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Are trees in the farmland going to save our agriculture?
Translated from Dutch. View the original post
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We need to go to more in the Netherlands #bomen in our country. That is what the Climate Agreement stipulates. At the same time, our #landbouw more durable. We need more circular agriculture, wrote Minister Schouten of Agriculture back in 2018, in order to 'secure the future of our food supply'. According to some agricultural experts, ' #agroforestry '— a form of circular agriculture (see box) — can therefore be agriculture of the future. Farmers with trees. Chickens scurrying in the forest and grains growing between the poplars. We know Agroforestry from Southern Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. But the Netherlands? Only a handful of farmers are already working on this. Forestry, agriculture and livestock farming in one field: can it work in our country?
Farmers with trees: what is agroforestry?
In South America, Africa, Asia and Southern Europe, it is quite normal to plant rows of trees between agricultural crops, around and around in strips. In fact, coffee and tea plantations will make a better return. Trees prevent dryness and erosion. They provide shade and increase biodiversity. But, argues Argentine agro-ecologist Pablo Tittonell, who examined agroforestry on three continents, it begins with the definition. “What do we see as agroforestry? Agroforestry in South America can not be compared to the Netherlands. We cannot just copy the recipe, we have to adapt it to the Dutch circumstances. Customization. This requires research and education, just as has been done and is still happening in other countries. Ultimately, we will have to use a broader definition of agroforestry in the Netherlands.”
Forest farmers
Julia ter Huurne is together with her partner Joris' forest farmer 'on farm Zuuver in the Twente Buurse. Their 400 chickens run freely in the woods. Every day they move the mobile loft in which the chickens drink and sleep. “In this way we hope to deceive foxes and prevent disease. One is sometimes caught by a buzzard, but usually it goes well. I also observe the animals well”, laughs Ter Huurne.
Farmers with trees: what is agroforestry?
In South America, Africa, Asia and Southern Europe, it is quite normal to plant rows of trees between agricultural crops, around and around in strips. In fact, coffee and tea plantations will make a better return. Trees prevent dryness and erosion. They provide shade and increase biodiversity. But, argues Argentine agro-ecologist Pablo Tittonell, who examined agroforestry on three continents, it begins with the definition. “What do we see as agroforestry? Agroforestry in South America can not be compared to the Netherlands. We cannot just copy the recipe, we have to adapt it to the Dutch circumstances. Customization. This requires research and education, just as has been done and is still happening in other countries. Ultimately, we will have to use a broader definition of agroforestry in the Netherlands.”
Forest farmers
Julia ter Huurne is together with her partner Joris' forest farmer 'on farm Zuuver in the Twente Buurse. Their 400 chickens run freely in the woods. Every day they move the mobile loft in which the chickens drink and sleep. “In this way we hope to deceive foxes and prevent disease. One is sometimes caught by a buzzard, but usually it goes well. I also observe the animals well”, laughs Ter Huurne.
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