The first living labs
Mixed cropping systems bring with them a promise: more sustainable arable farming. Finding out whether that promise is actually true is an important aspect of CropMix.
Read MoreArable farmers, researchers and chain partners are joining forces to achieve a breakthrough in the transition to sustainable arable farming in the five-year research programme CropMix. The focus is on increasing crop diversity, in particular through strip cropping. By doing so, we want to bring ecology and arable farming together and drive the societal transition to a more sustainable, ecology-based agricultural system.
A common question from arable farmers considering strip cropping or other forms of mixed cropping is: which crops go well together? To find out, we are enlisting the help of about 800 experienced and inexperienced vegetable gardeners to test different combinations in our experiment MoestuinMix.
Our PhD candidates are regularly looking for students to supervise and who can help them with their research. Are you looking for a spot to write your bachelor or master thesis? Take a look at our vacancies page.
Read the latest news and updates on CropMix and our findings.
Mixed cropping systems bring with them a promise: more sustainable arable farming. Finding out whether that promise is actually true is an important aspect of CropMix.
Read MoreCropMix is all about crop diversity and returning natural processes to the field. This affects logistics on the farm...
Read MoreOn the 5th of March, almost exactly one year after our kick off, our researchers came together for the annual research meeting. The programme was all about joint goals...
Read MoreThis work package focuses on above-ground and below-ground interactions. We look at the interactions between plants, crops, insects and other species living in the field and the differences between strip cropping and monocultures.
This work package looks at the economic feasibility of investments for farmers to switch to more crop-diverse systems, such as strip cropping, and what factors influence their willingness to adopt ecology based types of farming.
This work package consists of social scientists and transition scholars and focuses on the social context and transition pathways. What is the role of consumers and other stakeholders? And what do different transition pathways towards more sustainable agriculture look like?
A living lab is a testing ground. This can be a physical place, a network or a collaboration. Led by researchers from HAS Green Academy, we are designing living labs within CropMix in which various consortium partners work together to solve specific problems from practice.
CropMix is financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)