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Family Farm in Transition: Climate-Smart Practices on a Dairy Farm in Geraardsbergen (Belgium)
Belgium
Temperate maritime climate
Benefits of the practice
2. Improved soil health, biodiversity, and feed quality
3. Increased resilience and sustainability of mixed farming systems
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
Two years ago, Veerle and Colin took over Veerle’s parents’ dairy farm, transforming it from a classic dairy farm focused on producing mats for Geraardsbergen mattentaarten to a more sustainable operation. They now have 12 English Longhorns for meat and 70 dairy cows, along with 35 ha of arable land and 30 ha of grassland.
Veerle, with her background as an environmental lawyer, welcomed the climate scan proposal. The initial results from the Klimrek tool highlighted useful measures, some of which were implemented immediately, while others are planned.
Their climate measures include:
• Hedges and Trees: Supported by Bos+ and Regional Landscape Flemish Ardennes, they focus on hedges, trees, and flower borders for carbon storage and biodiversity.
• Grass Clover-Lucerne: They reduced fodder maize from 22 ha to 10ha, replacing it with a grass clover-lucerne mix, requiring less fertilization.
• Triticale – Field Beans: They planted 6 ha of triticale-field beans to replace soy in feed, with guidance from colleagues and project advisors.
• Soil Health and Water Management: Switching to grass clover-lucerne and méteil has improved soil structure and water management, though it remains challenging.
• Farm Composting: They see potential in using wood chips and manure for composting, hoping for regulatory approval soon.
• Solar Panels and Heat Recovery: These are considered for future implementation.
Their farm is part of the Climate Farm Demo network, which connects pilot farms to demonstrate climate-smart practices and share knowledge. Local farmers provide invaluable support, especially Walloon colleagues who are more advanced in organic farming and agro-ecology.
Veerle and Colin believe in farming with nature while maintaining economic viability, emphasizing the need for greater appreciation and visibility of farmers’ efforts
Twee jaar geleden namen Veerle en Colin het melkveebedrijf van Veerle’s ouders over en transformeerden ze het van een klassiek melkveebedrijf, gericht op de productie van matten voor Geraardsbergse mattentaarten, naar een duurzamer bedrijf. Ze hebben nu 12 English Longhorns voor vlees en 70 melkkoeien, samen met 35 ha akkerland en 30 ha grasland.
Veerle, met haar achtergrond als milieujuriste, verwelkomde het voorstel voor een klimaatscan. De eerste resultaten van de Klimrek-tool benadrukten nuttige maatregelen, waarvan sommige onmiddellijk werden geïmplementeerd, terwijl andere voor de toekomst zijn gepland.
Hun klimaatmaatregelen omvatten:
• Hagen en bomen: Met steun van BOS+ en Regionaal Landschap Vlaamse Ardennen richten ze zich op hagen, bomen en bloemenranden voor koolstofopslag en biodiversiteit.
• Grasklaver-luzerne: Ze verminderden de voedermaïs van 22 ha naar 10 ha en vervingen die door een grasklaver-luzernemengsel, dat minder bemesting vereist.
• Triticale – veldbonen: Ze plantten 6 ha triticale-veldbonen om soja in het voer te vervangen, met begeleiding van collega’s en projectadviseurs.
• Bodemgezondheid en waterhuishouding: De overstap naar grasklaver-luzerne en méteil heeft de bodemstructuur en waterhuishouding verbeterd, hoewel het uitdagend blijft.
• Boerderijcompostering: Ze zien mogelijkheden in het gebruik van houtige snippers en mest voor compostering en hopen op snelle goedkeuring van de regelgeving.
• Zonnepanelen en warmteterugwinning: Deze worden overwogen voor toekomstige implementatie.
Hun bedrijf maakt deel uit van het Climate Farm Demo-netwerk, dat proefboerderijen verbindt om klimaatslimme praktijken te demonstreren en kennis te delen. Lokale boeren bieden onschatbare steun, vooral Waalse collega’s die verder staan in biologische landbouw en agro-ecologie.
Veerle en Colin geloven in boeren met de natuur, terwijl ze de economische levensvatbaarheid behouden, en benadrukken de noodzaak van meer waardering en zichtbaarheid voor de inspanningen van boeren.
Two years ago, Veerle and Colin took over Veerle’s parents’ dairy farm. At the time, it was still a traditional dairy operation, primarily focused on producing milk for Geraardsbergen mattentaarten. Since their sons are eager to continue the family business, they have also committed to supporting the farm’s development.
The farm currently includes 12 English Longhorns—purely grass-fed and bred for meat—and 70 dairy cows. Additionally, they manage 35 hectares of arable land and 30 hectares of grassland.
What Did They Think of the Climate Scan?
With her background as an environmental lawyer, Veerle is well aware of current climate challenges. She gladly accepted the proposal to carry out a climate scan. The initial results, using the Klimrek tool, were not extraordinary but clarified several key areas and highlighted useful climate measures. Some actions were implemented immediately; others are planned. They selected measures from the plan they considered feasible.
What Climate Measures Are They Taking on Their Farm?
• Hedges and trees: With support from the forestry project by Bos+ and Regional Landscape Flemish Ardennes, they are planting hedges, fruit trees, and flower borders. These contribute to carbon storage and support a biodiverse, climate-resilient landscape. They also participate in the LEADER project “From Stump to Chip” for maintenance assistance.
• Grass-clover-lucerne mix: They reduced their fodder maize area from 22 to 10 hectares by replacing it with a grass-clover-lucerne mixture. These fields require less fertilisation to allow clover to return—a shift that also involves adapting contractor practices. Visits to Walloon organic farms helped them learn about mowing and haying techniques. For instance, bales from November 2024 tested well for digestibility. Some meadows haven’t been renewed for 30 years; they are now actively restoring them where feasible.
• Triticale-field beans: They sowed 6 hectares with this mixture to reduce reliance on soy in feed. Although field beans are not widely grown, they found a fellow farmer and advisers to support them.
• Soil health and water management: The transition to grass-clover-lucerne and méteil (a mixed crop of grains and legumes) has improved soil structure and water retention. Results have varied due to the weather: in year one, they had success after maize; in year two, wet conditions delayed mowing, reducing quality.
• Farm composting: They aim to develop on-farm composting using wood chips and manure. However, current regulations are a barrier, especially compared to those of their Walloon neighbours.
• Solar panels and heat recovery: These are under consideration for future implementation.
A Message to Fellow Farmers
Their farm is part of the Climate Farm Demo network, a European initiative that brings together pilot farms to showcase climate-smart practices and share knowledge. This network fosters collaboration with farmers, researchers, and policymakers, enabling quicker adoption of innovative solutions.
