Projects

Project
 
The AF4VALUE project addresses these barriers by developing and testing approaches that can strengthen agroforestry value chains and improve the economic viability of agroforestry for farmers and rural communities. The project focuses on practical innovation, business models, financial incentives, certification-related technologies and policy conditions that can support the agroecological transition.

Innovations in Value Chains to Promote Farming Viability through Agroforestry (AF4VALUE)

Supporting agroforestry value chains and Living Labs for the agroecological transition

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The 2026 Market Information Talks aim to systematically address key challenges along these value chains and to develop practical solutions together with stakeholders. Building on the dialogues held in previous years, the 2026 series places a stronger emphasis on infrastructure needs.

Market Information Talks for the Organic Sector 2026

Key challenges along the value chains

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Project:Horizon Europe
 
As the European Commission develops the CRCF, the need for effective monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems and a detailed registry is becoming more pressing. Against this background, the CAFAMORE project addresses these challenges by developing a harmonised, parcel-level monitoring approach and a geographically explicit registry for carbon farming across the EU.

Carbon Farming Monitoring and Registry (CAFAMORE)

Developing a harmonised monitoring and registry framework for carbon farming in Europe

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The project analyses the development of environmental crime in Germany between 2013 and 2024, based on data from the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) and the law enforcement statistics of the Federal Statistical Office. The analysis provides both an overview of long-term trends and an in-depth assessment of individual categories of environmental offences.

Evaluation of Statistics on the Development of Environmental Crimes in Germany

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This project supports Carbon Market Watch to address the specific challenges of integrating temporary sequestration credits into EU agri-food climate policy. In assessing the policy options currently under discussion – emissions trading systems, mandatory climate standards, and public procurement – and examines the implications of CRCF use within these frameworks. The project also provides recommendations on how temporary carbon sequestration can be supported in a way that is environmentally credible, practically feasible, and aligned with broader EU climate objectives.

Evaluating the Role of Temporary Carbon Sequestration Units in EU Agri-Food Climate Policy

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Ecologic Institute, in partnership with Ramboll and I4CE, continues its collaboration with the European Environment Agency in supporting the understanding of costs of climate impacts and climate adaptation. The overall aim of this study is to extract, complement and compile quantitative information on the economic costs and socio-economic impacts of climate adaptation versus costs of inaction in EU27 Member States. The work builds on previous work conducted by the consortium for the EEA which serves as the methodological foundation for this project.

Knowledge Development and Application Concerning Costs of Adaptation Compared to Costs of Inaction

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This project examines whether Member States are using CAP funding to support actions that lay the foundation for reducing livestock emissions in the next funding period. This includes informing discussions on whether additional policy measures will be needed beyond CAP support, given the necessary increase in climate ambition for the agricultural sector towards meeting the EU’s 2040 climate target.

Mitigating Livestock Emissions Through the CAP – Phase II

An in-depth analysis of livestock-relevant CAP interventions in five case-study countries

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This project supports the German Environment Agency (UBA) in developing strategic options for the structural evolution of the EU ETS post-2030. Its results will feed into the European Commission's 2026 review of the ETS and inform Germany's position in upcoming negotiations on ETS reform.

Further Development of Emissions Trading after 2030

An Economic Perspective

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The Ecologic Institute is providing expert support for the transformation process for the future of Hamburg's agricultural sector – in close cooperation with the project team from urban catalyst and Prof Antje Stokman (HCU Hamburg). It is developing proposals for guidelines, goals, measures and indicators as a basis for the participatory strategy process.

Transformation Process for a Sustainable Agricultural Economy in Hamburg

The future of agriculture+ 2045: From sustainable farming to healthy consumption

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Project:Horizon Europe
 
The increasing frequency of floods and droughts highlights the urgent need for climate-resilient landscapes. This is where the European research project SpongeWorks comes in, demonstrating sustainable "sponge" measures in river basins across Greece, France, and the Netherlands/Germany. By restoring rivers, wetlands, and implementing innovative agricultural practices, landscapes are becoming better equipped to retain and release water in a controlled way. With 28 partners involved, the project aims to inspire other regions by sharing success stories and tools to promote "sponge landscapes" across Europe.

