‘Agriculture and Biodiversity’ programme

Botanically managed farmland border (photo Jeroen Mentens - Vildaphoto)

Details

Despite all efforts, typical species of the agricultural area continue to decline. Elsewhere, in Flanders and even far beyond, biodiversity continues to decline. The EU Nature Restoration Law obliges us to monitor and restore biodiversity to scientifically substantiated satisfactory levels. The PAS also requires further efforts. The IPBES Transformative Change Assessment (2025) emphasises the need to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss. The IPBES Nexus Assessment (2025) demonstrates the need for an integrated approach to biodiversity and food, among other things, which maximises synergies and minimises trade-offs.

Monitoring network: Building on our efforts in the Monitoring Network for Biodiversity in Agricultural Areas (MBAG), we provide objective and reliable scientific data on the state and trends of biodiversity in agricultural areas, in accordance with reporting obligations arising from the Nature Restoration Law. Specific focus is on farmland birds, wild pollinators and landscape elements with high diversity. The future of this monitoring network is being reviewed in the context of the priority setting and the Nature Restoration Act.

Positive practices: Agriculture faces major ecological, social and economic challenges. The need to rethink our food system and seek nature-based solutions is widely accepted. The European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 refers to “transformative change”. There is still much debate about how this should be achieved. Through project development, INBO wants to focus on positive practices that benefit biodiversity, farmers, food production and public health. In consultation and cooperation with numerous partners, we are investigating how agro-ecological and other agricultural practices and nature restoration can reinforce each other. Management agreements and eco-schemes can be a lever in this process. These practices are also necessary to meet the objectives of the Nature Restoration Regulation, such as expanding highly diverse landscape elements in agricultural areas, halting the decline and restoring the agricultural bird index and wild pollinator populations to satisfactory levels. We are investigating how nature restoration can be achieved in a way that also benefits agricultural operations. To this end, we work closely with farmers and their organisations. We also collaborate intensively with ILVO and other scientific institutions, both in Belgium and abroad.

Policy support: INBO supports policy to better integrate biodiversity into agricultural, food and rural policy, with attention to the socio-economic context. We do this through recommendations, answering questions and participating in consultation forums (such as the Agricultural Research Platform, Atelier Voeding, Living Lab Agro-Ecology, etc.). We collaborate with Flemish entities on themes such as nature-inclusive agriculture and nature-based solutions, including through structural partnerships such as that with VLM.

Teams

• Wildlife Management and Invasive Species
• Nature & Society
• Management Team
• Biometry, Methodology and Quality Assurance
• Biotope Diversity
• Forest Ecology and - Management
• Landscape Ecology and Nature Management
• Species Diversity
• Datamanagement
• Own Capital INBO
• Estuaries
• Environment and Climate
• Nature Report and Advice Coordination
• Freshwater Habitats
• Monitoring and Restoration of Aquatic Fauna

INBO Research theme(s)

• Agriculture
• Data & infrastructure