Case study · Agrifood
Organic at scale, validated by data from eight sites
Biodiversity monitoring across 8 organic farming sites between Emilia Romagna and Puglia to validate the impact of organic practices on diversified crops and different climatic contexts with scientific data.
Organic farming between commitment and lack of data
Intensive agriculture is a key driver of biodiversity loss. Monocultures, pesticides and landscape simplification destroy habitats for pollinators and wildlife, degrading ecosystem services on which farming depends: pollination, soil fertility, water regulation. Regenerative agriculture aims to reverse this cycle, turning the farm into a biodiversity hub. Organic farming and sustainable supply chains claim to do better, but without structured data their impact on biodiversity remains a promise, not proof.
The challenge
Validating the impact of organic farming on a multi-regional scale
Alce Nero promotes organic practices across its supply chain, but lacked structured data proving their real effect on biodiversity at its sites. Monitoring across diverse crops and climates was needed, from Emilia Romagna to Puglia, to build a comparable scientific basis for all stakeholders.
What we did
24 Spectrum across 8 sites with multi-regional satellite analysis
XNatura designed monitoring across 8 organic sites in two regions, with data in the Environmental Platform for cross-site comparison.
In the field
How we did it
From satellite to the organic fields of two regions
A multi-year project integrating satellite analysis, acoustic sensors and site-control comparison to validate the impact of organic practices on biodiversity at multi-regional scale.
- 01Ecological assessment of the 8 sites and control areasSatellite analysis mapped the 1,200 hectares of the 8 sites and their respective control areas, producing the baseline of biodiversity indices: MSA (Mean Species Abundance), nectar potential, land cover, climate risks and hydrogeological risk. These data defined the starting point for comparison across sites and over time.
- 0224 Spectrum across 8 production sitesThe 24 Spectrum sensors were distributed across 8 organic farming sites between Emilia Romagna and Puglia to continuously detect the presence and acoustic diversity of pollinators. Multi-regional coverage allows comparison of pollinator communities across different crops and climatic contexts.
- 03Organic vs conventional at multi-site scaleSatellite data and sensor data were integrated to compare the ecological conditions of the estate with the control area. The site-control comparison quantifies the difference in terms of MSA, nectar potential, pollinator diversity and land cover, documenting with scientific evidence the effect of organic practices across different crops and territories.
- 04From data to supply chain communicationData flows into the XNatura Environmental Platform, where Alce Nero monitors the evolution of biodiversity at its sites season after season. The goal is to build a multi-year historical series documenting the impact of organic practices at scale and providing the supply chain with an evidence-based communication tool for consumers, distributors and stakeholders.
What the data says
Data from eight organic sites
The 24 Spectrum distributed across 8 sites monitored over 14,000 pollinators, identifying 19 distinct species clusters. Multi-regional monitoring allowed for the first time comparing pollinator communities across diversified organic crops and different climatic contexts, from Emilia Romagna to Puglia.
Five out of eight sites have protected areas within 10 km, confirming that Alce Nero's organic supply chain operates in territorial contexts of high ecological value, where the proximity of protected zones offers connectivity potential between agricultural and natural habitats. Six out of eight sites were classified as climate hotspots, highlighting the supply chain's exposure to climate change risks and the need for data-driven adaptation strategies.
Monitoring in action
Monitoring in action
Key sections of the XNatura Environmental Platform dedicated to Alce Nero.
The platform
Access the XNatura Environmental Platform
The platform with which Alce Nero monitors the biodiversity of its production sites and documents the impact of organic practices with data comparable across sites and over time.
Log in to the platform →
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What was the environmental challenge at Alce Nero?
Organic farming between commitment and lack of data. Intensive agriculture is a key driver of biodiversity loss. Monocultures, pesticides and landscape simplification destroy habitats for pollinators and wildlife, degrading ecosystem services on which farming depends: pollination, soil fertility, water regulation. Regenerative agriculture aims to reverse this cycle, turning the farm into a biodiversity hub. Organic farming and sustainable supply chains claim to do better, but without structured data their impact on biodiversity remains a promise, not proof.
What method did XNatura use at Alce Nero?
A multi-year project integrating satellite analysis, acoustic sensors and site-control comparison to validate the impact of organic practices on biodiversity at multi-regional scale.
What data came out of the Alce Nero project?
The 24 Spectrum distributed across 8 sites monitored over 14,000 pollinators, identifying 19 distinct species clusters. Multi-regional monitoring allowed for the first time comparing pollinator communities across diversified organic crops and different climatic contexts, from Emilia Romagna to Puglia. Five out of eight sites have protected areas within 10 km, confirming that Alce Nero's organic supply chain operates in territorial contexts of high ecological value, where the proximity of protected zones offers connectivity potential between agricultural and natural habitats. Six out of eight sites were classified as climate hotspots, highlighting the supply chain's exposure to climate change risks and the need for data-driven adaptation strategies.
What access does Alce Nero have to the XNatura platform now?
The platform with which Alce Nero monitors the biodiversity of its production sites and documents the impact of organic practices with data comparable across sites and over time.
Do you want to measure the biodiversity of your farm?
XNatura supports farms, supply chains and consortia in biodiversity monitoring with IoT sensors, satellite mapping, site-control comparison and validated scientific protocols.
Do you want to measure the biodiversity of your farm?
XNatura supports farms, supply chains and consortia in biodiversity monitoring with IoT sensors, satellite mapping, site-control comparison and validated scientific protocols.
More in Agrifood
Colussi · AgrifoodRegenerative agriculture for cereals, validated by dataRead the case study
Findus · AgrifoodFindus monitors regenerative practices in its vegetable supply chainRead the case study
Fattoria La Maliosa · AgrifoodVineyard and olive grove biodiversity measured with dataRead the case study