Effective communication over Functional Agrobiodiversity in IPM: development of an integrated knowledge platform

The agricultural sector faces the challenge of restoring biodiversity and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in a sustainable manner. Functional Agrobiodiversity (FAB) plays a central role in this transition, as it contributes to regulating ecosystem services such as natural pest control, pollination, and soil quality. Despite the growing attention for FAB, the available knowledge for farmers remains fragmented, insufficiently accessible, and sometimes inadequately translated into practical guidance. Insights generated within numerous ongoing and completed AFN projects are dispersed across various websites, reports, and articles in (specialized) journals, limiting their usability and long-term impact.

This project aims to develop a sustainable, scientifically verified, and practice-oriented digital knowledge platform that centralises and unlocks existing knowledge on FAB. The platform is intended to support farmers, advisors, and other stakeholders in recognising, understanding, and integrating FAB into their farm management and IPM strategies. It also serves as a long-term dissemination tool, ensuring that research results remain available even after individual projects have ended.

The project includes a landscape analysis of existing knowledge platforms, the mapping of internally developed AFN knowledge and external sources through a literature review, and the development of a user-friendly digital platform. Scientific insights will be translated into clear, accessible communication materials. Additionally, the platform will be used to identify knowledge gaps and attitudes among farmers through online surveys and user analytics. Through this integrated approach, the project contributes to strengthened knowledge dissemination with the overarching goal of increasing the practical implementation of FAB.