SYBERAC’s 2025 field research season in summary with the latest updates from the project’s case studies.

The University of Aarhus (AU) invited the fellow SYBERAC project members to meet in Aarhus, Denmark, for the 2025 in-person consortium meeting.

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The SYBERAC project held its second meeting in Barcelona, advancing environmental risk assessment. Highlights included a vineyard study visit showcasing regenerative viticulture and its impact on soil health, directly informing pesticide impact research. Stakeholder workshops fostered collaboration, while a field trip to the Ebro Delta provided practical context for case studies on bats and migratory birds, emphasizing the balance between land use and biodiversity. The project aims to refine environmental risk assessment methodologies through real-world case studies and modeling.

The SYBERAC project recently held a workshop in Cantanhede, Portugal, addressing the effects of plant protection products (PPPs) on soil biodiversity and ecosystem function. Hosted by the University of Coimbra, this collaborative event brought together experts and stakeholders to explore the dynamics of soil invertebrate communities and their critical role in ecosystem services. This discussion aligns with SYBERAC’s broader mission of advancing systems-based ecological risk assessment (sb-ERA) to inform sustainable agricultural practices.

The Environmental Risk Assessment workshop in Ebro Delta was held to explore key aspects of environmental risk assessment. This event, focused on a case study conducted in the Ebro Delta, highlighted the intricate interaction between aquatic and terrestrial environments, with a particular emphasis on using bats and their potential prey as model species. The workshop brought together a diverse and engaged group of participants, including farmers, government representatives, agricultural advisors, and researchers.

On 16th July 2024, experts from UKCEH and RSPB convened at Hope Farm, Cambridgeshire, to discuss the impact of pesticides on non-target organisms. The workshop highlighted challenges in assessing pesticide effects due to incomplete data. A key outcome was the development of a strategy for a rapid, cost-effective evidence synthesis method to guide agricultural decisions, co-designed with stakeholders.

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On 3 June 2024, RIVM hosted an online workshop for Case Study 6, focusing on the impact of pesticides and chemicals in Dutch nature conservation areas. Participants from environmental organizations and water boards discussed the potential underestimation of pollution effects, the need for more data on chemical presence, and the importance of including nature in risk assessments. The workshop concluded with a plan to involve relevant stakeholders in future efforts.