FROM RICA TO RISA: what changes for agricultural holdings with the new sustainability regulation

Key data

European agricultural holdings participating in the CAP data network face a structural change in their reporting obligations. Regulation (EU) 2023/2674, published on 29 November 2023, transformed the historic Agricultural Accounting Information Network (RICA) into the new Agricultural Sustainability Data Network (RISA). The corrigendum published on 28 July 2026 (reference OJ:L_202690634) does not modify the substance of the regulation, but closes any legal ambiguity and definitively activates its application.

The change is not cosmetic: where previously only accounting data was required, now sustainability indicators are required in three dimensions. This directly affects how participating holdings collect, organize and transmit information to agricultural administrations.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2023/2674 amends Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009, which has been the foundational regulation for RICA for decades. The transformation converts that network into RISA, significantly expanding its scope.

The corrigendum published in July 2026 is technical and legal in nature: it ensures that the text of the regulation is coherent and applicable without internal contradictions. It does not introduce new obligations, but confirms that those already established by Regulation (EU) 2023/2674 are fully valid.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not of a direct sanctioning type, but rather operational and system adaptation. The affected holdings and administrations must assume adaptation costs in three areas:

• Collection of new data: Participating holdings will have to record environmental indicators (water use, emissions, biodiversity) and social indicators (working conditions, rural employment) that were not previously part of mandatory reporting.
• Adaptation of information systems: Member States, including Spain, must update their national agricultural data collection systems to accommodate the new categories of information required by RISA.
• Training and internal processes: Participating holdings will need training or technical support to comply with the new sustainability reporting standards.

The specific cost of adaptation is not quantified in the published regulation. However, the magnitude of the change — moving from purely accounting reporting to one that includes three dimensions of sustainability — implies a thorough review of data collection and transmission processes in all participating holdings across the EU.

Who does it affect?

• Agricultural holdings participating in the RICA/RISA network: These are the ones that must adapt their reporting systems to include the new sustainability indicators.
• Agricultural administrations of Member States: Including Spain (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and regional bodies), which must implement the changes in their national data collection systems.
• Agricultural advisors and consultants: Who provide services to participating holdings and will need to know the new reporting requirements.
• National liaison bodies: Responsible for coordinating data collection and transmission between holdings and the European Commission.
• Entities that use CAP data: Researchers, agricultural policy analysts and bodies that use network data for studies and public policy decisions.

Practical example

A medium-sized cereal farm in Castilla y León that until now participated in RICA by sending its accounting data annually (income, costs, margins by crop) will have to, once RISA is fully implemented, add to that report:

• Environmental dimension: Indicators such as irrigation water consumption, use of fertilizers and plant protection products, or carbon footprint of the activity.
• Social dimension: Data on employment generated, working conditions of the farm's workers or contribution to rural development.
• Expanded economic dimension: Beyond basic accounting, indicators of viability and long-term economic resilience.

This holding will need to review with its agricultural advisor what registration systems need to be updated and what data it should start collecting if it is not already doing so, in order to be in a position to comply when RISA enters full operational implementation.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if the holding participates in the RICA/RISA network: Confirm with the national liaison body (in Spain, the MAPA) whether the holding is included in the network sample and is therefore subject to the new requirements.
2. Audit currently reported data: Compare the data currently being sent (accounting) with the new sustainability indicators required by RISA to identify gaps.
3. Update internal registration systems: Implement processes to collect expanded environmental, social and economic data that was not previously recorded.
4. Consult with the national liaison body: Request guides, templates or training that MAPA or the competent regional body may provide to facilitate the transition to RISA.
5. Monitor the publication of implementation deadlines: The corrigendum does not specify an operational entry into force date. It is essential to monitor official communications from MAPA and the European Commission to avoid missing adaptation deadlines.

Official source

Consult the complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690634