Support from local and Walloon farmers has been crucial. Their experience and practical tips—such as seed sourcing and sowing density—have inspired confidence. Farming remains a craft, and learning from peers is vital. Veerle and Colin believe in working with nature while staying economically viable. It takes effort, and farmers deserve more recognition and visibility for this important work.
Pastured Poultry: Portion Herding for Laying Hens
Estonia
Mixed Forest Sub-region of the Atlantic Continental region of the Temperate zone
Benefits of the practice
- Animal Welfare: Portion herding supports hens' ethological needs, enhancing well-being.
- Farmer Benefits: Low-cost entry into agriculture, no need for expensive aviary infrastructure or large arable land, improves grassland quality.
- Consumer Advantage: Pastured poultry eggs offer higher nutritional value than conventional eggs.
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
Pastured poultry is an alternative method of keeping chickens. In regenerative agriculture, this term refers to chicken portion grazing. Depending on the size of the chickens’ running area, they stay in one place for 2–3 days. During this time, they eat the youngest parts of plants, fertilize, and aerate the soil by scratching.
Chicken portion grazing mimics how animals move in nature. They eat the best and youngest parts of plants, contribute fertilizer through manure, and slightly mix and loosen the soil. This method is highly effective in improving grassland health. After just one or two grazing sessions, vegetation becomes noticeably lusher.
Since the chickens remain in one place for only a few days, they constantly have clean ground and fresh green feed. They can consume nutrient-rich plants, insects, and small stones necessary for digestion. Sunlight and daylight strengthen their immune system. Being naturally curious and sharp birds, they can live as natural a life as possible on the pasture.
In winter, the chickens stay in a large, unheated greenhouse. Chickens are more sensitive to wetness and wind than to low temperatures, and the greenhouse provides excellent protection. Deep bedding helps keep their feet warm.
A short digestive tract ensures that much of the chickens’ valuable food and good living conditions contribute to the quality of their eggs. Thanks to their diet of grass and insects, pasture-raised chickens’ eggs contain significantly more vitamins and minerals.
Rohumaal kanade karjatamine on alternatiivne pidamisviis, taastavas põllumajanduses peetakse selle termini all silmas kanade portsjonkarjatamist. Olenevalt kanade jooksuala suurusest on nad ühe koha peal 2-3 päeva. Selle ajaga nad söövad ära taimede kõige nooremad otsad, väetavad natukene ning õhutavad siblimisega mulda. Tegemist on väga efektiivse rohumaid tervistava meetodiga. Juba ühe-kahe karjatamise järel on taimestik märgatavalt lopsakam kui enne.
Kuna kanad on ühe koha peal kõigest paar päeva, on neil pidevalt puhas jalgealune ja värske roheline ninaesine. Nad saavad süüa toitaineterohkeid taimi, putukaid ja kanadele seedimiseks vajalikke pisikesi kive. Päike ja päevavalgus annab oma panuse immuunsüsteemile. Oma olemuselt väga uudishimulikud ja terased linnud saavad rohumaal elada nii liigiomast elu kui vähegi võimalik.
Talvisel ajal on kanad suures kütteta kasvuhoones. Kanad ei karda niivõrd madalaid temperatuure kui niiskust ja tuult, mille eest kasvuhoone neid ideaalselt kaitseb. Sügavallapanu annab oma panuse sooja jalgealuse hoidmisel.
Lühike seedetrakt tagab selle, et palju kanade väärtuslikust söögist ja heast elust jõuab ka muna sisse. Tänu rohu ja putukate söömisele on rohumaakanade munades oluliselt rohkem vitamiine ja mineraale.
Pastured poultry has established itself in America and some parts of Europe.
Due to the nutrient-rich eggs, improvement of pasture health, and various other reasons, they could become much more common in Estonia as well.
At Ahisilla farm, pastured hens have been present for three seasons. In the first year, the farm tested the system with 150 laying hens. In 2023, they increased the number of chickens to 800, and by 2024, Ahisilla farm’s pastures were home to 1,400 chickens.
The chickens live in mobile coops during the grazing period. According to regulations, this is considered an alternative housing method, and in regenerative agriculture, this term refers to the rotational grazing of chickens.
Depending on the size of their run, they stay in one place for 2–3 days. During this time, they eat the youngest parts of the plants, fertilize a bit, and aerate the soil with their scratching. This is especially important for our farm’s natural pastures, as there is a thick layer of moss under the plants that the chickens effectively remove by scratching.
Rotational grazing of chickens mimics how animals move in nature.
Chickens eat the best parts of the plants in one spot, contribute fertilizer, and mix and loosen the soil. After just one or two grazing periods, the vegetation becomes noticeably lusher.
Since the chickens remain in one place for only a few days, they always have clean ground under their feet and fresh greens to peck at. They consume nutrient-rich plants, insects, and small stones necessary for digestion.
Sunlight and daylight strengthen their immune system. Being naturally curious and sharp-witted birds, they can live as species-appropriate a life as possible on the pasture.
During winter, the chickens are housed in a large, unheated greenhouse.
They are not as sensitive to low temperatures as they are to wetness and wind, which the greenhouse protects them from perfectly. Deep bedding helps keep their toes warm in winter.
Their short digestive tract ensures that much of their valuable food and good living conditions transfer into the eggs. Thanks to eating grass and insects, free-range chickens’ eggs contain significantly more vitamins and minerals.
According to a study by Pennsylvania State University (USA), compared to conventional farm birds’ eggs, free-range chickens’ eggs contain 39% more vitamin A and twice as much vitamin E. Additionally, they have nearly three times more Omega-3 fatty acids and nearly seven times more betacarotene.
Since the chickens spend all day in the sun, their eggs also contain a large amount of vitamin D. A study conducted by Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg found that pasture-raised chickens’ eggs contain an average of 14.3 micrograms of vitamin D3 per 100g, whereas indoor chickens’ eggs contained only 3.8 micrograms per 100g.
There is also a significant difference in folic acid between free-range and conventional eggs. Mother Earth News magazine conducted a study
comparing conventional eggs in the USA with free-range eggs from 12 different producers, finding that free-range eggs contained 1,038 micrograms of folic acid—21 times more than conventional eggs.
The economic aspect of grazing chickens should not be overlooked.
Acquiring farmland in Estonia is challenging due to high prices and land consolidation by large producers. Additionally, land-use regulations impose strict limitations on how land can be utilized. Grazing chickens provide an affordable entry into the agricultural sector with low investments and fixed costs. A bonus is that permanent grasslands can be used, and large land areas are not required.
