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Future trajectories of agricultural productivity need to incorporate environmental targets, including the reduction of pesticides use. Landscape features supporting natural pest control (LF-NPC) offer a nature-based solution that can serve as a partial substitute for synthetic pesticides, thereby supporting future productivity levels. Here, we introduce a novel approach to quantify the contribution of LF-NPC to agricultural yields and its associated economic value to crop production in a broad-scale context. Using the European Union as case study, we combine granular farm-level data, a spatially explicit map of LF-NPC potential, and a regional agro-economic supply and market model. The results reveal that farms located in areas characterized by higher LF-NPC potential experience lower productivity losses in a context of reduced synthetic pesticides use. Our analysis suggests that LF-NPC reduces yield gaps on average by four percentage points, and increases income by a similar magnitude. These results highlight the significance of LF-NPC for agricultural production and income, and provide a valuable reference point for farmers and policymakers aiming to successfully invest in landscape features to achieve pesticides reduction targets. The European Green Deal aims to promote biodiversity and reduce pesticide use. Here, the authors combine farm and landscape data from Europe showing that landscape features supporting natural pest control have a positive impact in productivity and farmer revenues when pesticide use is reduced.

Natural pest control is a crucial regulating ecosystem service for sustaining crop yields while lowering pesticide use. Its effectiveness depends on landscape complexity, particularly the amount and spatial arrangement of semi-natural habitats, in and around fields, that support natural enemies. We provide a 50 m-resolution, pan-European map of NPC potential that updates and refines the model of Rega et al . (2018). The workflow merges Copernicus High-Resolution Layers for 2018 - Tree Cover Density, Grasslands and Woody Vegetation Mask (5–10 m source grids) - with empirical coefficients from extensive field surveys. Morphological spatial pattern analysis distinguishes linear from areal habitat elements, capturing their contrasting ecological functions: linear features improve connectivity for enemy movement, whereas areal patches offer stable refugia and resources. All scripts and configuration files are openly released, allowing straightforward reruns with future Copernicus updates or with analogous land-cover products outside Europe. The resulting NPC index maps spatial variation in habitat composition, abundance and proximity to cropland, providing an indicator for planning and management from continental to local scales.