Biodiversity Indicators special report
In just one generation, we have lost almost 70% of the world's biodiversity .
And France, with one of the richest natural heritages in the world, is not spared! According to theFrench Biodiversity Office , 18% of species have already disappeared and 78% of habitats are in an unfavorable state of conservation.
The cause: Human activities
The transformation of natural environments into artificial ones (e.g. construction, concrete development, etc.), pollution (air, water, soil, light, noise), overexploitation of resources (e.g. overfishing), climate change, the introduction of invasive exotic species by humans (Asian hornets, beetles, aphids, etc.) are just some of the pressures we exert on ecosystems.
It is therefore crucial for future generations that we take action (each at our own level) now to protect and restore biodiversity.
The entire agricultural ecosystem is well aware of this urgency, and has already tackled the issue head on.
In this article, we explain why it's important to restore biodiversity on farms, what indicators are essential for measuring biodiversity on farms? And what tools are available to agri-food companies to help implementregenerative agriculture projects.
CONTENTS
1. What is biodiversity in agriculture?
a) What are the elements needed to assess biodiversity on farms?
2. Do regulations require the agricultural sector to measure biodiversity?
a) Biodiversity as a performance indicator
b) Who is ESRS E4 designed for?
3. What are the indicators for measuring biodiversity in regenerative agriculture?
a) List of the main indicators for measuring biodiversity on a farm
a) The benefits of MyEasySpheres for your biodiversity measurements
1. What is biodiversity in agriculture?
Biodiversity on a farm refers to the variety and diversity of living organisms and their habitats present on the farm and in its immediate environment. This includes the interactions between these organisms and their environment.
By organizations, we mean :
- Crops: cereals (wheat, rice, corn), forages (grasses and legumes), market gardening, arboriculture...
- Livestock: especially ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) and free-range poultry.
- Soil organisms: earthworms, springtails, mites, nematodes, etc.
- Pollinating insects: bees, bumblebees, butterflies, hoverflies...
- Auxiliary organisms such as ladybugs, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, spiders...
- Soil micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa...
- Wild species: birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects that live at the edge of fields, in hedgerows or wetlands.
All these organisms interact with each other and with their environment to form diversified agricultural ecosystems. They thus contribute to the resilience and sustainability of food systems and agricultural landscapes.
a) What are the elements needed to assess biodiversity on farms?
Various criteria are used to assess the biodiversity of a farm, including the following:
Flora and fauna:
What wild plants, grasses, trees, insects, mammals, reptiles and birds inhabit or visit the farm?
Natural habitats :
Does the farm provide refuges and food sources for surrounding wildlife, such as forests, wetlands, meadows or hedgerows?
Water bodies and wetlands:
Are there any ponds, rivers, marshes or other wetlands in the immediate vicinity of the farm?
Soil biodiversity :
Is your soil alive? Is it home to many living organisms (bacteria, fungi, earthworms) that fertilize and enrich it?
Ecological corridors :
Are there ecological corridors or buffer zones between natural habitats that encourage the movement of species and help maintain links between different ecosystems?
Measuring biodiversity on farms is essential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving productivity and protecting the environment.
Biodiversity preservation initiatives are multiplying, and that's something we can all rejoice in. But are there any regulatory requirements to be met?
What does the law say?
Would you like to find out more and talk to our experts?
2. Do regulations require the agricultural sector to measure biodiversity?
The answer is yes!
Coming into force on January 1, 2024, the European CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) aims to enhance corporate transparency with regard to sustainability and social responsibility.
Its main aim is to standardize companies' extra-financial reporting.
The CSRD is based on a set of reporting standards and indicators known as ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards). These cover the full spectrum of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.
These standards are based on the concept of "double materiality", which highlights both the material impact of a company's activities on its value chain and the relevant financial implications in terms of risks, dependencies and opportunities.
Among the 5 environmental standards, ESRS E4, dedicated to biodiversity and ecosystems, stands out for its high standards.
a) Biodiversity as a performance indicator
The ESRS E4 "Biodiversity and Ecosystems" standard encourages companies to :
✅ Identify and communicate their impacts, positive and negative, current and potential, on biodiversity and ecosystems.
✅ Present the results of their actions to prevent and mitigate these impacts, and to protect and restore biodiversity.
✅ Describe their biodiversity policy and strategy.
✅ Assess the risks and opportunities associated with their impacts or dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystems, detailing their management.
✅ Analyze the short-, medium- and long-term financial implications of these risks, opportunities, impacts and dependencies.