At Ahisilla farm, free-range chickens are part of the farm’s local circular economy. In addition to chickens, they grow vegetables and cut flowers, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Chickens act as excellent composters of plant residues—everything leftover from vegetables either goes into an egg or returns to the soil as chicken manure.
Farming With Trees – Opportunities Through Agroforestry
UK
All Zones
Benefits of the practice
- Carbon Sequestration & Soil Health: Trees enhance carbon storage above and below ground, improve soil organic matter, structure, drainage, and nutrient cycling.
- Protection & Erosion Control: Trees provide shelter against extreme weather, safeguard livestock and crops, limit wind and water erosion, and offer shade.
- Diversification & Resilience: Agroforestry increases farm income by utilizing marginal land, enhances climate resilience, and reduces input needs for feed, water, and pest control.
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
Integrating trees into UK farmland is not new; some argue the landscape is naturally a mix of farmland and trees. However, post-WWII until the mid-80s, farmers were incentivized to remove hedges and enlarge fields for machinery, later risking payment losses if planting trees on arable land (1). Today, tree farming benefits are recognized, with grants supporting diversification. The UK Government Agroforestry Handbook categorizes tree integration into in-field (silvoarable, silvopasture, wood pasture, orchards) and around-field (trees in hedges, trees in fields, windbreaks, riparian buffers) systems. Farmers can combine these based on farm needs and funding.
EcoFarm in Nottingham, a 26-hectare Climate Demo Farm, is managed by a Community Benefit Society. It integrates trees into two agroforestry systems: 740 trees in arable fields between 24-meter cropping alleys with wildflower strips and 3,700 trees in woodland with grazing sheep.
After 10 years, research with the University of Reading found alley planting delivers greater environmental gains than broadacre planting, also improving soil health. A key non-cash benefit is community involvement, as volunteers help with planting and harvesting (2).
Whitehall Farm in Cambridgeshire, another Climate Demo Farm, established a silvoarable orchard system in 2009, planting 4,500 apple trees across 52 hectares. Trees are spaced 3 meters apart, with an understory of clovers, vetch, and wildflowers. 27-meter cropping alleys allow machinery access. Tree row orientation reduces shading and wind erosion, a common Fens challenge. Late-ripening apples enable cereal harvests in late summer, followed by apple picking in autumn. With a 15-year tenancy, apples provided a strong return on investment, while also improving soil protection, pest control, and biodiversity (3).
Sources:
(1) UK Government Guide to Agroforestry
(2) Farmers Weekly – Agroforestry in Nottingham
(3) Agroforestry Net – Whitehall Farm
Integrating trees across the farm landscape in the UK is not a new practice, some would argue the UK is a mix of farmland and trees or forest (1). However, after the second World War until the mid-80’s farmers were incentivised to take up hedges and increase field size to accommodate larger machinery to boost yield and food production; later farmers risked losing payments if they planted trees on arable land (1). The benefits of farming with trees are now recognised in the UK and Europe, with grants and other incentives available to support diversification.
There are different options available to introduce trees on farms. The UK Government Agroforestry Handbook splits them into two categories: “infield” and “around field”. (See Photo 1) This can be broken down further:
• In field, silvo-arable – Trees planted, usually in rows, between arable crops or in horticulture settings where trees and shrubs are planted alongside annuals.
• In field, silvo-pasture – Trees combined with livestock and or forage production.
• In field, wood pasture and traditional orchards – In wood pasture livestock graze woodland. The woodland can include veteran trees and protected species. Usually, these systems have lower
management inputs to conserve habitats and enhance biodiversity.
• Around Field-trees in hedges – hedges and trees can be used as boundaries whilst storing carbon, acting as shelter and/or forage for livestock and providing habitats for birds, insects and mammals.
• Around Field-trees in fields – isolated trees in fields can provide shelter or shade, as well as habitats. A single tree may also act as community point of interest.
• Around Field-windbreaks and shelter banks – wind breaks are
usually planted to reduce wind and soil erosion. They can also provide shelter or browsing feed for livestock and act as natural boundary. A Shelter bank is a larger scale windbreak, usually across a landscape which can also provide a wildlife corridor, enhancing biodiversity and/or providing amenity value for local communities. Thinning can potentially provide a medium-term income source.
• Around Field-trees as riparian buffers – trees can be planted as riparian buffers between agricultural land and a waterway to improve water quality. They can also provide shelter, shade or browsing feed for livestock and/or act as a natural boundary. Thinning can potentially provide a medium-term income source.
Practices can be combined on one farm and planting designs and tree selection be considered depending on the farm context and funding available.
EcoFarm, a 26 ha Climate Demo Farm, in Nottingham is managed by a Community Benefit Society aiming to connect people with the land, food and environment. Fruit and nut trees are grown, in two agroforestry systems. 740 trees are in two arable fields planted between 24m cropping alleys, within 4x230m strips of wildflower and grasses. Another 3,700 are planted in woodland with grazing sheep. Ecofarm has been farming trees for 10 years, during this time research with the University of Reading has demonstrated higher environmental gains from the alley system of planting than the broadacre system, also trialled. Soil health has also improved.
Another non-cash benefit is community involvement; volunteers can plant and harvest trees and have a say on how produce is sold.(3).
Whitehall Farm, a Climate Demo Farm in Cambridgeshire established a Silvoarable orchard system in 2009. 4,500 apple trees were planted north to south across 52 hectares of arable land. Trees are spaced every 3m within an understorey of clovers, vetch and perennial wildflowers. The 27m cropping alley between each row, allows access to machinery for crops and trees. Tree row orientation reduces the impact of tree shading and helps reduce wind erosion, a common challenge in the Fens. The late ripening apple varieties selected enables cereal crops to be harvested late summer before apples are handpicked early autumn. With a farm tenancy of 15 years apples were the perfect trees to plant, providing a long enough cropping cycle to deliver an economic return on the capital invested in tree planting.
The trees enabled diversification of crops and income sources. Other benefits were soil protection a reduction in pest and disease risks and enhanced biodiversity on the farm (4).
(1) Agroforestry Handbook- Agroforestry for the UK
(2) UK Government Guide to agroforestry
(3) https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/how-trees-helped-notts-farmer-broaden-arable-business (4) https://agroforestrynet.eu/afinet/whitehall-farm-an-innovative-silvoarable-orchardsystem-in-the-uk
Improving Soil Organic Content on Vegetable Farms in Brittany: Material, Technical and Cultural levers
France
Atlantic Zone
Benefits of the practice
- Increased water retention
- Carbon storage
- Improved soil structure and fertility
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
An organic open-field vegetable farm in Nord Finistère (France, Brittany region) is addressing the challenges of climate change by implementing innovative solutions to improve soil health and enhance resilience.
