This World Habitat Day, we’re reflecting on the importance of biodiversity and the part it plays in agriculture. To mark the occasion, the UK Agri-Tech Centre is highlighting four ways agri-tech innovations are helping farmers safeguard biodiversity while strengthening resilience on their land.
This year’s World Habitat Day focuses on environmental sustainability, urban development and the promotion of inclusive, safe communities, encouraging action that supports better living conditions worldwide.
In farming, new monitoring tools and techniques are proving essential for measuring and managing biodiversity. In collaboration with industry experts, the UK Agri-Tech Centre has been advancing technology that supports habitat mapping, species monitoring and collaboration with landowners, strengthening connections with nature and demonstrating the benefits of conservation.
Raising awareness about these approaches supports more effective policy and management decisions, particularly in agricultural landscapes. A growing number of biodiversity monitoring techniques now integrate technologies, data collection and analysis to help assess ecosystem health, track species and monitor environmental change across scales.
Here are four key methods currently shaping biodiversity monitoring in farming:
- Remote sensing
Remote sensing captures data about landscapes without the need for direct physical presence. Technologies such as LiDAR surveys, drones and satellite imagery provide valuable top-down perspectives, enabling large-scale monitoring of habitats and long-term change. One example is the company Senus, which applies remote sensing to assess and verify natural capital at farm level. - Bioacoustics
Bioacoustic tools record and analyse the sounds of wildlife, from pollinators and moths to birds, bats and even marine mammals. Increasingly, AI and machine learning are used to interpret these recordings and deliver insights into biodiversity at local scales. Autonomous recorders now make it possible to gather continuous data with minimal human input. Chirrup AI is one company harnessing birdsong to help farmers track biodiversity and measure ecological change. - Environmental DNA (eDNA)
eDNA sampling uses traces of genetic material found in soil, water or air to reveal which species are present in an area, even those that traditional surveys might overlook, such as microorganisms or fungi. This technique provides valuable indicators of ecosystem health. Nature Metrics and SimplexDNA are two organisations offering eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring and reporting. - Citizen science
Citizen science engages volunteers in species identification, habitat assessments and population surveys, creating cost-effective and large-scale biodiversity data. It also fosters public awareness and education about conservation. When paired with AI-powered identification tools, data collection becomes more accurate and scalable. Pollenize, which develops solutions to restore pollinators and Merlin, a popular bird-identification app, are strong examples of this approach in action.
