The decline in biological diversity has alarmed the wider public and triggered political responses. This is reflected at the regional level in popular initiatives to strengthen biodiversity, at the federal level in the Insect Protection Action Programme, and in the EU’s CAP reforms. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the consequences and macroeconomic costs of these initiatives. Questions such as “What are the effects of biodiversity-friendly measures on consumer prices and agricultural production?”; “Which policies achieve the most efficient cost–benefit ratios?”; “What is the level of acceptance among consumers and farmers for different policy designs?”; “Which unintended consequences and trade-offs arise, and how can they be taken into account in policy design?” remain largely unanswered. Against this background, the BEATLE project pursues three objectives.