Implementing Nature-based Solutions for Water Retention and Climate Resilience in Europe (SpongeWorks)

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The EU agri-food sector is central to achieving EU climate neutrality, but emissions from agriculture have not fallen fast enough and the sector also faces growing climate risks, as well as environmental, social and economic pressures. Against this backdrop, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) commissioned technical support to help assess how EU policy can better strengthen mitigation, adaptation and resilience in the agri-food system.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the Agri-food Sector

Technical assistance to the European Scientific Advisory Board (ESABCC)

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Livestock GHG-emissions are a significant contributor to agricultural GHG emissions. The latest Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding period has integrated several funding mechanisms designed to support the implementation of environmental and climate friendly practices through measures such as the eco-schemes and the agri-environmental-climate measures. Despite these positive approaches to reduce the emissions from livestock, the CAP still entails the risk of subsidizing high-emissions livestock production, in particular through coupled income support. This underlines the need for better understanding CAP funding mechanism for effective reduction of livestock emissions.

Mitigating Livestock Emissions Through the CAP

A brief analysis of livestock-relevant CAP interventions in five case-study countries

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The Brandenburg Action Plan for Organic Agriculture has been implemented since 2022 and aims to increase the proportion of organically farmed land in the state to 20 per cent by 2024. As part of the Action Plan for Organic Agriculture, product-related market information meetings will be organised to bring together market players from the agricultural and food sectors and discuss current developments, challenges and opportunities. These talks are key to strengthening the regional organic value chain and promoting dialogue between producers, processors and marketers.

Market Information Talks for the Organic Sector 2024

Organic value chains for cereals, niche crops, meat and community catering

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Brandenburg's cabinet adopted a peatland protection program in March 2023, building on the National Peatland Protection Strategy and the 2021 "Climate Protection through Peatland Protection" initiative. The project aims to develop recommendations for communication on peatland protection in Brandenburg, examining the current communication landscape. The Ecologic Institute is commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg.

Communication Concept Implementation of Peatland Protection in Brandenburg

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The German agriculture sector faces significant climate-related challenges due to extreme weather events along with shifts in temperature patterns, impacting crop yields and biodiversity and exacerbating water scarcity and water quality deterioration. The Panda Fördergesellschaft (on behalf of WWF) is commissioning Ecologic Institute to create a handbook, "Water Stewardship in German Agriculture," aiming to offer practical solutions to enhance water retention, quality, and biodiversity. The handbook will include an overview of Germany's water situation, legal framework, specific measures with contextualised examples, and ways to promote collective action.

Water Stewardship in German Agriculture

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The aim of this project was to assist the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change in providing an overall, long-term vision for the EU's governance of carbon removals, and offer technical assistance for the analysis of the policy architecture for carbon removals, including support with data analysis, financial analysis, literature reviews, policy evaluation, benchmarks, and expertise on forestry and agriculture.

Climate Change and Carbon Removals

Technical assistance to the European Scientific Advisory Board

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For the period 2023-2029, Ecologic Institute joined the Core Team of 20 senior experts supporting the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). As part of the EU CAP Network, the Evaluation Helpdesk's mission is to ensure the effectiveness of CAP evaluations by specifically assisting managing authorities, national CAP networks, paying agencies, evaluators and the European Commission.

European Evaluation Helpdesk for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

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Project
 
MIP Project Soil Deal for Europe Mission Soil
The EU Mission "A Soil Deal for Europe", or Mission Soil, is an initiative launched by the European Commission to protect and restore soils in Europe. The Mission aims to put soils at the centre of attention, promote sustainable land management practices and improve soil health across all types of land uses and territories in Europe.

