In the press: Nature-inclusive agriculture on the Westeresch in Veele. Research by dr. ir. Raymond Klaassen (Sustainable Landscapes)

In the Netherlands, there is a heated debate about the use of fertilizers and nitrogen in agriculture. At the Westeresch in Veele (Vlagtwedde municipality), Sustainable Society/Agricola School for Sustainable Development is investigating whether it can be done differently. Is profitable agriculture possible without fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides? Can agriculture and nature coexist?

In collaboration with Staatsbosbeheer, Dr. Raymond Klaassen of the University of Groningen started research there in 2018 into nature-inclusive agriculture. Now after four years it is time for a first evaluation. What is the current status and what have been the results so far?

On Tuesday 26 June, the assembled press was informed about the preliminary results. This resulted in some nice news articles.

Nieuwe Oogst even made a nice video about it. NieuweOogst.n l is a website aimed at the agricultural sects, with the latest news about livestock farming, arable farming, horticulture and the region. You will find them below.

Read the articles

- Proef met natuurvriendelijke landbouw: ‘Het is en blijft een zoektocht’   (RTV Noord)

- Westerwolde Actueel: Proef met natuurvriendelijke landbouw: ‘Het is en blijft een zoektocht’ (Weterwolde Actueel)

- Op de Westeresch bij Veele wordt 5 jaar op 'klassieke' manier landbouw bedreven: 'Natuurlijke rijkdom is groter geworden' (Dagblad van het Noorden, also find a screenshot at the bottom of this post)

- Boswachter Jelka: De resultaten van vijf jaar natuurinclusieve landbouw op de Westeresch (Boswachtersblog.nl)

Watch the video:

- www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2022/08/01/groningse-pilot-levert-boer-gezonde-boterham-op (Nieuwe Oogst)

More on the project

In 2017, there were only 8 fields left on the Westeresch in Veele. In 2018, the historic monuments were restored. For example, the strips were divided into 40 smaller fields, all in strips, totaling about 75 hectares. The fields are owned and managed by Staatsbosbeheer and in purchasing activities to farmers in the region.

What is special about this project is that a lot of research is being carried out, including by the University of Groningen. We investigate effects in the field of ecology as well as on the economy (a revenue model).

Sustainable agriculture

An important aim of this pilot project is to stimulate a transition to a more sustainable agriculture. The implementation of the payment arrears plays a pioneering role.

An important recovery of nature quality can now be measured. There are many more insect species and 19 species of field birds, including the gray shrike, nowadays a scarce breeding bird in the Netherlands., a project with Staatsbosbeheer. RTV Noord, the Dagblad van het Noorden and Westerwolde Actueel paid attention to it. The project and research started in 2018. What is the current status and what have been the results so far?

In 2017, there were only 8 fields left on the Westeresch in Veele. In 2018, the historic monuments were restored. For example, the strips were divided into 40 smaller fields, all in strips, totaling about 75 hectares. The fields are owned and managed by Staatsbosbeheer and in purchasing activities to farmers in the region.

What is special about this project is that a lot of research is being carried out, including by the University of Groningen. We investigate effects in the field of ecology as well as on the economy (a revenue model).

Recovery of nature

An important aim of this pilot project is to stimulate the transition to a more sustainable agriculture. The participating tenants play a pioneering role in this.

An important recovery of nature quality can now be measured. There are many more insect species and 19 species of field birds, including the gray shrike, nowadays a scarce breeding bird in the Netherlands.