Virtual roadshow 2: Roots of resilience – enhancing biodiversity through agroecology [Webinar Recording]
This enhanced ‘roadshow’ webinar, comprising three presentations and insights from Innovation Hub leads, highlights how biodiversity underpins resilient agroecological systems.
Our presentations:
How has EU Agriculture Policy affected biodiversity so far, and by implication, what does it need to do better?Elizabeth Finch, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
What does the research tell us about the impact of agroecological farming practices on biodiversity? Surfacing the interesting findings from over 170 studies looking at how adopting agroecology results in an increase in biodiversity and climate change mitigation, compared to conventional interventions.Cian Blaix, INRAE/Agroscope
The Multi Criteria Analysis tool (MCA) – particularly looking at how it can analyse Biodiversity IndicatorsAdrien Swartebroeckx, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre
Updates from Innovation Hubs:
Results-based incentives for farmers in the Western Stara Planina in Bulgaria:We hear from the Bulgarian innovation hub about their work developing and testing result-based agri-environment payment schemes (RBAPS), and how these have encouraged farmers to adopt agroecological practices that support biodiversity.
Exploring functional biodiversity: enhancing agronomic performance and ecological sustainability:The innovation hub team in Switzerland shares insights into how multi-species seed mixtures for grasslands contribute to sustainable forage production. Their research highlights the role of functional biodiversity, i.e. how the different plant species complement each other ideally to align environmentally friendly and economically viable production of high-quality, home-grown forage.
Conservation biodiversity in perennial systems:The Hungarian innovation hub updates us on their trials with different mixes of species-rich seeds (grass-herb and legume) to determine which provide the best overall climate-proof perennial cover crop in the vine inter-rows. Their particular focus is on the best solutions for weed control, soil conservation and biodiversity development.
Our speakers:
Elizabeth Finch, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
Cian Blaix, INRAE/Agroscope
Adrien Swartebroeckx, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre
Leaders of Innovation Hub projects in Bulgaria, Switzerland and Hungary
Recorded in July 2025
Roots to Resilience: how agroecology boosts biodiversity
The current agri-food system isn’tt working. Conventional farming is responsible for much of the major decline in biodiversity. But Agroecology is a way of producing food that uses biodiversity to enhance production in a natural way. In fact agroecology and biodiversity go hand in hand. In this short film, we meet some of the farmers and researchers across Europe who are changing the way they farm to better. Their practices support biodiversity, mitigate against climate change and provide a food and farming system that supports people and the planet.
Keywords: Access to land, Biodiversity, Climate change, Local food systems, Low input farming, Organic Agriculture, Policy, Socio economic resilience, Transdisciplinary research
Country: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, EU, Pan-Europe