Mission Implementation Platform for the EU Mission 'Soil Deal for Europe'

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Project:Horizon Europe
 
CFD Logo
Climate Farm Demo is a unique pan-European network of Pilot Demo Farmers covering 28 countries and all pedo-climatic areas. Its overall aim it to accelerate the adoption of Climate Smart Farming (CSF) practices and solutions by farmers and all actors of the Climate Smart Agriculture Knowledge & Innovation Systems (AKIS) with a view of adapting agricultural production systems to climate change and of achieving a carbon-neutral agricultural sector by 2050, thereby meeting the targets of the EU Climate strategy. To reach this objective, the project adopts a Multi-Actor approach by connecting 1500 Pilot Demo Farmers and their Climate Farm Advisors (CFAs) at European and national levels to increase knowledge exchange and cross-fertilisation in their respective AKIS.

A European-wide Network of Pilot Farmers for a Carbon Neutral Europe (Climate Farm Demo)

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This project will 1) identify good examples, new and innovative interventions to contribute to biodiversity and climate objectives of the CAP; 2) assess CAP Strategic Plan interventions that correspond to the biodiversity and climate ambitions in the four CAP Strategic Plans of Germany, France, Spain and Poland; 3) analyze whether these interventions correspond to the scientific evidence and whether they are relevant and sufficient; 4) consider co-benefits and trade-offs between different policy objectives.

Innovative Agricultural Interventions to Reach EU Biodiversity and Climate Objectives

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Project:Horizon Europe
 
SCALE UP Logo
The overall goal of SCALE-UP is to support regional multi-actor partnerships, consisting of private businesses, governments and policymakers, civil society organisations, and researchers in identifying and scaling-up innovative and sustainable bio-based value chains that build on regional resources. Through its approach, SCALE-UP will adapt, implement and evaluate tools to help regional actors to overcome the apparent bottlenecks towards fully exploiting bioeconomy potentials in their region.

Concepts, Tools and Applications for Community-driven Bioeconomy Development in European Rural Areas (SCALE-UP)

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Ecologic Institute is contributing to a study aiming to map the implementation choices of Member States in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans. It also aims to assess the joint effort of Member States towards agricultural, rural development and environmental policy goals. This study is part of the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP, which supports the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and Member States in the evaluation and implementation of a performance-based monitoring and evaluation framework for the CAP from 2022.

Mapping Study of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Analysis of Joint Efforts

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In this project, Ecologic Institute, Öko-Institut and Schnittstelle Boden develop legal options for revising the German Federal Soil Act and draft potential corresponding amendments. This is one of the objectives in the German Government's 2021 Coalition Agreement and the research is funded by the German Environment Agency.

Revising Federal Soil Protection Law

Legal options and drafting for amending the Federal Soil Protection Act

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The consumption of dairy, eggs and meat causes damage to the environment in various places in the supply chain, such as climate change, eutrophication and the emission of harmful substances such as ammonia (which contributes to nitrogen problems) and particulate matter. The TAPP Coalition (True Animal Protein Price Coalition) requests a European-oriented policy proposals to pass on the price of dairy, eggs and meat so that it reflects the actual costs to society and to calculate these for economic and environmental effects for the EU-27 involving two case studies for Germany and France.

Pay as You Eat Meat

European strategy to internalize the external costs of meat

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What are possible alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides without promoting the renaissance of genetic engineering? This brief study intends to provide an overview of the current state of science on possible alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides and to be understandable for non-experts.

Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Pesticides

A scientific basis

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Agri-food systems in Central Eastern Europe are key to achieving the EU climate goals. To deliver these goals, strategic planning and integrated policies are needed that will enable reduced emissions, increased carbon removals, and at the same time support biodiversity and adaptation. Ambitious climate targets for the agri-food sector are needed, as well as alignment of the national strategic plans under the Common Agricultural Policy with climate targets and the European Green Deal objectives.

Capacity Building for Ambitious Climate Action in the Agri-food Sector in Central Eastern Europe

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Project
 
Graphic recording of a topic
In the forefront of the UN Food Systems Summit, Germany held the National Dialogue on "Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems" in June 2021 with more than 400 participants. This dialogue will be continued in 2022. Two of the five core topics of the dialogue dealt with a) a more plant-based diet in the future and b) the food economy of the future. The project "Summary and Outlook of the National Dialogue 2021 'Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems'" analyses the results achieved in these areas and develops conclusions for the further process on this basis.