1. Setting up a composting platform (under consideration)
In response to the increasing scarcity of manure, the farm aims to compost its own organic waste (particularly 55 tonnes of leek waste) instead of sending it to a nearby biogas plant. This solution would:
⦁ Increase self-sufficiency in organic matter, which is essential for soil fertility and water retention.
⦁ Reduce tractor trips, thereby lowering the environmental impact.
⦁ Produce a carbon-rich soil improver that enhances soil structure and biological activity.
2. Optimizing plant cover
The farmer systematically plants cover crops after harvests to enrich the soil. He is participating in an economic and environmental interest group to refine species selection and mixtures suited to vegetable rotations. An innovative seeding system has been developed to:
⦁ Sow cover crops in the uncultivated alleys of cauliflower fields, increasing carbon storage and soil structure.
⦁ Maximize biomass production to improve water retention and fertility.
To reduce soil compaction, the farmer has equipped a tractor with a remote tyre inflation system. Air pressure is reduced when working in the fields (harvesting winter vegetables, tilling the soil, and sowing cover crops). Mini-profiles have been created to observe the effect of this equipment during leek harvests in the winter of 2023–2024.
These practices enhance the farm’s resilience by limiting erosion, increasing carbon storage, and improving the soil’s ability to withstand drought and excess water.
Une exploitation bio de légumes plein champ en Nord Finistère fait face aux défis du changement climatique en mettant en place des solutions innovantes pour améliorer la santé de ses sols et renforcer leur résilience.
1. Mise en place d’une plateforme de compostage (en réflexion)
Face à la raréfaction du fumier, l’exploitation souhaiterait composter ses propres déchets organiques (notamment 55 tonnes de déchets de poireaux) au lieu de les envoyer à un méthaniseur voisin. Cette solution permettrait :
⦁ D’être plus autonome en matière organique, essentielle pour la fertilité et la rétention en eau des sols.
⦁ De limiter les trajets et donc l’impact environnemental.
⦁ De produire un amendement riche en carbone, améliorant la structure et la vie biologique du sol.
2. Optimisation des couverts végétaux
L’exploitant utilise systématiquement des couverts végétaux après les cultures pour enrichir ses sols. Il participe à un GIEE (Groupe d’Intêret Economique et Environnemental) pour affiner ses choix d’espèces et de mélanges adaptés aux rotations légumières. Un semis innovant a été développé :
⦁ Semer des couverts dans les allées non cultivées des champs de chou-fleur, afin de stocker davantage de carbone et d’améliorer la structure du sol.
⦁ Maximiser la biomasse produite pour une meilleure rétention en eau et une fertilité accrue.
Afin de réduire le tassement des sols, l’exploitant a également équipé un tracteur d’un système de télégonflage des pneumatiques. La pression d’air est réduite lors des travaux des champs (récoltes de légumes d’hiver, travail du sol, semis de couverts). La réalisation de mini-profils a permis d’observer l’effet de ce matériel lors des récoltes de poireaux pendant l’hiver 2023-2024.
Ces pratiques renforcent la résilience de l’exploitation en limitant l’érosion, en augmentant le stockage du carbone et en améliorant la capacité des sols à faire face aux sécheresses et aux excès d’eau.
Improving soil health to cope with climate change: innovative solutions from an organic field- grown vegetable farm
Here we present the farm of Lionel, one of the ‘Pilot Demo Farmers’ involved in Climate Farm Demo. This organic open-field vegetable farm in Nord Finistère (in the Brittany region of France) is facing increasing challenges linked to climate change. Alternating droughts and excess rainfall, rising temperatures and changes to biological cycles are affecting soil fertility and crop productivity. To strengthen the resilience of its soils, the farmer is implementing two levers: a composting platform project and the optimisation of plant cover.
1. Composting platform project: Towards self-sufficiency in organic matter
The scarcity of manure, which has been replaced by slurry systems that are lower in carbon, presents a challenge for the farm. In addition, the farm produces 55 tons of organic waste from leek crops every year, which until now has been sent to the biogas plant with no return in terms of organic matter.
To remedy this, the farm is working on a composting platform to recycle this waste and produce a carbon-rich soil improver. This compost will improve soil fertility, optimise water retention and reduce dependence on external inputs.
Implementation and perspectives
The project includes:
• A dedicated area with humidity and temperature monitoring, • The incorporation of green waste to balance the compost, • Tests to assess its impact on soil structure and fertility.
2. Optimising plant cover: a lever for soil fertility
Benefits of plant cover crops
The farm systematically uses plant cover crops to:
• Limit erosion and improve soil structure,
• Optimise water retention and fertility,
• Reduce weeds and pests using adapted species.
Innovations introduced
An innovative technique has been introduced: sowing plant cover in the uncultivated alleys of cauliflower fields, reducing erosion and restoring nitrogen to subsequent crops.
The farm is part of a GIEE (Groupement d’Intérêt Économique et Environnemental – economic and environmental interest group), which enables it to experiment with new cover crop combinations and refine their integration into its rotations.
Diversifying species and reducing soil compaction
The farm tests different plant mixes depending on the season and rotation: • Legumes (clover, broad bean, vetch) for nitrogen fixation, • Grasses (rye, oats) for soil structure,
• Crucifers (daikon, mustard) for nutrient uptake.
To reduce soil compaction, the farmer has also fitted a tractor with a remote tyre inflation system. Air pressure is reduced when working in the fields (harvesting winter vegetables, cultivating the soil, sowing cover crops). Mini profiles have been produced to observe the effect of this equipment during leek harvests in the winter of 2023-2024.
Something to remember! By developing a composting platform and optimising plant cover crops, the farm is putting in place solutions adapted to climate change. These initiatives improve soil health, boost soil resilience and contribute to more sustainable agriculture, reconciling economic performance with environmental care.
Beef Days - Success for the Digital Transition in Walloon Livestock Farming
Belgium
Temperate Maritime Climate
Benefits of the practice
- Monitoring
- Herd management
- Forage production
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
During the Beef Days 2024, Elevéo, Inovéo, and Digital Wallonia delved into optimizing cattle farm management for a sustainable future. Nearly 260 livestock enthusiasts participated in the event.
