ANCARES Working Group: Innovative tools for analyzing land use and carbon levels in agroecosystems of sustainable dairy regions

ANCARES will provide an online web viewer with a territorial database of dairy farms in Asturias and Galicia, along with a classification of land uses/covers (current and historical) that impact carbon sequestration. Using satellite imagery (Sentinel-2) and a multi-temporal analysis of changes, the viewer will display, among other things, permanent pastures, corn rotations, forest areas, hedgerows, and biodiversity "islands." Farmers, cooperatives, and consultants will be able to visualize the territorial profile of each farm, locate plots by use, identify relevant land-use changes, and have a practical basis for planning sampling and guiding management decisions related to carbon and soil health.

ANCARES will identify the main ideotypes/typologies of dairy farms in representative areas of Asturias and Galicia, using land-use mapping and farm information. Surveys will be conducted with farmers to gather information on the history of their plots (previous uses) and management practices, which is key to interpreting soil health and carbon results. The outcome will be a practical selection of representative farms and a structured sampling design with georeferenced points that cover the variability of land uses and environmental conditions. This allows cooperatives and advisors to compare farms by type, organize fieldwork efficiently, and ensure that carbon, soil, and nitrogen assessments are based on real and representative data.

ANCARES will assess soil health in representative ideotypes of dairy farms using an integrated physical, chemical, and biological approach. Field sampling will be georeferenced and will include measurements such as compaction; samples will be analyzed in the laboratory for key fertility parameters and bioindicators. A global soil health index (0–100) will be calculated from all the results: the higher the index, the better the soil health. This index is designed for practical use: it will allow farmers and advisors to identify limiting factors, compare plots/uses, and prioritize management changes (crops, soil practices, etc.) that maintain fertility, ecosystem services, and carbon storage capacity.

ANCARES will characterize carbon stocks and sequestration potential by farm type and vegetation type, considering management practices, land-use changes, and elements such as hedgerows and biodiversity islands. Very high-resolution data obtained with drones (RGB, multispectral, and LiDAR) will be combined with laboratory analyses to generate predictive models (machine learning). After validation with ground-truth points, the algorithm will be scaled with free satellite data (Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2) to produce carbon maps for the entire territorial base of Asturias and Galicia. In practice, cooperatives and technicians will be able to identify priority areas and guide management measures with spatial evidence to increase sequestration and report results with greater reliability.

ANCARES will develop a list of recommendations to improve carbon accounting (including soil carbon) in carbon sequestration projects and CAP measures related to land management and the value chain. This will involve a regulatory analysis of the CAP (including eco-schemes and Rural Development Programs) and an assessment of the current state of carbon stock and sequestration monitoring, with the aim of proposing applicable improvements. The proposal will be validated through two focus groups (Galicia and Asturias) with the participation of experienced professionals (from the sector, cooperatives, experts, and government). The final result will help livestock farmers and cooperatives to have clearer and more practical criteria for participating in carbon initiatives with methodological support.

ANCARES will develop a remote sensing-based algorithm to monitor nitrogen deficiencies and facilitate more efficient fertilizer management. Biomass samples (N, P, and K) will be taken, and drone flights will be conducted in representative systems (permanent pastures and corn rotations, including options with legumes), coordinating the sampling with the actual management schedule. The result will be a map of nitrogen status: a high-precision component in pilot areas (drone) and a territorial scaled version using Sentinel-2, available on the web viewer. In practice, farmers and cooperatives will be able to view spatial information on nitrogen deficits and use it to better decide when and how much to fertilize, reducing losses, associated greenhouse gas emissions, and costs without compromising production.

ANCARES will implement pilot/demonstration plots in two livestock farms to compare regenerative agriculture management practices under real conditions: (1) corn/ryegrass rotation versus corn/legumes (alfalfa and clover) and (2) usual fertilization versus fertilization with digestate.

Field and drone data will be collected at different stages of the crop cycle (harvest, fertilization, peak corn growth) and evaluated using the project's algorithms for soil organic carbon and nitrogen. These plots will serve as practical, hands-on examples for demonstration days, allowing farmers and technicians to compare alternatives and adopt the most effective practices for improving carbon sequestration and fertilization efficiency.

ANCARES will integrate and activate the results in a digital tool to support decision-making and scenario simulation for mitigation strategies and environmental services on dairy farms. The map viewer will connect to the Livestock Farmer Portal so that data on carbon sequestration, land use, and sustainable fertilization can be used daily, facilitating technical support. In addition, regulatory changes (GHG Protocol) will be monitored, quantification will be compared with real-world data against IPCC default factors, best practices will be identified to increase sequestration, and a pilot program for Verra-type climate certification will be tested. In practice, cooperatives and farmers will be able to simulate scenarios, compare maps and indicators, and have operational bases for climate commitments and the valuation of ecosystem services.

ANCARES will develop a communication and outreach strategy to keep the target sector and the public informed, generate interest, and encourage its replication in other regions. This includes a dedicated website (Spanish/English), social media engagement, an informative video, regular publications/news updates, media presence, and an initial launch event (with online access). The goal is to clearly explain the project's objectives, activities, and progress to livestock farmers, cooperatives, consultants, government agencies, and the general public. This ongoing communication ensures visibility throughout the project's implementation, facilitates monitoring by key stakeholders, and paves the way for the project's tools and best practices to be recognized and demanded when they become available.

ANCARES will implement a specific transfer and implementation module to maximize the adoption of solutions by end users. This includes technical demonstration workshops in Galicia and Asturias (linked to focus groups), an intermediate webinar on progress, a technical poster and innovation factsheets (in Spanish/English) with selected sustainable best practices, and a final event in Madrid (hybrid) that will include the presentation and discussion of recommendations with national stakeholders. Attendance at trade fairs and conferences will further enhance dissemination. The practical objective is to translate the results into actionable messages, foster peer-to-peer exchange, and facilitate the integration of tools and recommendations into the actual management of farms by cooperatives, technicians, and livestock farmers.