ESRS E4 is closely linked to the other environmental standards, in particular those concerning climate change (ESRS E1), pollution (ESRS E2), water and marine resources (ESRS E3) and the circular economy (ESRS E5), as it addresses all environmental issues.
b) Who is ESRS E4 designed for?
Companies in the agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors are directly concerned by the ESRS E4 standard because of their close link with biodiversity issues, since agricultural businesses have a significant impact on biodiversity through their land, water and natural resource management practices.
To help companies integrate the ESRS E4 standard, the European Commission has introduced flexibility measures, notably by allowing companies with fewer than 750 employees to defer application of the biodiversity standard for two years. This is intended to facilitate their transition to sustainable practices, while ensuring gradual compliance with sustainability standards.
💡 Find out more about CSRD
👉 As a manufacturer in the agricultural and/or agri-food sector, the ESRS E4 should encourage you to take action to transform your company into a more virtuous and resilient entity.
To prepare for the double materiality analysis required by ESRS E4, you'll need to rely on biodiversity measurement indicators.
3. What are the indicators for measuring biodiversity in regenerative agriculture?
To be effective, the implementation of a regenerative agriculture program must be based on objective indicators for measuring biodiversity.
Acquiring, processing and analyzing the data that will serve as your baseline (and performance) is a process that will take several months.
💡 Expert advice
"Seeing the big picture
" To calculate these key performance indicators (KPIs), we need to analyze data from farmers' practices, farms, zones and environmental, economic and social data.
If you want to calculate certain KPIs as part of a regenerative agriculture or biodiversity program, it's important to consider the farm as a whole and not just confine yourself to one plot or one crop."
Tiphaine Robert - Agricultural engineer
Biodiversity measurement stages (Planning and evaluation)
Allow 3 to 6 months for :
- Assess the current state of the farm: soil analysis, biodiversity inventory, evaluation of current practices.
- Draw up a management plan: define objectives, select appropriate regenerative practices, establish a schedule and budget.
⚠️ It is important to note that biodiversity assessment is a complex process requiring multidisciplinary expertise, notably in ecology, taxonomy, statistics and environmental management.
Would you like to find out more and talk to our experts?
a) List of the main indicators for measuring biodiversity on a farm
Biodiversity indicators | Subcategories | A few examples of indicators for measuring biodiversity | Landscape composition | Cultural diversity | Number of crops in rotation (and length of crop rotation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number and diversity of cover crops | |||||
% of cover crops (% of UAA with cover crops) | |||||
% of insect-friendly crops | |||||
% of main crops with intermediate crops | |||||
% multi-species temporary grassland | |||||
% of soil-conserving crops | |||||
Cultivated diversity index : | |||||
Reciprocal Simpson Index | |||||
Shannon (or Hill-Shannon) diversity index | |||||
Diversity of other species | Soil DNA | ||||
Microbial diversity / soil microbial mass | |||||
eDNA (environmental DNA) | |||||
Areas of ecological interest/ habitat | Length of linear habitats such as hedges (m or m/ha) | ||||
Number of habitats (natural features such as water bodies, hedges, forests, scrub, field margins and thickets) | |||||
Percentage of natural habitats (% per km²) | |||||
Treed habitats (% of UAA) | |||||
Landscape genetics indicators | Landscapes surrounding the farm (natural or industrial areas) | ||||
Landscape configuration | Farm mosaic | Large plots : | |||
Number of large plots with a defined threshold (e.g. 12ha) | |||||
Proportion of large plots | |||||
Parcel shape index | |||||
Distribution and connectivity | Diversity of spatial distribution (edge density) | ||||
Weighted % of fields bordered by hedges or windbreaks | |||||
Buffer zones around watercourses | |||||
Disruption or no disruption | Soil condition | Tillage and energy used for tillage | |||
Energy used for tillage | |||||
Soil Intensity Index (STIR) | |||||
% of utilized agricultural area (UAA) ploughed | |||||
Winter ground cover | |||||
Humic balance / soil organic matter balance | |||||
Conservation of natural habitats | Compliance with local policies applicable to natural habitats and beyond | ||||
Managing natural habitats | |||||
Use of crop protection products | Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) | ||||
Environmental impact points on aquatic life, soil life and pollinators/controllers | |||||
IFT (Indice de Fréquence des Traitements - Treatment Frequency Index) | |||||
% of untreated surfaces | |||||
Use of mineral fertilizers | Nitrogen use efficiency (EUA) | ||||
Nitrogen surplus at farm level | |||||
Nitrogen dose per hectar | |||||
Non-exhaustive list
Focus on landscape "genetics" indicators
These indicators take into account the landscape surrounding the farm as part of a regenerative agriculture project.