The farm visit focused on presenting the services offered to beef farmers and showcasing the Van Eyck family farm. This farm raises about 500 cattle and cultivates potatoes, cereals, maize, beets, and vegetables (beans, spinach, and broad beans). Additionally, it has an innovative irrigation network. A significant portion of the forage is produced on-site: grass, beet pulp, cereals, etc.
The meat is mainly marketed through short supply chains via a farmer cooperative. The owners themselves select which animals are destined for each point of sale, and both bulls and cows are fattened on the farm.
To advance their farming practices, the owners use software and applications that facilitate decision-making.
During the Beef Days, six workshops were organized, related to practices or methods applied on this farm:
⦁ Workshop on Technical-Economic Performance and Accounting: Various indicators allow farmers to closely monitor cattle performance and make the best decisions.
⦁ Growth Monitoring Workshop: With farm scales or Elevéo’s weighing service, it is possible to closely monitor cattle weights during their growth.
⦁ Cattle Monitoring Tools Workshop: These tools save time and increase efficiency in optimizing cow health and reproductive cycles.
⦁ Forage Measurement Tools Workshop: Numerous tools exist to estimate forage quantity.
⦁ Genetics & Genomics Workshop: Genomics revolutionizes animal selection by better anticipating genetic criteria.
⦁ Mating Advice Workshop: A tool available on My Awé Net provides personalized mating advice for each herd, including inbreeding calculations.
These services aim to help farmers improve both the profitability and sustainability of their operations.
Lors des Beef Days 2024, Elevéo, Inovéo et Digital Wallonia ont exploré en profondeur l’optimisation de la gestion des élevages bovins pour un avenir durable. Près de 260 passionnés d’élevage ont participé à l’événement.
La visite de la ferme s’est concentrée sur la présentation des services offerts aux éleveurs de bovins et sur la ferme de la famille Van Eyck. Cette ferme élève environ 500 bovins et cultive des pommes de terre, des céréales, du maïs, des betteraves ainsi que des légumes (haricots, épinards et fèves des marais). De plus, elle dispose d’un réseau d’irrigation innovant. Une grande partie de l’alimentation du bétail est produite sur place : herbe, pulpe de betterave, céréales, etc.
La viande est principalement commercialisée en circuit court via une coopérative d’éleveurs. Les propriétaires choisissent eux-mêmes les animaux destinés à chaque point de vente, et les taureaux comme les vaches sont engraissés sur la ferme.
Pour améliorer leur élevage, les propriétaires utilisent des logiciels et des applications facilitant la prise de décisions.
Pendant les Beef Days, six ateliers ont été organisés, mettant en avant des pratiques ou méthodes appliquées dans cette ferme :
⦁ Atelier performances technico-économiques et comptabilité : Les différents indicateurs permettent aux éleveurs de suivre de près la performance des bovins et de prendre les meilleures décisions.
⦁ Atelier suivi de croissance : Avec des balances à la ferme ou le service de pesée d’Élevéo, il est possible de suivre de près les poids des bovins au cours de leur croissance.
⦁ Atelier outils de monitoring des bovins : Ces outils offrent un gain de temps et d’efficacité pour optimiser la santé et le cycle de reproduction des vaches.
⦁ Atelier outils de mesure des fourrages : De nombreux outils existent pour estimer la quantité de fourrage.
⦁ Atelier Génétique & Génomique : La génomique révolutionne la sélection animale en permettant de mieux anticiper les critères génétiques.
⦁ Atelier conseil d’accouplement : Un outil disponible sur My Awé Net fournit des conseils personnalisés sur les accouplements dans chaque troupeau, avec des calculs de consanguinité.
Ces services visent à accompagner les éleveurs pour améliorer à la fois la rentabilité et la durabilité de leur exploitation.
During the Beef Days 2024, Elevéo, Inovéo, and Digital Wallonia delved into optimizing cattle farm management for a sustainable future. Nearly 260 livestock enthusiasts participated in the first edition of the Beef Days. This event highlighted essential tools for cattle farmers, aiming to optimize production and profitability while adhering to a sustainable agricultural vision.
The farm visit focused on presenting the services offered to beef farmers and showcasing the Van Eyck family farm. This farm raises around 500 cattle and cultivates potatoes, cereals, maize, beets, and vegetables (beans, spinach, and broad beans). Additionally, the farm has an innovative irrigation network. A significant portion of the cattle feed is produced on-site: grass, beet pulp, cereals, etc.
The meat is mainly marketed through short supply chains via a cooperative of farmers. The owners themselves select which animals are destined for each point of sale, and both bulls and cows are fattened on the farm.
To advance their farming practices, the owners use the Ariane herd management software and its AriSmart application, as well as the awéSmart application, which allows them to synchronize data with SenseHub collars.
These tools facilitate decision-making.
During the Beef Days, six workshops were organized, highlighting practices or methods applied on this farm:
• Technical-Economic Parameters: The services offered by Elevéo allow farmers to closely monitor their production costs and compare themselves to other farms. Besides Elevéo’s management
accounting, which allows for a detailed quantification of the farm’s productivity in euros, many technical indicators are available. These various indicators enable farmers to closely track the performance of cattle on the farm and make the best decisions.
• Growth Monitoring: This monitoring allows tracking the herd and quickly detecting any growth delays. Early detection makes it possible to implement solutions such as adjusting the groups or mothers’ diet in the case of suckler herds. This monitoring also allows for sorting to choose future breeders and to know the overall productivity of a herd.
• Cattle Monitoring Tools: Detecting heat cycles, births, and health monitoring saves time and increases efficiency, optimizing the health and reproductive cycle of cows.
• Forage Measurement Tools: Digital tools for estimating the
quantities of grass and forage on the farm were presented
(herbometer, satellite, drone, spectrometers, etc.). Many tools are available to characterize grass and forage growth in terms of both quantity and quality, thus refining rationing plans.
• Genetics & Genomics: To compare animals in selection choices, it is important to correct observed performances by environmental
effects and thus look only at the genetic part. This is the only part that will be transmitted from generation to generation. Indexes are an estimate of the animals’ genetic potential. They are calculated using Elevéo’s database, combining known pedigrees, performances, and, for several years now, the DNA of individuals. It is called genomic evaluation when the animal’s DNA analysis is integrated.
• Belgian Blue Mating Advice: A tool available on My Awé Net provides personalized mating advice for each herd, including inbreeding calculations. An essential asset for optimizing the herd.
These services aim to help farmers improve both the profitability and sustainability of their operations.
