management decisions. To participate, growers first monitor the flight of the olive fruit fly using a pheromone trap and reporting their data in the app. Then they observe the oviposition holes of the olive fruit fly (100 olives per field every week) to monitor the infestation level of the first summer generation of the pest. This is a simplified inspection that can be done without the use of particular instruments (e.g. stereomicroscope) and it is non-destructive, meaning that the olives are not picked up from the plants - something the farmers appreciate! © Estonian University of Life Sciences In May, local students visited Estonian Cluster farm Väike-Hauka to have on-the-ground conversations about biodiversity, ecosystem services and food production. Two groups of high school and nursery school students were trained to use iNaturalist and recorded plant and animal species,  supported by scientists from The Estonian University of Life Sciences. This was made into a game where students competed for a prize rewarding the most scientifically useful observations spotted in the Kanepi kihlkund Farmer Cluster. Our Buchan Farmer Cluster in Scotland also took part in a Bio Blitz during August at Aden Country Park, Aberdeenshire. Activities included bird surveys, soil health and vegetation surveys and were attended by Buchan Cluster Farmers and members of the general public supported by the James Hutton Institute. Participants  were shown how to use iNaturalist to record their observations and young attendees were given stickers to mark their progress with a final sticker celebrating them becoming a “Citizen Scientist’ on completion of the course. Have a Very Happy New Year We wish you, and all those involved in the project, all the best for the winter holidays and a happy 2024! Project activities across our Farmer Clusters this year underscored the network's commitment to promoting agrobiodiversity benefits, implementing sustainable practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Ongoing projects include the installation of Framework info boards  to inform the public about biodiversity and sustainable grassland management on farms, the cultivation of rare arable plants , and our Luxembourg cluster’s ‘Adopt a Tree’ scheme   which provides an opportunity to support the preservation of old fruit cultivars and biodiversity - so keep an eye out for updates next year. As we move forward, continued engagement and collaboration like this across networks will be key in addressing environmental challenges and building a more sustainable future for our food system - one that works for farmers and increases knowledge about the value biodiversity brings at every step. To read more on the ground updates from our Farmer Clusters head to www.recodo.io , the online home of our network.

FRAMEwork at the NetCIEx Workshop 2025 Last week, 19–20 June, FRAMEwork researchers from Osnabrück University were pleased to attend an exchange on policy impact evaluation with researchers and European policymakers organised by the EU's Joint Research Center - where they represented their work in the project surveying farmers across Europe to explore preferences in the design of green financing measures, both public and private. The JRC Hub in Ispra | Credit: EU JRC The picturesque town of of Ispra, Italy, played host to the workshop, a highlight in a broader week of activities dedicated to counterfactual impact evaluation (CIE), which brought together leading academics, practitioners and policymakers. Attendees from across Europe and beyond spent two intensive days exploring the latest advances in CIE methods which are essential for understanding the real effects of policy interventions. Hosted by the Competence Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation (CC-ME), the workshop provided a dynamic space for sharing knowledge, presenting new research, and sparking lively discussions on both methodology and real-world applications. The atmosphere was one of open exchange, as researchers received constructive feedback on their work and engaged in critical reflection on the evolving landscape of policy evaluation. The workshop marked the culmination of a packed week at the JRC. Preceding sessions included intensive training sessions on CIE methods, which took place on June 17–18. This ensured that all participants were well-equipped to dive deep into the advanced topics covered during the main event. A central theme throughout was the importance of evidence-based policymaking. By bringing together diverse perspectives, from university researchers to policy practitioners, the event aimed to bridge academic research and practical policy applications. The NetCIEx network is known for its inclusive and collaborative spirit and welcomed participants from all backgrounds. The workshop itself was free of charge, helping ensure broad accessibility while maintaining a high standard of discussion and debate. The workshop underscored the ongoing evolution of the Network on Counterfactual Impact Evaluation. Through strategic partnerships between the JRC and universities, research institutions, and policy organisations worldwide, the network continues to drive forward the field of causal policy evaluation. As participants returned to their home institutions, they carried with them not only new insights and connections, but also a renewed sense of purpose in advancing the frontiers of policy impact evaluation. It was great for FRAMEwork to be a part of proceedings at NetCIEx 2025, as we share in the collaborative pursuit of better, evidence-based policy outcomes.

Researchers from the H2020 FRAMEwork project made significant contributions to the 7th Annual Meeting of the Research Network on Economic Experiments for the Common Agricultural Policy (REECAP), held from June 2-5, 2025, at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research in Leipzig. REECAP i s an EU-wide network founded in 2017 to contribute to the improvement of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Their annual meeting brings together researchers, evaluators and policy makers interested in the use of economic experimental approaches for more evidence-based policy design and evaluation.  Thomas Rellensmann and Moritz Fritschle from the University of Osnabrück presented their FRAMEwork survey findings through two conference presentations. These talks highlighted insights from surveys considering how financial mechanisms could be better designed to support farmers in adopting more sustainable, biodiversity-sensitive, agricultural practices while maintaining economic viability. Their work directly contributes to REECAP and FRAMEwork's core mission of using experimental approaches to evaluate and inform the Common Agricultural Policy. This year, REECAP 2025 once again brought together researchers, experts, and policy-makers from across the EU to discuss cutting-edge approaches in agricultural economics. The four-day conference featured workshops on choice experiments and living labs, presentations by renowned experts Ulf Liebe (University of Warwick) and Sven Anders (University of Alberta), a field trip to an experimental field station and an Early Career Researcher Award competition. This award was previously won by project researcher Thomas Rellensmann for his research design in 2023 .