German National Dialogue "Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems"

Summary and Outlook

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The briefing provides a didactic overview on carbon farming. Specifically, it summarizes the current scientific understanding of the mitigation potentials, co-benefits and trade-offs of carbon farming, as well as the key agronomic practices and key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to scale up carbon farming and to deliver robust climate mitigation and EU Green Deal objectives.

Carbon Farming

a scientific basis

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On behalf of the European Parliament, Ecologic Institute with support from IEEP investigate the potential of carbon farming to mitigate emissions in the EU and how to effectively increase carbon farming action. Ahead of two key EU Commission policy proposals in December 2021 (the 'Carbon Farming Initiative' and 'Carbon Removals Certification Mechanism'), the study summarises existing knowledge on carbon farming options, business models, and challenges. It also evaluates funding and policy opportunities to support its uptake.

Carbon Farming: Making agriculture fit for 2030

Study for the EU Parliament

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In this project, Ecologic Institute in cooperation with Oeko-Institut and Giessen University, analyses measures for climate-friendly soil use and the challenges and opportunities of transfer-based instruments as well as other funding mechanisms to promote these measures. In addition, current legal and political framework conditions for nature-based solutions and climate-friendly soil use will be examined.

Nature-based Solutions for Climate Protection

Financing climate-friendly soil management

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Project:Horizon 2020
 
Agroecology is widely recognized for its contribution to improving the environmental, climate and social impacts of agriculture. Building on the understanding of ecological interactions in agricultural systems, agroecology supports farmers' ability to deliver ecosystem services, improving sustainability and resilience of agriculture in the face of climate crisis. Sufficient capacity for place-based research and knowledge co-creation, however, are needed to accelerate the transition towards agroecology in Europe. The Horizon 2020 project "European Agroecology Living Lab and Research Infrastructure Network" (ALL-Ready) addresses this need by preparing the ground for a European Network of Living labs and Research Infrastructure.

The European Agroecology Living Lab and Research Infrastructure Network (ALL-Ready)

Preparation phase

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Project:Horizon 2020
 
Land and soils are essential for life on Earth. Yet one third of the global land is considered as degraded and this process is continuing due to higher food production, urbanization and industrial activity. In a new Horizon 2020 project, Ecologic Institute develops a roadmap for research and innovation on soil systems and land management – jointly with stakeholders. The Soil Mission Support project will thus improve coordination in this field and support the EU Mission on Soil Health and Food, the European Green Deal, and contribute to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Soil Mission Support: Towards a European research and innovation roadmap on soils and land management

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This project assesses a selection of climate-change adaptation measures for the agriculture sector and gathers quantitative evidence on their potential to compensate for climate-change induced productivity losses. The results feed into the parent project "Climate change and bioeconomy – Sustainability gap analysis for the agricultural sector".

Climate Change and Bioeconomy – Adaptation potential

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The EU-funded project "Species protection rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives: how effectively are they integrated into sectoral policies" supported the European Commission (DG Environment) in identifying existing gaps and uptake of the species protection system provided by the EU Nature Directives in the Member States, specifically in the agricultural and forestry sectors. The project was led by Milieu and is supported by Ecologic Institute, IEEP and Stritih.

Species Protection Rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives

How effectively are they integrated into sectoral policies?

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Project:Horizon 2020
 
Currently, farming systems in Europe rely strongly on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPPs). Yet, the use of PPPs pose risks to both human and environmental health with pesticide exposure being associated with health problems, including reproductive issues and cancer as well as environmental degradation. In the SPRINT project, research institutes from 11 European countries and Argentina as well as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) work together, alongside with farmers and policy makers, to accelerate the transition to sustainable plant protection.

Sustainable Plant Protection Transition: A global health approach (SPRINT)

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This project as part of the National Food Waste Reduction Strategy aims to reduce food waste in private households. A core area of the project is the identification of promising approaches and interventions. These will be implemented in cooperation with practitioners and evaluated for their effectiveness using a standardized method developed within the project.

