H2020 SUPER-G Project: Developing permanent and sustainable grassland systems and policies

The project was coordinated and managed within the Work Package (WP1) to ensure multi-stakeholder collaboration across Work Packages (WPs) and a transdisciplinary approach. During the fourth reporting period (RP3), two Working Group (WG) meetings were held: the first in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2023, and the second in Brussels, Belgium, in February 2024.

WP2 (Achieving Sustainable Systems) aimed to identify the key functions provided by grasslands and explore the measures needed to ensure optimal ES distribution. This started with the development of a European grassland typology covering the range of grassland types in terms of biogeographical characteristics. In RP4, this was complemented by the development of an Atlas of Grassland Types, including portrait descriptions and at least one case study for each type. A better understanding of the importance and functioning of grasslands was achieved through an integrated systematic review of the relationship between grassland management and ES distribution. In RP4, sixteen fact sheets were produced describing management approaches and emerging technologies to enhance the function of grassland ES. The final outcome was to assess the effect of PG type and its management on ES distribution. The results are presented in the Atlas of PG Types and reported in deliverable D2.6.

Work package (WP3) (Benchmarking and Testing) relied primarily on data collection from farm networks and experimental platforms distributed across six biogeographic regions. In RP4, the final set of co-innovation workshops was completed across all 23 farm networks to analyze the results of the trials and experiments. The focus was on practical experimentation with innovative management options and technologies, such as the establishment of multispecies pastures, the use of GPS collars, and testing the practical implementation of virtual fencing. A second round of benchmarking across farm networks was also completed by collecting data from a PG management survey to assess changes over the course of the project. Data from the first PG management survey were also used to investigate correlations between various farm characteristics and PG management variables on specialized dairy farms.

Work package (WP4) (Ensuring performance) investigated socioeconomic factors influencing GP management. Systematic reviews and a review of European policies influencing GP management were completed in Period 1, and in Periods 2 and 3, we analyzed and wrote up citizen focus group research (held in five European countries), completed the farmer (4.2) and citizen (4.3) survey, and finalized the analysis for Periods 4.2 and 4.3. RP4 focused on "Developing policy options for ES in relation to GPs." We organized a series of policy webinars in the Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, and Brussels, and produced twelve policy briefs tailored to national, regional, and European policy needs.

WP5 (Decision Support) was primarily based on the development of two decision support tools: one for farmers and one for policymakers. Work during RP3 and RP4 consisted of defining the tool requirements, available datasets, appropriate metrics, and intuitive interfaces. The ES to be included, their use, the best metrics for measurement, and the presentation of results were agreed upon in a series of workshops and meetings. Based on these discussions, detailed design specifications were developed, and the tools were built. The agricultural tool helps farmers and advisors use selected metrics to assess agricultural productivity and the provision of other ES. The policy tool demonstrates how changes in land use, stocking density of grazing livestock, and farm management practices alter meat and milk production, as well as ES provision, at the regional scale.

In WP6 (Communication and Dissemination), communication continued in PR4 through stakeholder seminars, summer courses, webinars, a series of in-person practical workshops with farmers, and a final hybrid conference. The fourth round of EIP-AGRI summaries was produced, and the project website was used to host newsletters, scientific articles, videos, fact sheets, policy briefs, and the PG portraits. Project results were publicized in a series of workshops and conferences. Summer schools were held in Córdoba, Spain; Göttingen, Germany; and Turin, Italy.

WP7 (Ethical Requirements) ensured the rigorous application of ethical and data privacy standards and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR - Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and equivalent national legislation. Procedures were in place for data collection, storage, protection, retention, and destruction; and for identifying and recruiting research participants. All data protection, consent procedure, and scientific research requirements detailed in the Ethics Summary Report (provided by the European Commission) were addressed within this WP.