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FarmBioNet Turns One
Laying the Foundations for Farmer-focused Biodiversity and Agricultural Knowledge Network:
We warmly thank all our supporters, and especially the farmers, for their commitment and valuable contributions to FarmBioNet so far, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
Workshops and Farm Visits Across 12 European Countries
Our 12 National Networks: Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Croatia, bring together farmers, foresters, researchers, advisors, and policymakers with a shared goal: protecting and promoting biodiversity.
Through a series of workshops and farm visits, participants gained hands-on experience in biodiversity-friendly farming (BFF) practices, explored practical challenges, identified knowledge gaps, and discovered opportunities for wider adoption. The farm visits offered a close-up look at real-world examples of sustainable agriculture, sparking new ideas and approaches.
By blending expert knowledge with local experience, these activities represent an important step toward building a European Concept Map of biodiversity practices and shaping the future of sustainable farming across the continent.
Discover our workshops and farm visits on our website (by clicking on the images below).
Expert Insights Interview Series
As part of FarmBioNet's first-year activities, we kicked off our expert interview series with Corinne Zurbruegg from AGRIDEA, leader of the Swiss National Network. Corinne shared her experience and perspectives on how biodiversity can be promoted on farms, the role of collaboration between farmers, advisors, and policymakers, and the practical challenges and opportunities in making biodiversity a reality in agricultural landscapes. Read the full interview here.
Being on the Stage Matters
World Soil Day Celebrations
FarmBionet's partners from UF participated in Forum: SOIL 2025, marking the 120th anniversary of the organised fight against soil erosion in Bulgaria. Prof. Dr Petar Petrov and Chief Assist. Dr Veneta Stefanova presented on the rehabilitation of spoil heaps and soil-forming processes, while PhD candidate Stanimira Ivanova highlighted agro-biodiversity as an approach to soil protection within the FarmBioNet project.
Our partners from Foodscale Hub participated at the scientific forum "Soil Quality in Vojvodina – Future of Soil" held at the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad, bringing together farmers, research institutes, and experts from academia and industry. Ena Stefanovic highlighted why biodiversity is essential not only in general terms but also for healthy soil and sustainable agriculture. She also explained how intensive agricultural practices and pesticide use harm soil, and how BFF practices can help restore soil health.
We took part in Webinars too
Dr Meritxell Grau Butinyac, FarmBioNet Project Manager from Teagasc, was a guest speaker in a webinar hosted by the AGROECOLOGY Partnership. During the session, she introduced FarmBioNet, highlighting the project's approach, tangible results, and practical tools and training materials designed to empower farmers and stakeholders across Europe.
📰 Press Time 📰
We are proud to be featured in the Swiss magazine BauernZeitung, highlighting the second Swiss National Network workshop. The article showcases how wildflower strips can boost soil health, support insects, and increase yields. We do not want to spoil it — read the full article here.
Meet FarmBioNet in Switzerland
Great video from our partners from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL: Watch Markus Bucher from Farngut Farm show how biodiversity and vegetable farming work together to improve soil, pollination, water balance, and climate resilience:
National Ploughing Championships 2025
FarmBioNet's project coordinator Saorla Kavanagh, together with Meritxell Grau Butinyac, Niall Oliver Walshe, and Claudia Barry from Teagasc, presented our project and introduced the Irish Farming and Biodiversity National Network.
Our Latest Blog Posts on Biodiversity
We are continuously exploring and sharing why biodiversity matters: from local farms to global strategies.
Our blog series highlights ways to protect and restore life on land, support sustainable agriculture, and work together for a healthier planet:
- 🦋Actions for Enhancing Farmland Biodiversity
- 🦋Biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals
- 🦋Global Plans to Restore Biodiversity – The Time is Now!
- 🦋How We Can Work Together to Support Biodiversity
- 🦋European Biodiversity Status and Threats
Explore for more:
Research Insights from FarmBioNet
Our consortium partner ZALF, together with the Landscape Conservation Association of Northwest Saxony, published a study in People and Nature showing that financial incentives alone are not sufficient to encourage farmers to participate in EU-funded biodiversity schemes. Based on data from around one quarter of all farms in the region, the research highlights the crucial role of personal contacts, peer-to-peer exchange, and guidance from non-profit organisations. The findings show that farmers who feel supported and well connected are significantly more likely to adopt biodiversity-friendly practices, helping to explain why many existing programmes have had limited impact.
Learn more about the study here.
Stay connected as FarmBioNet enters its next year:
FarmBioNet has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101182942.
Associated country partners are funded by SERI. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.