The European Bioeconomy Scientific Forum (EBSF), the biannual flagship event of the European Bioeconomy University (EBU) Alliance, took place from 11–13 June 2025 at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu and Koli National Park. This year’s forum focused on advancing the bioeconomy through regional and international collaboration, cross-border knowledge exchange, the role of youth and universities and the innovation skills required for a sustainable future.

Within this dynamic framework, Monserrath Lascano, representing SHOWCASE and the University of Bologna, delivered a presentation titled “Modelling the Interconnection between Instrument Design, Acceptance, and Effectiveness/Efficiency of Incentives”. The work explored how different policy instruments shape both the costs and effectiveness of biodiversity interventions.

Image: Monserrath Lascano presenting "Modelling the Interconnection between Instrument Design, Acceptance, and Effectiveness/Efficiency of Incentives”

The findings emphasised that:

• Policy design fundamentally alters the balance between costs and biodiversity outcomes;

• Effective agri-environmental schemes must account for farmer acceptance as well as ecological efficiency;

• Reducing monitoring costs, through new technologies such as remote sensing and automated data collection, is a crucial enabler for wider implementation.

By highlighting the interplay between ecological and economic dimensions, the presentation demonstrated how SHOWCASE research can inform the design of smarter incentives for biodiversity-friendly farming.

Image: Monserrath Lascano and other participants at EBSF 2025