In the race to preserve the shrinking biodiversity of our planet while ensuring proper food security, scientists are going digital. Researchers at the forefront of this belong to the Prototype Digital Twin (pDT) of Biodiversity Dynamics, with exciting initiatives spearheaded by such individuals as Franziska Taubert, a scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, in Leipzig, Germany.
As Taubert explained in a recent interview, the pDT aims to investigate “how climate, specifically climate change and extremes and combined with management influence the Dynamics biodiversity and productivity of grasslands in Germany, but also Europe.”
This ambitious undertaking seeks to unravel the intricate interplay between environmental factors, land management practices and the delicate balance of biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
At the center of this effort is an important question that has long perplexed scientists and policymakers alike.
“It’s still unknown whether we can achieve both at the same time and at which sides and environmental conditions we can have them,” said Taubert, referring to the challenge of maintaining high levels of both biodiversity and yield.
The pDT’s innovative approach integrates field data, experiments, and advanced modeling techniques to create a virtual replica of grassland ecosystems.
“We have an individual based and mechanistic model included and this, of course, has the high opportunity to assess different external drivers of grassland dynamics like management regimes, climate scenarios and also different soil dynamics,” Taubert noted. This highlights the pDT’s capacity to simulate various scenarios and inform decision-making.
However, as Taubert cautions, “it’s of course very difficult to calibrate these models and to parameterize these models.” Overcoming these challenges is crucial to ensuring the pDT’s accuracy and reliability, enabling it to serve as a powerful tool for researchers, farmers, and policymakers alike.
The pDT’s true value extends far beyond its immediate applications. As Taubert emphasized, the BioDT project “raises the awareness of biodiversity and also biodiversity conservation, especially for grasslands.”
By bridging the gap between scientific research, agricultural practices and policymaking, the pDT has the potential to shape a more sustainable and biodiverse future for our grasslands and, ultimately, our planet.