Help the Organizers of Climate Farm Demo Demonstrations (or Other Livestock Open Days) to Close Their Demonstrations by Offering a Discussion and Conclusion Exercise with the Visitors/Breeders Present at the Demonstration
Europe
All zones
Benefits of the practice
- Help with summarizing the day
- Improvements for future demonstrations
- Time saving by using a facilitating tool
As part of the Climate Farm Demo project, we are opening the farms of our breeders involved in the project. We have carried out several demonstrations to date. At the end of the first open days, we realized how interesting it is to conclude the demonstration with a final exchange with the participants.
This “closing” exchange has 2 objectives:
⦁ Collect feedback from visitors present at the demo (what you liked about the demonstration, on the organization of the day, what could be improved, etc.) with the aim of improving the next demonstrations.
⦁ Give feedback to the farmers who received us by proposing to the participants present to send them a positive point, a piece of advice.
The benefit is it helps to end the demonstration with an exchange between the participants.
To create this concluding exchange we suggest using the flower-shaped drawing below. A facilitator questions the participants and notes their feedback on the flower, either directly with a pencil on it or using post-its and positions them on the diagram.
This ‘flower’ tool, which we have adapted from the FARM DEMO toolkit, is proving to be a very interesting and powerful ally for DEMOs. It enhances the value of the farmer’s work and gets the participants involved. It strengthens exchanges and creates links.
Dans le cadre du projet Climate Farm Demo, nous sommes amenés à ouvrir les fermes de nos éleveurs engagés dans le projet. Nous avons réalisé plusieurs démonstrations à ce jour. A l’issue des premières portes ouvertes, nous nous sommes rendu compte de l’intérêt de conclure la démonstration sur un dernier échange avec les participants.
Cet échange de « clôture » a 2 objectifs
⦁ Recueillir les retours des visiteurs présents à la démo (ce qui vous a plu sur l’exploitation, dans l’organisation de la journée, ce qui serait à améliorer…) dans l’objectif de s’améliorer encore dans les prochaines démonstrations à venir
⦁ Faire un retour aux agriculteurs qui nous ont reçus en proposant aux participants présents de leur renvoyer un point positif, un conseil.
Il permet ainsi de clôturer la démonstration sur une note d’échanges entre les participants.
Pour créer cet échange de conclusion nous proposons d’utiliser le dessin en forme de fleur ci-dessous. Un animateur interroge les participants et note sur la fleur leurs retours, soit directement au crayon dessus, soit à l’aide de post-its à positionner ensuite sur le schéma.
Cet outil “fleur”, que nous avons repris et adapté du “tool-kit” de FARM DEMO, se révèle un allier très intéressant et puissant pour les DEMOs. Il permet de valoriser le travail de l’éleveur / agriculteur et d’impliquer les participants. Il renforce les échanges et crée du lien.
This ‘flower’ tool, used at the end of the DEMO, fits in very naturally with the organisation of the days we schedule with our pilot farmers. We have simplified it compared with the model proposed as part of the Climate Farm Demo project, by focusing on a smaller number of questions (in the ‘petals’ of the ‘flower’) relating to what concerns us most in our day-to-day work.
This adaptation and transformation of the tool makes it more operational in the context of the way we currently operate as a company and is therefore more in line with the process of generating impact that we are seeking.
Indeed, participants in DEMO events have little time at the end of the DEMO and are more comfortable with this final workshop, which therefore seems less ‘impressive’ and a priori less ‘long’.
We plan to integrate this workshop into our routine process. It helps to meet the challenges typically encountered in organising a DEMO! Our aim with these demonstration open days is to find effective ways of communicating with breeders and renewing them to maintain a dynamic approach.
Preparing the logistics for the demo (messages to be conveyed, printing, stands, tables, microphones, etc.) is of course a key stage in guaranteeing a high-quality, smooth-running and enjoyable DEMO for the host farmer, the participants and for us too! We always think in advance about the best option for the way the demo will run, i.e. whether to set up groups or let the discussions organise themselves as they go along. This is decided based on the theme, the number of registered participants (and the type of participants – for example, if there are students from agricultural schools, etc.); whether there are invited experts for certain workshops; the type of demonstration materials, etc.
In our experience, the main factor in the success of a DEMO is its coorganisation with the farmer. Without the farmer’s motivation, the DEMOs will be meaningless! So, we always look first at what motivates the farmers.
We work with them on what interests them most, so that we can share the successes, problems and areas for improvement that they are facing on their farms, so that they can make progress. Co-organisation is an asset for creating a link with the farmer and gaining a more detailed understanding of the farm and the choices made.
Finally, these DEMOs as part of the Climate Farm Demo are a real opportunity to create links with our other activities on the ‘Climate’ topic.
The Climate Farm Demo project gives us the opportunity to work with a dozen ‘reference’ farms (our PDFs) over a long period of 6 years to look at ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This represents a training medium with the farmers, thanks to these concrete examples. This enables us to create a dynamic within a region or with farmers over the course of demonstration events, to make the issue of climate change less of a theoretical one.
The Pays de la Loire “Low-Carbon Pathway”: Studying the Carbon Footprint and the Production’s Costs Simultaneously
France
Atlantic Area
Benefits of the practice
- Competitiveness
- Carbon sequestration
- Global approach
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
During the DEMO organised in 2024 at Florent’s, one of the ‘Pilot Demo Farmers’ involved in the Climate Farm Demo project and supported by the Chamber of Agriculture, we experienced the benefits of combining the environment (CAP2ER®) and the economy (COUPROD®). This breeder of Limousin cows is an ‘animal farmer’ at heart, but that doesn’t prevent him from paying close attention to his environmental and economic performance! The CAP’2ER® audit enabled Florent to rationalise his crop rotation and refine his mechanisation strategy. As a result, he has reduced his stocking rate by increasing the amount of permanent grassland and has reduced his mineral nitrogen inputs by 25% in 5 years. His aim is to develop his protein autonomy through wet harvesting, to continue growing legumes (clover) and cover crops (fodder rye), and to increase the grazing period. Thanks to the genetic management of the herd, Florent can sort his animals quickly and adjust the mating schedule. COUPROD® has enabled him to improve the productivity of his livestock units. He aims at reaching an age at 1st calving of 30 months, to reduce the number of livestock units (LU) per calving to less than 1.6 and to maintain the Calving-Calving Interval at 365-370 days. Finally, Florent has invested in decarbonising energy on his farm, by equipping the roof of a storage building with photovoltaic panels, enabling him to be self-sufficient in electricity for the farm and the home (saving €1,000 a year on the electricity bill) and selling 145,000 kWh under contract per year (933 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided over 25 years).
