Two new one-page articles have been developed by Cambridge Econometrics prior to the project's completion. The first one is called "Biodiversity and Agri-Environmental Practices in BESTMAP case studies" and it is on the topic of how the project ssesses the effectiveness of agri-environmental practices (AEPs) under the Common Agricultural Policy. More insights include: "The project's biophysical models compared AEP outcomes across five case studies, revealing positive effects on crop production in Serbia but minimal impacts elsewhere. Soil carbon capture benefits were generally positive, and slight reductions in water nutrient pollution were observed. However, the overall impact of AEPs on food production and environmental factors remains relatively small compared to baseline levels, emphasizing the importance of site-specific factors. BESTMAP tools offer insights for policymakers and organisations to design more effective AEPs in the future."

The second article, "Ecosystem services, Biodiversity and Socio-Economic factors of Agri-Environmental Practices in BESTMAP case studies", explains how "Biodiversity decline in Europe due to intensified agriculture prompted the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to subsidise agri-environmental practices (AEP). BESTMAP, evaluated AEP effectiveness in five European case studies. Despite AEP contributing to a better bird-friendly environment, it falls short of EU biodiversity goals. Fallow land and extensive grassland benefit, while cover crops and organic farming show minimal impact on bird presence. Increasing AEP adoption strengthens positive biodiversity effects, suggesting policy encouragement is suitable but should aim for greater adoption. CAP policies should be regionally tailored, incorporating diverse measures to maximize impact."

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