BioAgora Presented at Alternet Council Meeting in February 2024

22 Feb 2025 / Events

In February 2025, the BioAgora project took center stage at the Alternet Council meeting, where project partner Ben Delbaere presented the latest progress in developing the Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD) - an emerging platform designed to connect biodiversity knowledge with decision-making across Europe.

Alternet is Europe’s leading network of research institutes dedicated to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. With members from across the continent, the network fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that scientific insights effectively inform environmental policies and practices.

Alternet Council meetings, held biannually, bring together representatives from member institutes to discuss strategic initiatives, collaborative opportunities, and the future direction of biodiversity and ecosystem research in Europe.

During the February 2025 Council meeting, Ben Delbaere shared how BioAgora is working to develop the core functions of the Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD). A key part of the presentation was a survey conducted among Alternet members and individual experts, exploring their willingness to engage with the future SSBD. The results from the survey unveiled that there is a strong willingness to engage with the SSBD, with positive responses across personal, institutional, and network levels; and a high interest in collaborating with the SSBD to support evidence-informed biodiversity policies.

The presentation was followed by a lively discussion with Alternet Council members, focusing on topics such as:

  • The feasibility of the Science Service and how it can be practically implemented;
  • Linkages with existing initiatives and networks across Europe;
  • The evolving role of scientists in supporting biodiversity policy and decision-making.

The feedback and insights gathered during this discussion will inform BioAgora’s ongoing work, ensuring the SSBD becomes a truly collaborative and impactful initiative.


BioAgora will continue to engage with Alternet and other networks to shape the SSBD. As the process moves forward, strengthening partnerships like this will be crucial for ensuring the long-term success and impact of the SSBD.

The Alternet Council Meeting will continue in the following days, and more information from the meeting can be found at Alternet's official website here.