Improving biodiversity impact assessment for regenerative farming

Tackling biodiversity loss through agriculture

Biodiversity is vital for the health of our planet and our survival. Unfortunately, it is currently decreasing at an alarming rate. This loss is a challenge we should overcome, as we rely on nature for many essential ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, pollination, and purification of water. One of the main contributors to biodiversity loss is the agricultural sector. Activities such as land use, land-use changes, emission of greenhouse gases, and use of pesticides and herbicides all have significant impacts on biodiversity. If we want to increase biodiversity in farmlands, agricultural practices should change.

What is regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a farming method that has recently caught the attention of scientists, farmers, and industry leaders alike. Its core idea is to collaborate with nature, rather than against it, to develop a sustainable and productive farming system. Central to this approach is maintaining soil health. When soil is in good condition, it supports a range of essential ecosystem services that support both the farmer and nature itself. For example, taking care of soil boosts soil biodiversity, fostering beneficial microbes that recycle nutrients, facilitate plant communication, store carbon, improve water management, and protect plants from diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical agents.

Developing biodiversity measures with environmental DNA

To know if our actions are successfully restoring farmland biodiversity, we need to track information and measure progress. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a helpful tool, which uses models to estimate potential biodiversity loss throughout the whole studied activity. These models use characterization factors to translate the impact of activities, like the amount of land used for agriculture into the potential loss of species.

Characterization factors are based on available data and assumptions and so their accuracy depends on how closely the model reflects real-world conditions. Current data inputs are often based on conventional agricultural practices and therefore don’t represent alternative farming methods, such as regenerative farming. To update the model, more data is needed on the impact of agricultural practices on farmland biodiversity. For this purpose, we need more data on biodiversity levels from various types of land: conventional farmland, regenerative farmland, and natural areas.

Measuring biodiversity using environmental DNA

Traditional methods of monitoring biodiversity on land are often time-consuming, costly, and require expert knowledge. Additionally, they are challenged e.g. by weather events and juvenile life stages (which may be hard to recognize) and are prone to observational biases. This makes it challenging to accurately measure biodiversity levels and develop precise characterization factors for specific farming practices.

This project aims to use environmental DNA (eDNA) to measure farmland biodiversity accurately and effectively across several regenerative farms. The results of the eDNA analysis can be used to improve the life cycle biodiversity impact assessment methods to better assess the impact of agricultural decisions on biodiversity. This allows other regenerative farmers, policy makers and LCA practitioners to assess and include the biodiversity impacts of regenerative farming within LCA in a more accurate way in the future. This also means that the potential benefits of regenerative farming are more accurately captured.

Collecting eDNA samples

All living organisms leave traces of DNA through activities like shedding cells, excreting waste, moulting, and reproduction. By using eDNA technology, scientists can collect this genetic material from the environment, such as from soil, water, faeces, or even air, and identify the organisms that are or have been present. Collecting eDNA samples requires less resources and expertise than traditional monitoring method and samples are more likely to detect rare or elusive species better.

In this project, eDNA samples are collected from various landscapes across the South of Finland. Different land types are studied to understand their biodiversity: both croplands and pasturelands, including regenerative farms, conventional agriculture, as well as traditional rural biotopes as a natural reference point. These samples will help to develop new characterization factors for LCA. Finally, the aim is to conduct a case study to test these factors and evaluate the biodiversity impact of regenerative farming.

Contact

Natasha Järviö, LUT / University of Helsinki, natasha.jarvio@lut.fi