Natural farming
In the project 'Natural Farming' (2010-2012) organic farmers in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant work closely together with nature conservation organisations. The aim of this collaborative project is to establish a long-term working relationship. Farmers and nature conservation organisations have a lot to offer one another: the nature reserve areas of Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten and Brabants Landschap are managed by professional farmers, who can use the yields to, for instance, feed their livestock. The project thus strengthens regional ecological cycles and contributes to the growth of organic agriculture.
Project leader Udo Prins presented to Jan van den Broek, the initiator of the project, the final brochure (in Dutch) with main conclusions and field descriptions.
Stimulate knowledge and interaction
Researchers of the Louis Bolk Institute are coaching the project participants with on-farm research. Together with various project partners - Bion Food & Agriculture, the Brabant Environmental Federation and the Kempen-Meierij Organic Producers Association - our researchers also stimulate the exchange of best practices by regularly organising field visits and demonstration days. Participants for example learn how to better integrate nature management into their farming plan, or how to grow heirloom crops such as Gelderse Risweit, an old wheat variety. This innovative approach proves to be successful: both farmers and nature conservation organisations are enthusiastic, the quality of the landscape is improving and biodiversity is increasing.Successful symposium on Natural farming
This two-year project is funded by the Steering Group Innovation Brabant (LIB), the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Europe invests in its rural areas and the Province of Noord-Brabant. In November 2011 researchers and participants have presented the most significant results during a successful concluding symposium in Helvoirt. If you would like to know how farmers experience their partnership with nature conservation organisations, please read the interviews below (in Dutch).Project leader Udo Prins presented to Jan van den Broek, the initiator of the project, the final brochure (in Dutch) with main conclusions and field descriptions.
