On Wednesday 8 March, the official kick-off of CropMix took place at the WICC in Wageningen. With around 90 participants, we kicked off the cooperation for the next five years.

"It feels a bit like my wedding," Dirk joked during the opening. Present were a large group of researchers, chain partners and also other consortium partners from local authorities and conservation organisations, among others. Many participating arable farmers were also present. Applause sounded for them, as their presence is very important for the success of CropMix. Their questions will be central in the coming years.

Erik Poelman opened with some thought-provoking statements to see who was in the room and what their motivations are for participating. PJ Beers then introduced how we will define three living labs this year in which experiments will be carried out in practice. We started by discussing in small groups what opportunities and barriers we see in the transition to more sustainable agriculture. After lunch, we discussed solution directions around various topics, such as knowledge on suitable crop combinations, the protein transition and mechanisation and robotics. In a third round, we discussed at theme tables which research questions should be on the agenda within the programme.

"It was a very animated meeting with a large number of different parties from the field of forces around the topic," said Léonhard ten Siethoff, director of the Triodos Foundation. Marcel Dicke, head of the entomology laboratory in Wageningen, also looks back on a meeting with "stimulating interactions and discussions to lay the foundations for the next five exciting years."

The outcomes of the meeting will provide an initial starting point for further development of the living labs and provide direction for the research team.

On to the next five years!