Green Agristructure for the Adaptation of the Agricultural Landscape – Landscape Elements and Their Integration into the Operation and Economy of Farms

Introduction

The Agristructure LIFE project aims to develop a range of landscape element designs that meet the farmers' needs and preferences, and to support them with an implementation strategy.

Importance of Landscape Elements

Landscape elements - such as hedges, flowering strips, fallow and buffer strips, field margins, shelterbelts, agroforestry schemes, and solitary/groups of trees, ditches, and small wetlands - are crucial for the adaptation of European farmland to climate change. They support:

• Water retention
• Soil protection
• Biodiversity connectivity
• Landscape heterogeneity

Increasing the share of landscape elements on agricultural land is a key adaptation goal of the Green Deal.

Design and Distribution of Landscape Elements

In addition to the area share of landscape elements, the specific design of the eligible elements and their distribution is important for their function. Landscape elements need to be designed in such a way that they are:

1. Evidence-based (so that they effectively contribute to adaptation objectives and synergistically support a maximum of environmental needs)
2. Adjusted to farming and agribusiness needs (so that farmers are willing to implement them)

Development of Adaptation Solutions

Based on existing Czech and European research and best practices, a range of effective adaptation solutions will be designed. Implementation of prioritized solutions will be examined on 10 pilot farms.

Assessment and Surveys

Soil erosion, water regime, and biodiversity connectivity will be assessed. Additionally, agro-technical and economic surveys will be carried out, and barriers to the implementation of specific measures will be consulted with farmers.

Outcomes and Recommendations

Outcomes will be generalized to produce tools and recommendations for landscape elements planning and practice on farms. Policy recommendations, including for the CAP, will be proposed and discussed with policymakers.

Development of Support Tools

Tools will be developed to support the application of landscape elements in corporate supply chain sustainability programs. Furthermore, tools for the replication of project outcomes in similar EU countries will be developed and communicated to potential users.