diff --git a/r_app/batch_pipeline.R b/r_app/batch_pipeline.R
index 8d990bd..d696873 100644
--- a/r_app/batch_pipeline.R
+++ b/r_app/batch_pipeline.R
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ suppressPackageStartupMessages({
 
 # Configuration
 PROJECT <- "aura"
-START_DATE <- as.Date("2026-01-21")
-END_DATE <- as.Date("2026-02-18")
+START_DATE <- as.Date("2026-01-26")
+END_DATE <- as.Date("2026-02-23")
 OFFSET <- 7
 
 # Generate date sequence (every 7 days)
diff --git a/r_app/parameters_project.R b/r_app/parameters_project.R
index 45d65a3..12c7108 100644
--- a/r_app/parameters_project.R
+++ b/r_app/parameters_project.R
@@ -46,8 +46,19 @@ DAH_MATURITY_THRESHOLD <- 240
 # ============================================================================
 # Unit preference for area reporting: "hectare" or "acre"
 # This cascades through all KPI calculations, exports, and reports
-# Future: can be overridden per-project from Laravel database (preferred_area_unit column)
-AREA_UNIT_PREFERENCE <- "acre"  # Options: "hectare", "acre"
+# 
+# Priority order:
+#   1. AREA_UNIT environment variable (set by shell scripts from Laravel)
+#   2. Default: "hectare"
+#
+# Set by shell wrappers: export AREA_UNIT="<project_preferred_unit>"
+AREA_UNIT_PREFERENCE <- tolower(Sys.getenv("AREA_UNIT", unset = "hectare"))
+
+# Validate area unit value
+if (!AREA_UNIT_PREFERENCE %in% c("hectare", "acre")) {
+  warning(paste0("Invalid AREA_UNIT env var: '", AREA_UNIT_PREFERENCE, "'. Using 'hectare'."))
+  AREA_UNIT_PREFERENCE <- "hectare"
+}
 
 #' Get area unit label for display
 #'