Assessment of environmental impacts of the CAP

Held in Hanover (Germany) on 12–13 June 2025, the Good Practice  Workshop brought together 78 participants from 25 EU Member States to discuss how big data can support and enhance the assessment of environmental impacts under the CAP. Serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building, the event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies, CAP networks, evaluators, researchers, and Earth Observation (EO) specialists. This report synthesises the discussions among them.

The programme featured practical examples from Italy, Germany, the Horizon project Sen4CAP, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), demonstrating the application of big data in assessing environmental impacts.

Big data is increasingly shaping evidence-based policy-making for the CAP. Sources such as EO, the Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS), and the evolving Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN), as well as their combinations, are enabling more accurate and efficient evaluations.

Nevertheless, participants identified persistent challenges related to data access, integration, and harmonisation across Member States. Data fragmentation and legal, technical, and administrative barriers often make datasets difficult to access and use, while concerns about data quality and unclear indicator definitions remain. Data protection and governance, particularly issues such as anonymisation and legal uncertainty, were also noted as significant barriers.

To address these challenges, the Workshop emphasised raising awareness about available datasets, providing clear guidance, developing centralised data platforms, and standardising data-sharing protocols. Improving data quality and timeliness may also require open-source processing tools, shared data centres, and better integration of different data sources.

Building technical capacity is essential, as many authorities still lack the expertise to handle and interpret large datasets. The Workshop recommended targeted training, involving more experts, and encouraging cross-country collaborations and exchanges. Addressing data protection and governance barriers requires clear agreements, supportive regulations, and building trust.

Finally, the importance of better coordination among stakeholders and careful cost management was stressed. Stronger collaboration can help reduce duplication and align expectations, while pilot projects and the sharing of success stories can showcase the value of big data. Integrating big data into policy design and evaluation can further improve the effectiveness of CAP environmental assessments.