Arable 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 intercropping is: which crops go well together? To find out, we enlisted the help of both experienced and inexperienced vegetable gardeners for the third season in a row to test various combinations in our MoestuinMix experiment. Interest is high: we’ve received over 2,350 sign-ups this year! Want to join in? Go to the sign up page or read the results of 2024 and 2025.
Read the latest news and updates on CropMix and our findings.
Strip cropping is an alternative to monoculture that can already be integrated into the current agricultural system. In this study, we want to learn from the experiences of frontrunner farmers...
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Last Thursday, 3 July, the annual BioVelddag took place Lelystad. A regular feature is the tour of the trials at WUR Open Teelten, including our trials with strip cropping.
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Last Tuesday, 17 June, we met with the consortium at Zonnegoed in Joost van Strien's yard for our biannual consortium meeting.
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This 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 design living labs within CropMix in which various consortium partners work together to solve specific practical problems. Read more about the topics we are working on.
