A Distinguished Delegation Visits BE-Dor
On a sunny Friday, 20 June 2025, the ICOS ecosystem station in Dorinne (BE-Dor) welcomed a high-level delegation led by European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen. The visit, initiated by MEP Benoît Cassart, brought together around 50 stakeholders, including Walloon Minister of Agriculture Anne-Catherine Dalcq and Philippe Lamberts, advisor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
La Praule Farm: A Living Lab for Climate Monitoring
The group gathered at La Praule farm, where breeder Adrien Pâquet has hosted the ICOS flux tower station on his grased grasslands for over 15 years. There, Prof. Bernard Heinesch, Principal Investigator of the station and coordinator of the ICOS-Wallonia network, welcomed the delegation and guided them through the site.
Showcasing the Role of Grazed Grasslands
During the visit, Heinesch emphasised the scientific and policy relevance of the Dorinne station within the ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) network. He highlighted the importance and complexity of monitoring grased grasslands, a land use type that remains underrepresented in long-term carbon and ecosystem research despite its critical role in the European carbon balance.
A Cornerstone of the MRV4SOC Project
The Dorinne station is a key reference site for the MRV4SOC project, an EU-funded initiative developing innovative Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks for soil organic carbon (SOC). The long-term, high-resolution data collected at BE-Dor including greenhouse gas fluxes and meteorological variables are essential for developing Tier 3 SOC estimation models that are scalable, transparent, robust, and cost-effective.
Science Supporting EU Climate and Soil Missions
This high-level visit underscored the strategic importance of research infrastructure like ICOS in supporting EU policy goals, such as the European Green Deal, the Common Agricultural Policy, and the Mission Soil. It also showcased the value of collaboration between scientists, farmers, and policymakers in building sustainable, climate-resilient land management solutions.
