The case studies conducted by SENSE can be classified into two categories, namely benchmark and participatory, depending on the availability of historical data and the data generated during the project. These case studies may take place on either an experimental station of a project partner or a commercial farm.
In benchmark case studies, sensors will be deployed to enable near real-time monitoring of soil and climate properties (i.e. soil temperature and moisture, air temperature, rainfall, etc), to model GHG emissions and carbon and nutrient cycling (WP3). Circularity and ecological indicators will be assessed (WP2) and short-term circularity measures will be implemented and tested (WP2 and WP3). Case studies will be further co-assessed with farmers/farm managers with a multidimensional sustainability assessment tool (WP4). This will allow us to understand the current circularity status of these systems. The data we collect will drive models to determine alternative scenarios for improving resource use-efficiency while simultaneously mitigating GHG emissions (WP3), thus identifying best measures that will improve circularity within these integrated systems. To test the viability of GHG mitigation, options will be co-assessed with commercial farmers and their trade-offs with other ecosystem services and their effects on economic and environmental resilience will be further explored with a multidimensional sustainability assessment tool (WP4).
SENSE case studies in Europe and South America cover different climatic and pedological zones and exhibit different levels of integration in crop-livestock-forestry systems and a diverse range of establishment dates and species integration. A particular strength of the SENSE project is the longstanding experience (> 20 years) that South American partners have with the implementation of these integrated systems.
The Technical Briefs (D1.2) present the characterization of our case studies and can be downloaded via the links below: