Invitation 

Join us for the second webinar in CBIO’s new biodiversity series, where we take a closer look at how biodiversity can be understood within the reality of modern agriculture — and the pressures today’s farming systems place on ecosystems. 

Agriculture is often assumed to have a negative impact on biodiversity in arable landscapes. But how do we assess biodiversity in these settings in a meaningful way that captures spatio-temporal changes at local and landscape levels? And can farming practices such as crop diversification actually enhance biodiversity—both in terms of species richness and the functional resilience of agro-ecosystems? 

We also explore an essential question: Does it matter? In other words, can biodiversity be valued and integrated into agricultural decision-making in a way that creates real-world benefits? 

This webinar is designed for researchers, students, agricultural professionals, policymakers, and anyone engaged in sustainable agriculture. Join us to deepen your understanding of the current state of biodiversity in modern agriculture and the opportunities it presents. 

🧭 Programme 

10:00 – 10:10 
Welcome and Introduction: Why is the impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity an important topic? 
Quentin Geissmann, Assistant Professor at Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University 

10:10 – 10:40 
Approaches to overcoming the challenges (Headline TBA) 
Niels Holst, Senior Researcher, AGRO, Section Agricultural Biodiversity 

10:40 – 11.10 
Promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes in Denmark: EcoMetric – a farmland biodiversity index 
Yoko Luise Dupont, Senior Researcher and project manager in EcoMetric, Department of Agroecology,  AU 
Trine Poulsen, Postdoc, Department of Agroecology, AU 
Gabriele Torma, Assistent Professor, Department of Management, AU 

EcoMetric is an interdisciplinary project focusing on developing a concept for a farmland biodiversity index that quantifies biodiversity at the farm level, based on landscape context, farm management practices, and prediction of long-term population trends based on computer simulations.  

11:10 – 11:40
Intercropping as field diversification agent: IntercropVALUES - value chains and ecosystem services
Henrik Haugaard-Nielsen, Professor, Department of People and Technology, RUC

IntercropVALUES connects 27 participants from 15 countries to co-develop intercropping agri-food value chains through 13 case studies, positioning intercropping as a field-level diversification strategy that delivers potentially both value-chain innovation and ecosystem services. 

11:40 – 12:00 
Summary and Questions 
Facilitated by Quentin Geissmann 
An open debate and reflection on the key takeaways from the presentations 

🌿 About the Webinar Series 

This webinar is the first in a three-part series hosted by CBIO – Center for Circular Bioeconomy at Aarhus University. Each webinar explores a key aspect of biodiversity in a circular bioeconomy – from why diversity matters and how we measure it - in soil and among invertebrates - to how modern agricultural practices impacts biodiversity and what to do about it, to how value and business perspectives on biodiversity can make incentives so it is prioritized in future circular economy.