Reduction of Food Waste in Private Households in Germany

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This project seeks to bring available knowledge together on the future of the EU agricultural production, including on possible sustainability gaps in the form of food, water and energy security, land take and GHG emissions that need to be closed by 2050. The results contribute to a better understanding on how the agricultural sector can contribute to climate-change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, taking into account the growth potential of the bioeconomy and its impact on the environment.

Climate Change and Bioeconomy – Sustainability gap analysis for the agricultural sector

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The goal of the KOPOS project is to establish regional supply structures in order to increasingly reconnect urban and rural areas and to practice environmentally friendly management. In the project regions of Freiburg i.Br. and Berlin-Brandenburg, KOPOS is investigating how cooperation between regional actors can help to build more regional supply structures and secure access to land for sustainable cultivation.

New Cooperation for Sustainable Landuse and Food Supply in Urban-Rural Areas (KOPOS)

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The aim of the project participants is to provide the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) with scientific support in communicating the results of the IPCC Special Reports on "Climate Change and Land" (SRCCL) and "The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate" (SROCC). This is achieved by preparing the contents of the special reports by means of core messages, explanatory texts and presentations in webinars.

Communication on the IPCC Special Reports "Climate Change and Land" and "The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate"

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Ecologic Institute is member of the European Topic Centre on Urban, Land and Soil System (ETC/ULS) which works with the European Environment Agency (EEA) under a Framework Partnership Agreement for the period from 2019 to 2021. Ecologic Institute's expertise in the ETC/ULS covers soils, forests and land use policy evaluation. In particular, it carries out screening and review of the evolving needs from EU policy regarding geospatial information and indicators. It also reviews the data, information and indicators needs of the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030.

European Topic Centre on Urban, Land and Soil Systems (ETC/ULS) 2019-2021

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In a study for DG FISMA, the Ecologic Institute and its partners supported the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance in the development of technical screening criteria for agriculture activities to be included in the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. The tasks included: 1) scoping of agriculture activities with significant potential to contribute to mitigation and adaptation; 2) drafting of criteria, metrics and thresholds to ensure that selected activities substantially contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and do not significantly harm any other environmental objectives; 3) supporting research on means for compliance checking; 4) organising a workshop with expert group members; and 5) preparing inputs to support the Impact Assessment of the agricultural components of the Taxonomy. The outcomes of the study were integrated in the Technical Report on EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.

Assistance in Developing Criteria on Agricultural Activities to be Included in the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

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This study explored how result-based carbon farming payment schemes could be set up to trigger widespread adoption of carbon farming in the EU. Result-based schemes differ from action-based schemes in that payment the farmer receives depends directly on the measurable climate benefits they deliver. By focusing on results rather than prescribing the actions that farmers should take, these schemes have the potential to offer flexibility to farmers.

Analytical Support for the Operationalisation of an EU Carbon Farming Initiative

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Project:Horizon 2020
 
Soils are an enormous reservoir of carbon, containing nearly twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. Preventing soil carbon from entering the atmosphere is essential for climate mitigation efforts. Moreover, agricultural soils also carry a large potential for additional carbon sequestration, especially already degraded soils. Both preserving and enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) has further benefits, contributing to improved soil quality, agricultural productivity, biodiversity and water protection and thus increased resilience against climate change. CIRCASA project aimed at strengthening the coordination and synergies in European and global research on SOC sequestration in agricultural soils, leading to an improved understanding and scientific basis to target ambitious practices required to preserve and enhance SOC.

Coordination of International Research Cooperation on soil Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture (CIRCASA)

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The research project INNOVA will consolidate key factors from adaptive management strategies from leading earlier and on-going European initiatives in Spain (Valencia), Germany (Bay of Kiel) and the Netherlands (Nijmegen) and France’ overseas territories in Guadeloupe and Martinique. INNOVA intends to provide prototypes of climate services including business models, practical frameworks, and recommendations for creating and up-scaling opportunities while adapting to a changing climate.

Innovation in Climate Services Provision (INNOVA)

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About a quarter of German groundwater exceeds the nitrate limit of the European Union for drinking water. A substantial reduction of inputs can only be achieved through measures in agriculture. The study examines existing drinking water cooperations between farmers and drinking water suppliers in water conservation areas in North Rhine-Westphalia. In doing so, positive approaches should be harnessed for a purposeful policy.