This combined approach (CAP’2ER® + COUPROD®) has enabled Florent to achieve a number of important objectives: 1/ a carbon footprint that is better than the average for comparable farms; 2/ an improvement in the productivity of livestock (+34kg/livestock unit in 4 years); 3/ the introduction of a more extensive grazing and grassland system; 4/ self-sufficiency in electricity thanks to the photovoltaic panels.
Lors de la DEMO organisée fin 2024 chez Florent, l’un des « Pilot Demo Farmer », engagé dans Climate Farm Demo et accompagné par la Chambre d’Agriculture, nous avons pu mesurer l’intérêt de coupler environnement (CAP2ER®) et économie (COUPROD®). Cet éleveur sélectionneur de vaches Limousines est un animalier dans l’âme, ce qui ne l’empêche pas de porter une attention fine et attentive à ses performances environnementales et économiques ! Le CAP’2ER® a permis à Florent de réduire son chargement, en augmentant les surfaces à pâturer de prairies permanentes et a réduit de 25% ses apports en azote minéral en 5 ans. Son objectif est de développer l’autonomie protéique par un mode de récolte humide, de continuer la culture de légumineuses (trèfle) et de dérobées (seigle fourrager) ; enfin d’augmenter la durée de pâturage. Grâce au pilotage génétique du troupeau, Florent est réactif pour trier ses animaux et ajuster le planning d’accouplement. Le COUPROD® lui a permis d’améliorer la productivité des unités de gros bétail (UGB). Son objectif est d’arriver à un âge au 1er vêlage de 30 mois, de réduire le nombre d’UGB par vêlage à moins de 1,6 et de maintenir l’Intervalle Vêlage-Vêlage à 365-370 jours. Enfin, Florent a investi dans la décarbonation de l’énergie sur son exploitation. Il a équipé la toiture d’un bâtiment de stockage de panneaux photovoltaïques lui permettant d’atteindre l’autonomie en électricité sur l’exploitation et l’habitation (économies de 1 000 €/an sur la facture d’électricité) et réalisant des ventes de 145 000 kWh sous contrat/an. Cela correspond à 933 tonnes d’émissions de CO2 évitées sur 25 ans.
Cette démarche combinée (CAP’2ER® + COUPROD®) lui a permis d’atteindre plusieurs objectifs importants : 1/ une empreinte carbone meilleure que la moyenne des élevages comparables ; 2/ une amélioration de la productivité des UGB (+34kg/UGB en 4 ans) ; 3/ la mise en place d’un système pâturant plus extensif et herbager : 4/ une autonomie électrique avec les panneaux photovoltaïques. SUMMARY FOR PRACTICIONERS ON TH
Launched in 2020 by the Pays de la Loire Region, the ‘low-carbon pathway’ enables cattle farmers to evaluate and improve their environmental and economic performance simultaneously. By combining a CAP2ER®
diagnosis with a COUPROD® assessment, farmers have a very precise overall view of their potential room for manoeuvre! The Climate Farm Demo project is helping to create synergies at local level by focusing on on-farm demonstrations and boosting the spread of these good environmental AND economic practices to a wider audience.
Beyond the concrete case of Florent, our Pilot Demo Farmer, the feedback from farmers is very positive!
“Thanks to the CAP’2ER® environmental assessment, I’ve come to realise that we farmers are not as destructive of the environment as people would have us believe! On the contrary, my grassland system allows me to store carbon thanks to my pastures and my hedgerows, and to maintain
biodiversity while feeding the population! What’s more, on low-potential soils, cows help to preserve grassland. By carrying out the COUPROD® economic analysis at the same time, I was able to better understand the production costs and the cost price of my kg of meat. Before, I was producing without knowing this, and that’s a shame, because it helps you to understand what’s going well and what’s not, and to be able to improve.
For example, I realised that I had a lot of unproductive animals, which reduced my technical and economic efficiency. Now I’m trying to improve that by getting rid of empty cows or problem cows quickly. I’m also trying to wean my males earlier.” Says Jacky, a 58-year-old farmer.
“I carried out this ‘low carbon course’ as part of a progress group of beef farmers. What I liked most was the trust between us and the transparency of the figures. This enabled us to learn from each other’s different points of view. We were able to compare our performances. With CAP’2ER® I was able to see my impact on the environment more clearly, thanks to concrete figures. I learned, for example, that my grasslands and hedgerows compensate for 44% of my carbon emissions, which significantly reduces my carbon footprint, especially in an extensive system like mine. We need to stop denigrating beef cattle production, which is one of the few to compensate for a large proportion of its emissions. The analysis of production costs enabled me to point out my weak points, such as the age at first calving or the excessive number of cows compared with the number of calves. I’ve been able to see that one of my strong points is the production of live meat per LU, and that I’ve got my production costs under control. I try to have a moderate investment policy that’s adapted to the farm. These elements are a real advantage when it comes to understanding your system and your practices and help you to improve. Data is a good tool for communicating”. Reports Jean-Marc, a 41-year-old farmer.
Soil Health as Capital: How Ongoing Experimentation Builds Sustainable and Productive Farming
Belgium
Temperate Maritime Climate
Benefits of the practice
2. Reduced chemical inputs
3. Visible improvements in crop resilience
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
By continuously experimenting and adapting, Stijn De Wulf, one of the Belgium Pilot Demo Farmers was able to manage sustainable farming with improved soil health and productivity.
Main Findings:
⦁ Transition to Sustainable Practices: Stijn De Wulf shifted from traditional plowing to non-inversion tillage, complex cover crops, and smart crop combinations. This transition was challenging but has shown positive effects in the field.
⦁ Reduction in Chemical Inputs: Stijn has significantly reduced the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. He now grows his own animal feed autonomously and uses organic manure as a valuable resource.
⦁ Improved Soil Health: The changes in soil management have led to better soil structure and fertility, with visible improvements in crop yields and resilience.
Innovative Solutions:
⦁ Complex Cover Crops: These consist of at least 7-9 components, enhancing soil biology and plant resilience. They help break soil compaction, improve nutrient and water availability, and provide additional benefits like weed suppression and carbon storage.
⦁ Direct Seeding Machine: Demonstrated by Bert Defruyt, this machine combines strip-till and direct seeding techniques, reducing soil disturbance and preserving soil moisture. It works on various soil types and allows for immediate seeding after crops like wheat, beets, and maize.
⦁ Carbon Farming: This involves adopting climate-friendly practices that enhance carbon sequestration in soils and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Farmers can receive compensation through eco-schemes and private markets for implementing these practices.