When measuring biodiversity directly, it is important to have indicators of the surrounding landscape. If plots are surrounded by natural or industrial areas, for example, this will have a major impact on the biodiversity present on the farm. Animal biodiversity will inevitably be less interesting in an anthropized environment than in a preserved natural environment.
The qualitative aspect of Agro-Ecological Infrastructures (AEI) could also be addressed, for example.
As a reminder, AEIs include all landscape elements that are not "productive", such as isolated trees, field margins, groves, ditches or hedges, but which play a very important role in both erosion control and the development of biodiversity.
💡 Expert opinion
"Details of hedge composition are very important. In fact, a monospecific hedge with a single stratum does not have the same ecological interest as a multi-species hedge with several strata.
There are indicators such as BIOTEX (BIodiversité Ordinaire du Territoire à l'EXploitation developed by the Institut de l'élevage), which calculates a surface area of developed biodiversity, and which takes into account the qualitative aspect of Agro-Ecological Infrastructures (IAE)".
Expert testimony
Measurements observed from space
A number of biodiversity-friendly farming practices can be observed from space.
Kermap draws on its expertise in satellite analysis for agriculture and artificial intelligence to identify the crops present on each plot, measure the duration and rate of soil cover, and quantify agro-ecological infrastructures such as hedgerows...
Indicators available at the end of or during the season, on any scale, to help industry players manage and promote the sustainable practices implemented by farmers.
Antoine Lefebvre - CEO of Kermap
For even greater relevance, biodiversity indicators should be coupled with those used more widely in regenerative agriculture. In this way, you'll have a complete "map" of the farm.
Indicators for a regenerative agriculture program
Measurement indicators for regenerative agriculture |
|---|
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) |
Carbon and soil health |
Biodiversity |
Pressure on other physical resources, including water |
Socio-economic issues |
Non-exhaustive list
As you've already seen, there's a huge amount of data out there that you won't be able to exploit without special equipment.
Fortunately, there are tools designed to enable you to retrieve information, analyze it and generate performance tracking charts.
Would you like to find out more and talk to our experts?
4. MyEasySpheres The MRV platform for regenerative agriculture and biodiversity measurement projects
MyEasyFarm's MRV platform can help you measure biodiversity indicators on farms.
MyEasySpheres (as the platform is called) combines the data and software expertise of MyEasyFarm with the agronomy, consulting and project management expertise of Biosphères.
💡 Find out more about the collaboration between Biosphères and MyEasyFarm.
a) The benefits of MyEasySpheres for your biodiversity measurements
An all-in-one platform
Biodiversity, Carbon, Soil Health, Water, Revenue..., with MyEasySpheresyou need just one platform to manage all your regenerative agriculture projects and KPIs.
Reliable, verifiable data
Collect digital data (satellite, FMIS, farm machinery, weather stations, soil analysis) from your farmers on a single platform and calculate reliable, verifiable performance indicators (KPIs).
Customized reports
Customize your reports and KPIs for your company's regenerative agriculture project.
Collaborative AI
Collect and use data from your entire supply chain, thanks to the collaborative capabilities of . MyEasySpheres. Plan and track the progress of your KPIs in regenerative agriculture with integrated artificial intelligence technology.
Scientific data
MyEasySpheres relies on precise scientific data from its network of partners recognized for their expertise. This is the case with Kermap, which is able to measure agricultural practices from space. The platform is also connected to other tools such as Cool Farm Tool, SAFYE-CO2, SIMEOS AMG, and many others.
Now you can reliably measure your impact.
By evaluating these biodiversity indicators, the platform MyEasySpheres provides you with valuable information on the effects of regenerative farming practices on biodiversity.
It helps and guides you in your farm management decisions.
Would you like to find out more and talk to our experts?
💡 Find out more MyEasySpheres
Throughout this article, you've seen how important it is for agricultural ecosystems to restore or maintain biodiversity.
If you want to initiate regenerative agriculture projects with your farmers, keep in mind that the more they contribute to enriching the biodiversity present on their farms, the more they will improve the resilience of their farming systems (better crop resistance to disease and pests, more fertile soils, more pollinating insects, improved water quality and carbon sequestration in soils).
But you can't do it alone!
You'll need to rely on biodiversity measurement indicators that only a platform like MyEasySpheres can provide.
Do you have any questions? Our experts are here to answer them.
To find out more, take a look at all the use cases for MyEasyCarbon solutions on our website.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Why is data crucial in regenerative agriculture?
What's the point of an MRV tool for VM0042 on the standard VCS?