Cooperative Water Protection and their Impact on Groundwater Quality

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Ecologic Institute provides a legal assessment of whether German law is suitable to achieve the sustainable development goal "land degradation neutral word" (LDN) by 2030, and recommends options for improvement. The project also compiles key insights and lessons learned, in English, as a contribution to the international discussion on implementing LDN. The project results are discussed in an international workshop.

Legal Instruments for Implementing and Achieving Land and Soil-Related SDGs

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Fertile soils are an indispensable resource for agriculture and the Bioeconomy as a whole. Subsoils contain a major part of the nutrients essential for plants, a resource potential that has thus far not yet been fully understood nor used. In order to harness this untapped potential, the Soil³ project examines the subsoil processes and application of alternative subsoil management measures. The Ecologic Institute will conduct research on the costs, benefits and social acceptance of these measures.

Sustainable Subsoil Management as Part of the Bioeconomy (Soil³)

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Veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) and their metabolites are increasingly becoming the focus of scientific and public debate as environmental contaminants. The project developed an overview of research results, mitigation measures and concepts to reduce the inputs of veterinary pharmaceuticals into the environment. The results are summarised in the handbook "Concepts for Mitigating Veterinary Pharmaceutical Inputs from Agriculture into the Environment."

Concepts for Mitigating Veterinary Pharmaceutical Inputs from Agriculture into the Environment

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Project:Horizon 2020
 
Across the globe, nearly 30% of food is wasted throughout the agrifood supply chain. The EU Horizon 2020 funded project "Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain" (REFRESH) takes action against food waste. 26 partners from 12 European countries and China work towards the project's goal to contribute towards Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of halving per capita food waste at the retail and consumer level and reducing food losses along production and supply chains, reducing waste management costs, and maximizing the value from un-avoidable food waste and packaging materials. REFRESH runs from 2015-2019.

Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain (REFRESH)

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Soils2Sea logo
Both the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Water Framework Directive require substantial further reductions of nutrient loads (N and P) to the Baltic Sea during the coming years. Achievements of these goals will only be possible by the implementation of fundamental changes in agricultural practices and land use. To this end, a team of researchers from eight institutions across the EU and Russia, will investigate the introduction of additional new and innovative measures to reduce nutrient loads.

Reducing Nutrient Loadings from Agricultural Soils to the Baltic Sea via Groundwater and Streams (Soils2Sea)

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This project identified the most promising and cost-effective measures at the regional and farm levels to increase the resource efficiency and use of nutrients (N, P, K) and helped to close mineral cycles with a focus on saturated areas. Findings were translated into relevant practical measures for the farming community in highly nutrient-saturated regions in Europe. A consortium composed of BIO by Deloitte and Ecologic Institute, with the contribution of several European research institutes, conducted this project on behalf of DG Environment.

Resource Efficiency in Practice – Closing Mineral Cycles

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Mainstreaming of climate change in different policy areas is a priority for the European Union (EU), reflected in the requirement that 20% of EU funds in the 2014 to 2020 programming period should be climate related. Different EU funds need to mainstream climate actions, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development can support climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and land management through funding of targeted activities under Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).

Mainstreaming of Climate Change into Rural Development Policy post 2013

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Project:FP 7
 
from 2013 until 2018, the RECARE project applied a transdisciplinary approach, actively integrating and advancing knowledge of stakeholders and scientists in 17 case studies, to identify and develop effective measures for improved soil protection in Europe. Ecologic Institute developed policy briefs on the topics "Soil Sealing and Land Take", "Subsoil compaction" and "Remediating Historical Soil Contamination, as well as co-wrote the brochure with the most important project findings. The policy briefs and the project brochure are available for download.

Preventing and Remediating Soil Degradation (RECARE)

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What environmental impacts does the application of chemical pesticides have in private and small gardens, and how can consumers help to avoid these? In this project an online information portal and a brochure were created to answer these questions. Besides the environmentally relevant side effects of chemical pesticides, the project also focused on alternative and preventive measures.

