Improved collection of data on sustainability thanks to the new Farm Sustainability Data Network

The new rules on the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) were adopted by the Commission today, marking a significant step towards improved analysis to support a more sustainable agricultural sector and targeted, data-driven policy-making. As of 2025, new data will be collected at farm level by Member States, providing a more comprehensive understanding of sustainability in agriculture and its economic, environmental and social dimensions.

The new FSDN builds on the long-standing Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), which has provided valuable insights into farm economics for nearly six decades. The FADN is a unique source of microeconomic and accountancy data coming every year from more than 80 000 EU farms and sustainability data on environmental and social matters will now be added into the new FSDN.

Upgrading to FSDN is the result of close cooperation with Member States, who have worked together with the Commission to develop a framework that addresses the need for robust data, while ensuring smooth implementation and minimising burden for farmers and national administrations.

Furthermore, the FSDN will make it easier to access and use information from different sources, following the principle of “collect once, reuse multiple times”. This will help to reduce the workload for farmers and national administrations at both national and EU levels. Additionally, it will provide a more complete picture and enabling better-informed decisions by bringing together information from the FSDN, CAP strategic plans and IACS, on agricultural practices, environmental impact and economic performance among other topics.

The implementation of the FSDN opens up new opportunities for better analysing the sustainability performance of farm holdings, both for farmers participating in the network and for other non-participating farmers (still based on FADN/FSDN data), thereby promoting a more sustainable and competitive agricultural sector. The recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture acknowledge the relevance of the new FSDN to assess sustainability indicators, test data collection methods, monitor sustainability at farm level and contribute to the future EU benchmarking system.

To ensure a smooth transition to the new data compilation framework, the Regulation introduces a phased implementation approach, allowing Member States to gradually adapt their systems and processes over time. Additionally, the Regulation includes a revision clause, which will enable the Commission and Member States to review and adjust the framework as needed, taking into account the outcome of the first implementation years. The transition to FSDN is supported by significant additional resources, financed by the EU, in the form of a one-off contribution to the setting-up costs of € 50 million, which will be allocated to Member States at the end of 2024 to facilitate a smooth implementation. Furthermore the annual ongoing EU funding will be increased, to support the yearly operation and maintenance of the FSDN, and may also be used by Member States to provide incentives to farmers for their participation, if they so choose.

Background

In June 2022, the Commission presented a proposal for a new framework of data collection amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009. Following the positive vote by the European Parliament’s plenary on 17 October 2023 and the adoption by the Council on 13 November 2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/2674 on the conversion of the FADN into a FSDN (FSDN Basic Act) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 29 November 2023. The FSDN Basic Act establishes the list of economic, environment, and social topics to be covered by the data collection.

FSDN data will support the development of evidence- and performance-based policies, as well as the analysis of agricultural sectors in the Member States and in the Union as a whole, gauging progress and providing valuable guidance to policy makers. The FSDN will contribute to the analysis of the enhanced economic, environmental and social dimensions of the CAP, to the improvement of advisory services to farmers and to the transparency and fairness of the agri-food supply chain.

In parallel, the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2499, adopted in September 2024, provides for a substantial financial contribution to Member States’ setting-up costs related to the transition.

Secondary legislation was needed to iron out certain details to fully implement the new data network. In March 2024, the Commission adopted the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1417, including rules for annual income determination, holding sustainability analysis and access to data for research purposes.

The Commission then presented an implementing Regulation to the FSDN Committee on 30 September 2024 which received a positive vote by Member States. It provides the detailed definition of the variables, methods for the sample selection, data sharing provisions and financial allocations.