SYBERAC Results

On this page you can find the collected public Deliverable Reports and Milestones from the SYBERAC project.

To find SYBERAC-related publications, please visit our publications page.

Deliverable Reports

These are the public Deliverable Reports produced for the SYBERAC project to date:

  • D5.1 Project Website & Brand Identity Download PDF (03/2024)

To be added once finalised (by order of planned work finalisation, month in brackets):

  • D3.1 TK/TD modelling of routes of exposure and effects (06/2025)

  • D2.1 Map of the ecological networks to study the scenarios of biodiversity exposure (12/2025)

  • D2.2 Adoption of endpoints at individual and population level effects for integration in landscape-based risk assessment (12/2026)

  • D3.2 Assessment of route of exposure and effects on biodiversity at the landscape level (12/2026)

  • D2.3 Guidelines for the integration of ecological networks and landscape in environmental risk assessment (06/2027)

  • D1.1 Stakeholder perspectives on systems-based ERA (10/2027)

  • D2.4 Report on integrated conclusions from case studies on protection and mitigation measures (12/2027)

  • D3.3 Assessment of effects on ecosystem service delivery at the landscape level (12/2027)

  • D3.4 Assessment of effects on ecosystem service delivery at the landscape level (12/2027)

  • D4.1 Benchmarking sb - ERA approaches to current approaches (12/2027)

  • D4.2 Towards sciencebuilt systems-based ERA approaches (12/2027)

Milestones

Below you can find executive summaries of the work conducted to reach the SYBERAC Milestones to date.

No.

Milestone name

Description

Related WP(s)

Planned (month)

Partner short name

1

Multi-stakeholder Forum (MSF) Engagement Plan

An initial MSF Engagement plan was created in April 2024, by Aarhus University. It outlines the proposed composition, recruitment of the MSF and documents the operationalisation (through various engagement/co-development activities) of this platform for dialogue. It is a ‘living document’ and the MSF engagement plan is periodically updated as engagement activities are developed and implemented.

WP1

4

AU

2

Case-study stakeholder Engagement plan 

An initial case study engagement plan was created in April 2024, by Aarhus University. It includes an overview / general plan for case study engagement activities throughout the project (at least one workshop per year), as well as a more detailed plan for year one. It is a ‘living document’ and is periodically updated as engagement activities are developed and implemented.

WP1

4

AU

3

Partner training for engagement workshops

A Partner Training Workshop was held on 22 February 2024, with a follow-up session held on 23 February 2024, both as part of the project kick-off meeting held in Wageningen. The training workshop was organised and facilitated by AU and Kemi.

WP1, 2, 4, 5

4

AU

4

Initial case-study workshops, one in each country

WP1, 2, 4, 5 

6

AU

5

Additional case-study workshops (2)

WP1, 2, 4, 5 

42

AU

6

Initial MSF workshop

The initial MSF workshop organised by AU and KEMI was held online on 11 September 2024. Link: https://www.syberac.eu/events/syberac-webinar-collaboration-opportunities-for-environmental-risk-assessment

WP1, 2, 4, 5

10

AU

7

EU level interviews 

WP1, 4

14

AU

8

Benchmarking workshops

WP1, 4

18

AU

9

Final definition of case studies upon stakeholder 1ngagement

From the list of six fundamental CS concepts included in the proposal, nine CS definitions were set to be addressed in SYBERAC: Plant Protection Products (PPPs) use in winter cereals and their effects on soil biodiversity and functioning and Non-Target Arthropods in the UK (CS1A+5B), PPPs use in winter cereals in Spain (CS1B), coupled terrestrial/aquatic exposures in bats (CS2A) or amphibians (CS2B), food chain exposure across spatial scales during migration (CS3), emission and fate of contaminants of emerging concern released to agricultural fields with secondary fertilizers (CS4A) or in vultures fed with treated livestock (CS4B), PPPs-mixture effects on soil biodiversity and functioning and Non-Target Arthropods (CS5A), and regional dispersal of PPPs into nature areas (CS6). Stakeholders possibly linked to each CS were identified at local, national and EU levels, and a list of them was engaged in the project at the first instance.

WP1, 2

6

UCLM

10

Identification of case study parameters (chemicals, sources, species and functional groups)

The variety of case studies has been designed to cover as much variability as possible within a theoretical space defined by the different dimensions that play a role in the risk assessment scheme and that can be grouped into four main categories: chemicals, sources, species and functional groups. The nine case study definitions will provide proof of concept data for exploring potential improvement in all dimensions

WP2

6

UCLM

11

Identification of individual and population level endpoints from case studies

The different endpoints have been defined to achieve the specific objectives of each case study. The individual endpoints can be classified into (i) sub-organismal endpoints in response to specific chemical modes of action, (ii) metabolic endpoints to explore multiple mechanisms of toxicity, (iii) apical endpoints, and (iv) specific endpoints retrieved through experimental approaches to improve the elucidation of mechanisms of toxicity. The population endpoints can be classified into (i) reproductive endpoints from wild populations, (ii) reproductive endpoints collected as part of experiments, (iii) indirect effects, (iv) abundance of populations in the wild and their changes over time, and (v) species richness and diversity.

WP2

12

UCLM

12

Lab-based validation of pesticides and CEC exposure assessment

WP2

38

UCLM

13

Outline of risk mitigation proposals and case study outputs to support WP4

WP2, 4

18

UCLM

14

Fate modelling of agrochemicals for case studies 1 and 5

A methodology was developed for the fate modelling of pesticides in the CS 1 and 5, taking into account the spatial variability of the landscape. In both case studies, the effect of the shape and size of landscape components (e.g., arable land, natural areas) on NTA and in-soil organism populations is studied. The proposed methodology considers that spray drift deposition is an important pathway that governs the off-field exposure. The spatial distribution of spray drift deposition can be simulated with various models such and can serve as input for a spatial version of pesticide fate models. The final aim of the fate modelling is to predict pesticide concentrations on the crop canopy, on the soil surface, and in the soil as a function of both space and time. These concentrations feed into the TK/TD modelling of Task 3.3, which can be further linked to impacts on ecosystem services (Task 3.4) and biodiversity impacts (Task 3.5). The developed methodology is intended to be generic and can also be applied to other landscapes and case studies.

WP3

8

WR

15

Choice of focal species for ERA

To support the case studies with modelling, focal species were selected that are considered to be of relevance for the specific case study.

WP3

6

WR

16

Glossary of agreed definitions for internal use in project

WP4

12

AU

17

Mapping of decision contexts with respect to the case studies

A template for outlining decision contexts, focusing on PPPs was developed during year 1. The template covers a range from EU-level decisions on active substances to farm-level decisions on PPP-application. Moreover, it distinguishes between decisions linked to specific PPPs and decisions of generic relevance, such as landscape management. The template was used to guide information gathering in Stakeholder workshops linked to the specific Case studies of WP2 during Year 1. The template is currently used to systematically map comparably and then visualise decisions linked to each case study as well as their environmental impact.

WP1–4

18

AU

18

Proposed landscape-level indicators for biodiversity derived as input for D4.1, 4.2

WP1–4

36

AU

19

Kick-off Meeting

The consortium met in Wageningen, Netherlands, 21–23 February 2024, to hold the kick-off meeting.

WP1–6

2

WU

20

Mid-term review

WP1–6

24

WU