Online Information Service: Environmentally Compatible Plant Protection

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Fertile land areas to produce agricultural and forestry products are globally only available in a limited amount. The land footprint is a suitable indicator in order to assist the analysis of global land use related to consumption of a country or region and to monitor land use. Within this study a review of land flow studies and accounting methodologies is undertaken in order to elaborate recommendation for the methodology of future land footprint calculations. However, the land footprint is as an area-based indicator and unable to illustrate a large number of land-related environmental issues. The project therefore also provides an overview and discussion on possible environmental impact oriented indicators. Finally, the project team undertakes a calculation of possible indicators for the case of Germany based on the developed recommendations.

Land Footprint – Evaluation of Existing Studies and Development of Impact Oriented Land Use Indicators

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Water scarcity and droughts are on the increase and expected to aggravate further due to climate change. Early actions are required to adapt to these changes. The transnational project 'Benefit of governance in DROught adaPtation (DROP)' aimed to enhance the preparedness and resilience of Northwest European (NWE) regions to such periods of drought. Ecologic Institute was one of the five knowledge partners of DROP which jointly developed further an existing Governance Assessment Tool and applied the tool in the six regions of the participating water authorities.

Benefit of Governance in Drought Adaption (DROP)

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There is still no specific soil protection law at EU level. In 2014 the European Commission withdrew its 2006 proposal for a soil protection directive, after two unofficial compromise proposals of 2010 and 2011 failed to secure an agreement. The project analyses and compares the three proposals, because they represent the course and state of play of the political debate and could play a role in the event of new political initiatives. A legal analysis shows commonalities and differences between the soil protection requirements of the proposals and German soil protection law. The study also examines the potential cost for the Federal and State level to gather the necessary data if there was an obligation to identify and determine risk areas according to certain criteria. The project also analyses to what extent EU laws and instruments regulate or have an impact on soil protection, and provides an assessment if and how soil protection standards could be incorporated or added.

Cost and Benefits for Germany of a European Soil Framework Directive

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This study supported the Joint Research Centre in a pilot project on the "certification of low carbon farming practices in the European Union". An EU-wide survey of data availability for a carbon calculator tool was carried out, along with the testing of the tool and assessment of policy options for promoting its use. The project documents are available for download.

Testing of a Farm Carbon Calculator

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The pressure on land and natural resources is increasing worldwide. While there are many sectoral policies tackling different environmental problems, land use is not regulated in an integrated and overarching way. The discussion on sustainable biofuels and biomass highlights the continued lack of an effective and innovative framework to deal with complex land-use issues. The aim of the GLOBALANDS project is to identify existing land use policies and develop possible governance tools towards a more resource efficient and sustainable global land use.

Global Land Use and Sustainability (GLOBALANDS)

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The guidance document provides a tool to assist the WFD (Water Framework Directive) implementation at the farm level, giving advice to national and river basin management authorities on how mandatory and voluntary measures included within the WFD Programmes of Measures can be made operational at the farm level. This guidance document was developed through a collaborative programme involving the WFD Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) partners. Ecologic Institute intensely supported the drafting of the guidance itself as well as the organisation of the CIS workshop on "Clear measures for farmers" that provided input for the guidance. The guidance document is available for download.

Guidance on Making Agricultural Measures Clear and Transparent at Farm Level

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The water supply, energy and agricultural sectors have a common interest in the protection and sustainable use of water resources: the development goals water, food and energy security are critically dependent upon the availability of water in sufficient quality and quantity. Mutually beneficial solutions for the three sectors have the potential to assist the transformation towards a green economy, with the following fields of action: i) resource efficiency, ii) green investment and iii) ecosystem services. This study analyzes the main relationships between sustainable water use and the green economy.

Water, Food and Energy Security in a Green Economy

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Ecologic Institute writes a legal commentary on the German PRTR-Act. Under this law and an EU-Regulation, operators of certain installations in Germany have to report data on pollutants for publication in a German as well as to a European pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR). The legal commentary is mainly addressed at authorities and operators to facilitate the application of the rules without in-depth knowledge on their legal background.

Commentary on the German PRTR law

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