OPTAIN Final Conference in Berlin: Sharing Knowledge, Results, and Future Visions

From 28 to 30 October 2025, partners of the Horizon 2020 OPTAIN project gathered in Berlin for the project’s Final Event and General Assembly, to jointly mark conclusions of more than five years of joint research, collaboration, and innovation. The meeting brought together more than 65 participants from across Europe, and next to project partners it welcomed stakeholders from project case studies. During the stakeholder day we shared experiences and knowledge with involved researchers, practitioners, and policy representatives to discuss achievements, lessons learned, and pathways for the future implementation of Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs) to continue contributing to water and nutrient retention in agricultural landscapes.

Sharing results and insights

The opening day set the stage with inspiring presentations and discussions on the current state and future perspectives of NSWRMs.

OPTAIN coordinator Martin Volk (UFZ) kick-started the meeting, followed by keynote contributions from Nikolai Friberg (Aarhus University) on connecting NbS across landscapes.

Subsequent sessions highlighted OPTAIN’s core achievements, including stakeholder engagement, process of NSWRMs selection, data management, modelling and optimisation. Partners presented insights from diverse case studies across Europe, demonstrating how data-driven tools, stakeholder co-design, and local knowledge contribute to more effective and adaptable water management strategies.

Throughout the day, discussions covered modelling processes, optimisation of measure combinations, and tools supporting policy and communication. The Case Study Marketplace provided space for all 14 OPTAIN case studies to present their work, exchange experiences, and engage in interactive dialogue.

Field visit: Innovation in practice

The second day took participants out of the conference room and into the field. The group visited the patchCROP landscape laboratory and research facilities of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg, followed by a fountain dialogue and groundwater sampling organised by the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).

At patchCROP, Kathrin Grahmann and her colleagues guided participants through experimental plots where diversified crop rotations are being tested on 70 hectares, applying conservation tillage and precision farming to enhance resilience, biodiversity, and soil health. The visit also featured ZALF’s agri-PV systems, wind erosion tunnel, and Agroscapelab, showcasing how science and technology support climate-smart and biodiversity-friendly agriculture.

The excursion concluded in Berlin with hands-on groundwater sampling and discussion about community engagement in water quality monitoring, illustrating the value of integrating research, practice, and citizen science. 

Looking Ahead

The final day of the meeting focused on synthesis and plans of future collaboration. Partners discussed project deliverables, ongoing scientific papers, and opportunities for future proposals building on OPTAIN’s achievements. Sessions on actor involvement, exploitation of results, and communication highlighted how OPTAIN’s knowledge base, the OPTAIN Learning Environment, will continue supporting practitioners and policymakers beyond the project’s end.

A collaborative journey

The OPTAIN Final Event celebrated more than just the completion of a project, it reflected a European collaboration dedicated to improving water retention, soil health, and resilience through NSWRM modelling and optimisation. By combining modelling, and stakeholder participation, OPTAIN has demonstrated how sustainable land and water management can benefit both people and nature.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all partners for their contributions, enthusiasm, and teamwork, especially to UFZ for well-balanced project coordinating and organizing a memorable closing event in Berlin.

Author: Ivana Korn Varga