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Two key members of the project recently featured on "The Lisa Burke Show" in Luxembourg, for an insightful discussion about citizen science initiatives, and the role of farmer clusters and their communities in achieving better understanding and support for biodiversity. Watch or listen to the full show here On Saturday 5th April, Youri Martin from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and Gerid Hager from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria brought their expertise to the airwaves - highlighting the importance of collaborative approaches to addressing biodiversity decline in agricultural landscapes. In Conversation with Lisa Burke is a weekly talk show that explores a wide range of topics—from global news and politics to science, culture, and personal stories—through engaging discussions with international guests, offering Luxembourg-centred but globally relevant perspectives. See some clips on social media . Raising the Alarm on Biodiversity Decline Youri Martin, facilitator of the Luxembourg Farmer Cluster and principal investigator for biodiversity monitoring at LIST, shared concerning data about insect population decline over the past decade. When asked about the pattern of decline in butterfly populations since monitoring began 12 years ago, Martin revealed: "It's actually a strong decline, a very strong decline for all the insects, especially these recent 10 years... You can say roughly that the mass abundance of butterflies has declined by about 60%." Martin explained that this significant decline is due to combined pressures from climate change, habitat loss, agricultural practices including pesticide use, and increasing urbanization. Dr Martin monitoring in the field | © Taskscape Media Citizen Science as a Powerful Tool FRAMEwork experts highlighted the critical role of citizen scientists in collecting meaningful biodiversity data. Martin explained how standardized monitoring protocols enable volunteers to contribute to scientific research through regular transect walks counting butterflies and other pollinators. The show also featured John Park, a dedicated citizen scientist who has been conducting butterfly transect walks for the past five years. Park emphasized how rewarding the experience has been: "I think quite often we feel as citizens that we can't do very much about contributing to scientific research. And clearly we can." Farmer Clusters Making a Difference Gerid Hager described how the farmer cluster concept, central to the FRAMEwork project, enables collective action at the landscape scale: "The farmer cluster concept that we've introduced in this FRAMEwork project is one step towards being more innovative in how farmers can tackle these issues not alone but collectively as farmer groups on a landscape scale, because especially in terms of promoting biodiversity, landscape scale perspective is very important—not just looking at the individual farms but how the farms are connected." Farmers and visitors during a citizen science event run by Gerid Hager | © Taskscape Media Find out more through FRAMEwork The radio appearance highlighted several ways for farmers and the public to engage with biodiversity monitoring and the FRAMEwork project: Citizen Science Observatory : Tools like iNaturalist make it easy for anyone to contribute meaningful biodiversity data Farmer Cluster Stories : See examples of community events across Europe and connect with Clusters in your region through the Recodo platform . Resources for Organisers : Find guides and materials to support you organising a Citizen Science Event In it's final year, the FRAMEwork project continues to work with a network of farmer clusters across Europe, empowering agricultural communities to implement biodiversity-friendly practices while making tools and resources available through the Recodo platform. To learn more about FRAMEwork's approach to biodiversity-friendly farming and to explore resources for farmers, scientists, and citizens, visit recodo.io  or follow us on Twitter .

FRAMEwork is represented at a multilateral conference in London showcasing UK-led Horizon projects and future opportunities... Credits: Innovate UK, Taskscape Associates, Wikipedia, EU UK Delegation As a UK-led Horizon 2020 project, FRAMEwork has been in the interesting position of being funded before the implementation of Brexit and operating during its negotiation and fulfillment. So it was positive for the project to be represented at London's Kia Oval for a milestone event on March 18, 2025, marking the UK's first full year as an associated member of Horizon Europe. The event, organized by UKRO alongside DSIT and UKRI, brought together a cross-section of Britain's research community, from university professors to industry innovators, who came to share their experiences and make new connections. Minister for Science Lord Patrick Vallance delivered the keynote address to an audience that ranged from Horizon Europe veterans to those just beginning to explore the program's possibilities. The day's speakers also included leaders from UKRI, the European Commission, and attendees from Canada who presented on their engagement with the programme as an associate member. Theo Simmons from knowledge exchange partner Taskscape attended on behalf of the project - reporting that as only a small minority of H2020 projects are funded like FRAMEwork for 5 years, our collective journey on sustainability topics important to the EU and UK was of particular interest to relevant attendees. "This was good opportunity to raise awareness of FRAMEwork with attendees from across the UK and Europe. I had some great conversations with National Contact points for Horizon, junior researchers and academic and business leaders operating in related fields. The project was of real interest to many attendees, especially with it's focus on EU areas and contexts during a tricky transitional period in which only ~3% of H2020's 35,000+ projects were UK-led. Being able to share how the project has navigated this, as well as highlights and challenges, was ideal as we celebrate final year outputs." Sessions throughout the day explored past experiences and achievements as well as future priorities and cooperation strategies. Practical experience was brought to the forefront with presentations from Cardiff University Professor Richard Madgwick on experiences in different types of research projects and NATS's Dr Alison Roberts who shared insights about building and running effective international collaborations through consortiums. Q+As and networking slots encouraged dialogue about past and future Horizon projects. Breakout sessions proved particularly useful, with an opportunity for UK attendees to meet National Contact Points and attendees from Europe to discuss their Horizon involvement, share information and ask questions. The event attracted everyone from CEOs to early-career researchers, creating an environment where a startup founder could chat with a university research director over coffee, connected by their shared interest in European collaboration. By the end of the day, participants left having raised awareness of their activities, gained practical knowledge about the program and with new contacts and fresh perspectives on UK contributions to European projects.