News & Stories

From experiments on the farm to policy debates in The Hague: CDLT is right in the middle of both practice and conversation.

Here you’ll find:
• Practical stories from farmers
• Opinions from researchers and partners
• News about events and developments
• Media appearances and interviews

Field stories

Between Soil and Policy

Emelie and Roelof André run De Zeven Koeien cheese farm in Doldersum. They process the milk from their seven cows into cheese, yogurt, and quark, which they sell directly in their farm shop. Short supply chain, independent management.

At the same time, they operate in an agricultural system that is fraught with tension. Uncertain policy, short-term leases, and conflicting market incentives make investing in soil and the future complicated. What does this require of farmers? And what is needed to offer real prospects?

Curious to find out how Emelie and Roelof André are working in practice to develop an agricultural system that is both ecologically and economically sustainable? Read the full interview here.

News

Working together: bottlenecks and opportunities in the transition to regenerative agriculture

The transition to future-proof agriculture demands a lot from farmers, chain partners, and policymakers. More and more farmers want to move toward regenerative agriculture—for healthy soils, healthy food, and robust business operations. In practice, however, many initiatives encounter the same questions: where is the revenue model, how do we organize the chain, and what preconditions are necessary to scale up?

That is precisely why cooperation is essential. On February 19, the Center for Sustainable Agriculture Transition (CDLT) brought together farmers, chain partners, banks, governments, NGOs, and knowledge institutions at Campus Fryslân. During this in-depth day, we examined where regenerative initiatives get stuck and what interventions are needed to move them forward.

Three initiatives took center stage: regenerative sugar beet, the development of a Dutch chain for naked oats, and a regional tender for social services provided by farmers in the northern Netherlands. Read more here.

In de media

Science works — farmers and science working together

The latest article in the University of Groningen's Science for Society series explains how science can make a real contribution to the agricultural transition when it is combined with practical experience. This article focuses on how farmers and researchers are working together to explore new avenues for regenerative agriculture, an approach that combines ecological health and economic prospects and supports farmers in the transition.

The Center for Sustainable Agricultural Transition (CDLT) is establishing a new way of doing science: not from an academic ivory tower, but with farmers in the field and for sustainable impact. By designing, testing, and learning together on the farm, knowledge is created that is directly applicable and contributes to real change. Read the full article here

Lân fol Libben

Agenda

• March 24 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. lunch meeting CF
• April 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: CDLT/Campus Fryslân networking drinks
• June 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: CDLT/Campus Fryslân networking drinks
• September 17 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: CDLT/Campus Fryslân networking drinks
• November 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: CDLT/Campus Fryslân networking drinks

Previously organized events

• Networking event: Sustainable Market Transitions, recap

• Kick-off day for agricultural advisors, read more..