EU project “Insect-promoting regions” takes stock: 2,200 hectares created for insect protection – recommendations and concrete assistance for agriculture, municipalities and companies
- Agriculture depends on biodiversity: Insect protection needs more land
- Farms test measures to promote insects and biodiversity: recommendations for all land users bundled in a publication
- Policy-makers and the food industry have a responsibility: better framework conditions for greater promotion of insects and biodiversity at landscape level
Radolfzell, September 2025: The EU LIFE project “Insect-Friendly Regions” publishes its layman’s report 2025 and impressively demonstrates how targeted measures at landscape level can promote the protection of insects and the promotion of biodiversity. Innovative concepts were implemented in seven model regions in Germany and Italy over a period of five years.
More than just flower strips
In total, over 2,200 hectares of insect-friendly areas were created. 66 agricultural demonstration farms implemented biodiversity action plans that were developed together with the project partners. Not only tried and tested methods were used, but also innovative methods that can be easily integrated into cultivation.
Knowledge transfer and participation
More than 2,000 people – including farmers, advisors and representatives of local authorities – were trained. Citizens also got involved by participating in insect monitoring with the iNaturalist citizen science module.
Regional diversity as a strength
The seven project regions – Allgäu, Lake Constance, Bliesgau, Hohenlohe, Northern Upper Rhine, Wendland and Vinschgau/South Tyrol – were specifically selected to reflect different agricultural and natural conditions. This enabled transferable recommendations to be developed for Central Europe.
Politics and business have a responsibility
The report clearly shows that the protection of insects is not a question of “if”, but of “how”. The project partners are calling on politicians and the food industry to promote more insect-friendly measures and raise awareness among consumers. Recommendations for all land users (agriculture, municipalities, companies) have been summarized in a guideline that contains specific information on everything from funding to implementation.
The layman’s report “More than just flower strips” for download (German): https://insect-responsible.org
The layman’s report “More than just Flowerstrips” for download (English): https://insect-responsible.org/en
The EU LIFE project “InsectPromoting Regions”
Funded by the EU, the “LIFE Insect Promoting Regions” project brings together different partners for a common goal: the sustainable protection of insects and biodiversity by and with different land users across larger contiguous areas. Regional biodiversity action plans were drawn up in seven insect-promoting regions. The approaches developed in this project are transferable to other regions.
As part of the project, a guideline for more and better insect support at landscape level was developed. It contains recommendations for agriculture and forestry, municipalities and companies as well as a comprehensive catalog of measures. Free download: https://insect-responsible.org/leitfaden/
The seven insect-promoting regions: Allgäu, Bliesgau, Hohenlohe, Northern Upper Rhine, Wendland and Vinschgau in South Tyrol.
Project partners: Bodensee-Stiftung (coordination), Bäuerliche Erzeugergemeinschaft Schwäbisch Hall, Global Nature Fund, Nestlé Germany, Netzwerk Blühende Landschaft.
In addition to the EU LIFE program, the project was co-financed by the German Federal Environmental Foundation DBU, Rentenbank, Nestlé Germany and the German Postcode Lottery.
