LAMASUS Final Conference: Advancing evidence-based land-use policies in Europe
On 16 October 2026, the LAMASUS project brought together researchers, policymakers, European Commission representatives and stakeholders at Résidence Palace in Brussels for its Final Conference. The event showcased the project’s key achievements and explored how integrated land-use modelling can support sustainable land management and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The conference opened with Petr Havlík (IIASA), LAMASUS project coordinator, and a keynote from Koen Dillen (DG AGRI) on the role of integrated land-use modelling in future CAP policy.
Showcasing LAMASUS results and collaboration
Throughout the day, project partners and stakeholders presented the main results of LAMASUS, including the Land Use and Management (LUM) Geodatabase, modelling toolbox, scenario explorer and governance model. The sessions highlighted the importance of connecting scientific research with stakeholder perspectives. Contributions from Franz Sinabell (WIFO), Susanne Schönhart (Austrian Chamber of Agriculture) and Tamás Krisztin (IIASA) demonstrated how stakeholder dialogue and modelling tools can work together to inform land-use governance.
The conference also showcased collaboration with sister projects Europe-LAND, BrightSpace and ACT4CAP27, exploring complementary approaches to land-use monitoring, shared modelling baselines and future CAP scenarios. A dedicated session on alternative CAP scenarios, featuring Jonathan Doelman (PBL) and Siemen van Berkum (WUR), explored how integrating agriculture and forestry within a common modelling framework can strengthen policy analysis.
Looking ahead: The legacy of LAMASUS
A central focus of the event was the policy relevance of LAMASUS results and their potential use beyond the project’s lifetime. Representatives from DG AGRI, DG CLIMA, DG ENV, the European Environment Agency and the Joint Research Centre, alongside external experts, contributed perspectives throughout the conference.
The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring Jurij Krajčič (DG CLIMA), Simon Kay (Independent, IIASA), Marialuisa Tamborra (DG ENV) and Nicolas Robert (EEA), followed by closing remarks from Petr Havlík (IIASA) and Angela Guarino (European Research Executive Agency).
The LAMASUS Final Conference marked an important milestone in the project, highlighting the value of integrated land-use modelling, stakeholder engagement and collaboration between European research initiatives. As LAMASUS comes to an end, its scientific results, tools and partnerships provide a valuable foundation for continued research and evidence-based policymaking towards more sustainable land management in Europe.
