The national network of farmers for agricultural biodiversity, established by the ADEPT Transylvania Foundation as part of the multinational project FarmBioNet (Farmer-Focused Biodiversity and Agricultural Knowledge Network), is looking at the large-scale application in Romania of biodiversity-friendly practices, including the use of natural pollinators, that can bring farmers both economic and ecological benefits.

At a recent gathering in Angofa, near Sighisoara, farmers and experts from the National Network for Biodiversity in Agriculture, part of the FarmBioNet project, met to exchange best practices aimed at harmonizing agriculture with ecological preservation. The FarmBioNet initiative encourages knowledge-sharing between specialists and local farmers to enhance both livelihoods and food production.

Intensive agriculture has long conflicted with biodiversity, said Ben Mehedin, coordinator of the ADEPT Transylvania Project. ‘We’re showing that biodiversity-friendly practices not only protect ecosystems, but also bring economic benefits. A pond on a farm attracts wildlife and implicitly pollinators; more pollinators mean better yields,’ he explained.

The FarmBioNet project, funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe research and innovation program, is being carried out in 12 European countries, and in Romania it is being implemented by the ADEPT Transylvania Foundation.

According to Ben Mehedin, the project aims to identify agricultural practices favorable to biodiversity and to help farmers create on their land advantageous conditions for biodiversity, whether it is space, safety, food or shelter for the diversity of plants and animals.

‘Now, when humanity has realized that it also needs clean air, that it also needs the hum of insects, and butterflies in the air, people have also turned their attention to life, to the quality of nature. If in some countries there are people who brush flowers to pollinate them manually, in our country this ecosystem service is done by the flying butterflies, by the pollinators. (…) We have analyzed human perception in a group conceptual mapping methodology. It is the way in which experts, people from various walks of life – because within the network we have farmers, forestry experts, researchers, advisors, consultants – perceive the practices that have been defined by all members of the network at European level. Those practices that were rated very well in terms of biodiversity advantages, but have slightly lower scores in terms of economic effects,’ said Ben Mehedin.

The FarmBioNet project provides for the establishment of a national network for biodiversity in agriculture in each of the partner countries, consisting of farmers, foresters, researchers, NGOs, advisors and other relevant experts from the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS).

The national network in Romania was set up this year with the aim of collecting and sharing knowledge and information, best practices in environmentally friendly agriculture to promote the exchange of traditional knowledge and actions based on scientific results.

Ben Mehedin said that this project will conduct a cost-benefit analysis to show how biodiversity contributes to sustainable food production, and will develop practical decision-making tools to promote biodiversity among farmers, foresters and decision-makers.

Under the FarmBioNet project, for three years, farmers in Romania and the other 11 partner countries have the opportunity to understand how favorable biodiversity is for their farm and what simple, low-cost actions they could take to bring improvements to their business, in support of biodiversity, without negatively affecting productivity. AGERPRES (RO – writing by: Dorina Matis; EN – writing by: Simona Klodnischi)