Experience of Cereal Pilot Farms in Germany: Implementation Of
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Implementation of biodiversity measures Experience of cereal pilot farms in Germany – 2 – Content 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 4 2. The Pilot Projects ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1. Flower strips – the All-rounder ......................................................................... 6 2.1.1. Benefits and experiences ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.2. Quality Elements ................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1.3. Lessons learned and recommendations ............................................................................................................ 7 2.1.4. Quick Note ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Light fields – drill gaps and reduced sowing densities – promoting wild herbs .. 8 2.2.1. Benefits and experiences ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2. Quality Elements ................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.3. Lessons learned and recommendations ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2.4. Quick Note ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Catch crop kept over winter – providing wintering habitat ............................. 10 2.3.1 Benefits and experiences ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3.2 Quality Elements .............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3.3 Lessons learned and recommendations .......................................................................................................... 11 2.3.4 Quick Note ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4. Stone- and deadwood piles – supporting heat-dependent animals ................. 11 2.4.1 Benefits and experiences ................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.2 Quality Elements .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.3 Lessons learned and recommendations .......................................................................................................... 12 2.4.4 Quick Note ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 3. Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 13 3.1. Acknowledgement .......................................................................................... 14 4. Outlook ................................................................................................................. 14 5. Overview of the EU LIFE Project ............................................................................. 15 Experience of cereal pilot farms in Germany www.food-biodiversity.eu Implementation of biodiversity measures Experience of cereal pilot farms in Germany European Project Team ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supported by Recognized as core initiative by ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EU LIFE programme www.food-biodiversity.eu www.food-biodiversity.eu – 4 – 1. Introduction The LIFE Food & Biodiversity project supports food standards and food companies to develop efficient biodiversity measures and to implement them in their pool of criteria or sourcing guidelines. In this paper we provide information on our experiences gained in the cereal pilot projects in Germany in terms of implemen- tation of recommended biodiversity measures. All pilots within the project were subject to a specific biodiversity consultation and measures were put in place that are based on the two pillars for biodiversity-friendly agriculture: Biodiversity Management and Very Good Agricultural Practices (figure below). Cereal pilots implemented measures dedicated to Biodiversity Manage- ment (table on page 4). 1 Sustainable Agriculture (BAP), Design: Didem Senturk This publication targets product managers, who assess the implementation of requirements regarding cultivation methods (standard advisors, cooperatives, suppliers). We wish to communicate the challenges we experienced in our pilot projects and point out the observed benefits of the measures, as well as the pitfalls and related cost. You may take this as a guide to avoid similar pitfalls and to enhance the benefit for biodiversity. Picture 1 Experience of cereal pilot farms in Germany www.food-biodiversity.eu – 5 – 2. The Pilot Projects Within the LIFE Food & Biodiversity project, “Recom- on a few measures that were applied by the biggest mendations to improve biodiversity protection in number of farmers and describe them in detail, in- policy and criteria of food standards and sourcing re- cluding costs and effort. quirements of food companies and retailers” were Action Number of pilots that published. This Guideline includes a catalogue of applied measures measures to enhance biodiversity, out of which farmers may chose actions to enhance their farming practices. All of the recommended measures were 2017/2018 2018/2019 subject of testing over a longer time and by different Production Integrated Actions stakeholder. During these trials, they all proved their benefit for biodiversity. To further deepen our un- Drill gaps - wide rows 2 3 derstanding on the regional effects on biodiversity, Light fields 5 6 18 of the recommended measures were taken up by Skylark plots 5 6 crop specific pilots in Spain, Portugal, France and Germany. No harrow 1 1 In Germany, 15 pilot farms from two different re- Fallow land or strips sown 15 15 gional producer associations, KraichgauKorn® and with wild flowers (total) Linzgau Korn®, participated. - Fallow land sown in 6 4 Most farms supplying Linzgau Korn® produce follow- - Annual flower strips 13 15 ing the quality label Qualitätszeichen Baden-Würt- temberg (QZ BW). A few farms produce organically - Perennial flower strips 5 5 according to Demeter/Bioland criteria. Besides these High cut in clover grass 2 2 standard systems, Linzgau Korn® as an association Not managed strip in clo- 2 2 requires some biodiversity measures of their own, ver grass which all farmers have to follow. Catch crop kept over win- 7 11 Farms of KraichgauKorn® all produce under the QZ ter BW label. Additionally, the cereal they grow for KraichgauKorn® is pesticide-free in the growing sea- Extensive cultivations 2 2 son. Landscape Elements All farmers cultivate cereals for their association and Hedges 5 6 implemented biodiversity measures on their plots. Starting in the growing season 2017/2018, actions Stone- and deadwood pi- 10 9 were applied and constantly improved. The table on les the right gives an overview about the actions that the Solitary trees 1 1 pilot farms in Germany tested Field margins 5 3 The aim of this publication is to give an overview Nesting aids for birds and 3 5 about the actions taken, the lessons learned, the bats benefits for biodiversity and the challenges faced during implementation. In this document, we focus Nesting aids for wild bees 4 5 Experience of cereal pilot farms in Germany www.food-biodiversity.eu – 6 – Kraichgau: (orange oval) The Kraichgau refers to the hilly region between the foothills of the northern Black Forest and the ascent to the small Odenwald forest south of the Neckar. In the west, the Rheingraben forms a border (Wiesloch-Bruchsal-Karlsruhe) in the east the Neckar valley from Heilbronn to Obrigheim. Characteristics of the Kraichgau, with its about 1500 km² large area, are the gentle hills and flat valleys. The Kraichgau is one of the oldest agricultural areas in Europe, it is particularly fertile due to its loess soil and is therefore one of the granaries of southern Germany. Fruit and wine cultivation (espe- cially on the Keuper heights around Sinsheim and Sulzfeld) are also widespread. Pota- toes, sugar beet and tobacco are also cultivated. Linzgau: (blue circle) The Linzgau is a landscape in the south of Baden-Württemberg. The Linzgau reaches in the south to the Lake Constance and in the east to the Schussen. To the west the Linzgau is framed by Überlingen and to the north by Pfullendorf. Characteristic of the upper Linzgau region are the long moraine ridges made of alpine rock material depos- ited at the end of the glacier. Large moor and reed areas and smaller lakes dominate