Europe-LAND partners were hosted by partner BOKU University in Vienna from 10–12 June 2026 for the project’s fourth General Assembly and the subsequent IACS Data Community of Practice (CoP) meeting on 13 June. The meetings brought together project partners and members of the wider IACS community to review progress, discuss remaining activities and strengthen collaboration across disciplines and institutions. Alongside work package discussions and technical sessions, the event provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and networking.

Day 1: Reviewing progress and preparing for the final phase

The first day of the General Assembly focused on reviewing Europe-LAND’s progress to date and outlining priorities for the project’s final year. Work package leaders presented updates on ongoing activities and upcoming deliverables, while discussions addressed timelines towards final reporting and the communication of key exploitable results. A dedicated session on the eight Europe-LAND case studies highlighted progress made across the consortium and explored common analytical approaches, future activities, and emerging opportunities. Participants also discussed draft land-use and land-use change scenarios looking towards 2050.

Day 2: Strengthening integration and collaboration

The second day continued with updates on Work Package 6 and included an internal testing session of the Europe-LAND Toolbox. Particular attention was given to strengthening links between the different work packages and ensuring that project outputs are effectively integrated during the final phase of the project. Partners discussed synergies between datasets, scenarios and modelling approaches, and explored how these components can be brought together within the Toolbox. Another interactive session focused on the co-development and testing of the project’s serious gaming activities.

The General Assembly concluded with a discussion of upcoming opportunities and the roadmap for the months ahead, reinforcing the consortium’s shared commitment to delivering high-quality outputs in the final year of Europe-LAND!

Day 3: Advancing collaboration through the IACS Community of Practice (CoP)

On 12 June, Europe-LAND partners were joined by members of the IACS Data CoP for a full day dedicated to knowledge exchange and collaboration. Beginning with a series of lightning presentations introducing new community members and highlighting ongoing research activities and collaboration interests, the day addressed the role of IACS data in supporting European policies.

Participants also presented recent work on crop diversity, farming typologies and the assessment of abandoned agricultural land. Further sessions explored the integration of IACS data into GIS environments, featuring demonstrations of the Europe-LAND Toolbox and discussions on emerging European research infrastructures. The final part of the meeting focused on challenges related to IACS data access, harmonization and standardization, while a concluding session highlighted future funding opportunities and avenues for continued collaboration.

As Europe-LAND enters its final project year, the Vienna meetings demonstrated the strength of the consortium and the growing network surrounding the IACS Community of Practice. The three days provided a valuable platform for reflection, integration and forward-looking discussions that will support the successful completion of the project and help maximize its long-term impact.