Conclusion: Stijn De Wulf’s approach highlights the importance of tailored soil management practices. By continuously experimenting and adapting, he has achieved sustainable farming with improved soil health and productivity.
Belangrijkste Bevindingen:
⦁ Overgang naar duurzame praktijken: Stijn De Wulf schakelde over van traditioneel ploegen naar niet-kerende bodembewerking, complexe groenbemesters en slimme teeltcombinaties. Deze overgang was uitdagend, maar heeft positieve effecten in het veld laten zien.
⦁ Vermindering van chemische inputs: Stijn heeft het gebruik van kunstmest en pesticiden aanzienlijk verminderd. Hij teelt nu volledig autonoom zijn eigen veevoeder en ziet organische mest als een waardevolle bron.
⦁ Verbeterde bodemgezondheid: De veranderingen in bodembeheer hebben geleid tot een betere bodemstructuur en vruchtbaarheid, met zichtbare verbeteringen in gewasopbrengsten en veerkracht.
Aanpak:
⦁ Complexe groenbemesters: Deze bestaan uit minstens 7-9 componenten, die de bodembiologie en plantweerbaarheid verbeteren. Ze helpen bodemverdichting te doorbreken, verbeteren de beschikbaarheid van nutriënten en water, en bieden extra voordelen zoals onkruidonderdrukking en koolstofopslag.
⦁ Directzaaimachine: Deze machine combineert strip-till en directzaai, waardoor de bodemverstoring wordt verminderd en de bodemvochtigheid behouden blijft. Het werkt op verschillende grondsoorten en maakt directe inzaai na gewassen zoals tarwe, bieten en maïs mogelijk.
⦁ Carbon Farming: Dit omvat klimaatvriendelijke praktijken die de koolstofvastlegging in bodems verbeteren en de uitstoot van broeikasgassen verminderen. Boeren kunnen compensatie ontvangen via ecoregelingen en de private markt voor het implementeren van deze praktijken.
Conclusie: De aanpak van Stijn De Wulf benadrukt het belang van op maat gemaakte bodembeheerpraktijken. Door continu te experimenteren en aan te passen, heeft hij duurzame landbouw bereikt met verbeterde bodemgezondheid en productiviteit.
Stijn De Wulf welcomed the participants to his mixed farm in Ledegem, where he has 75 dairy cows and cultivates 100 hectares of arable land. About five years ago, he changed his approach to soil management. He stopped plowing and started using non-inversion tillage, cover crops, and smart crop combinations (such as herb-rich grassland). This transition was not without challenges, but the positive effects are now beginning to show in the field.
For Stijn, this is an extra incentive to continue experimenting with new measures and to make small adjustments every year.
Stijn now grows his own animal feed completely autonomously, uses fewer phytosanitary products, and sees organic manure as an asset. He has to make do with what he has. For example, 11 years ago, he built a new dairy barn with a manure cellar. He thus has slurry but would actually like to use more farmyard manure. He cannot change that situation now, but he can change how he handles his slurry. In short, every farm and every situation are different and requires an individual approach to focus on the soil.
The demonstration at Stijn’s farm was successful. Techniques were shown, experts were present, and the positive impact of several measures on soil health was visible
More specifically, Diederik Van Colen from Natural Grown emphasized the importance of good cooperation between soil biology and plants for good production and plant resistance to diseases and pests. The more complex the activity above ground, the greater the richness below ground. Complex cover crops consist of at least 7 to 9 components and stimulate soil biology through this diversity. The different components have different and often stronger and deeper rooting, which can also break through soil compaction, increasing nutrient and water availability. Additionally, they offer other benefits such as improved drainage capacity, weed suppression, and organic carbon storage. Stijn uses several complex mixtures that we could observe on-site. Legumes are an important part of the mixtures because they ‘capture free nitrogen from the air,’ reducing the need for fertilization.
Bert Defruyt (Loonwerken Defruyt) demonstrated the Claydon direct seeding machine, which offers a simplified seeding technique combining strip-till with direct seeding. One advantage is that limited soil tillage reduces soil drying. Other benefits include not disturbing soil life and ensuring a firm subsoil for better field accessibility in spring. It is possible to sow directly after wheat, beets, maize, and even in grass. The machine works on all soil types.
Throughout the demonstrations and presentations, it became clear that taking care of your soil leads to a more resilient and fertile soil in the long term. This sometimes requires learning and effort, without a doubt.
Therefore, it can help to look for ways to mitigate potential risks, such as subsidies and compensations through a private market. This is where carbon farming comes into play. A complicated term often mentioned now, but it simply means that as a farmer, you are compensated for climatefriendly practices that improve carbon sequestration and storage in soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the soil. Today, several eco-schemes are available to provide support, including the farm-based eco-scheme ‘Increasing organic carbon content.’ Additionally, you can turn to the private market, such as the local compensation platform Claire, and the collaboration between Soil Capital and Arvesta. These initiatives sell your carbon storage within or outside the agri-food chain in the form of CO2 compensation to companies that cannot fully offset their own emissions.
Water Management Dialogue Matrix: A Good Conversation About Climate Smart Solutions
Europe
All Zones
Benefits of the practice
- Climate smart water measures
- Dialogue
- Engaging farmer
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
Droughts and heavy rainfall are threatening agricultural production across Europe. How can experts, farmers and advisors have constructive conversations about climate smart water management? And how can you facilitate these conversations in an interactive way? In the Netherlands, we have good experience with the water management dialogue matrix; a tool to talk about water management measures and discuss implications for farmers.
Objective: to inform farm visitors and start a conversation about climate smart water measures. For example, in the Netherlands we talked about above-ground water storage.
Dialogue matrix:
The dialogue matrix tool consists of 6 easy to follow steps. The first and second steps require some preparation by an expert (e.g. a researcher, farmer with lots of experience, and an advisor).
⦁ Prepare a list of maximum 10 climate smart water measures, appropriate to your local context. Think about e.g. above or below ground water storage, crop rotations or soil measures.
⦁ Define each measure in one or two sentences
⦁ Prepare the table below and print on A4 paper
⦁ Hand out the table to each demo visitor
⦁ Let them individually score each measure on effectiveness and feasibility (1= low, 5= high)
⦁ Plenaries discuss the answers of the audience and place each measure within the matrix below: how effective is each measure? And how feasible is it to implement?
Target audience: The water management dialogue matrix can be used in sessions with farmers, local stakeholders, and advisors.
Droogtes en hevige regenval bedreigen de landbouwproductie in heel Europa. Hoe kunnen experts, boeren en adviseurs constructieve gesprekken voeren over klimaatslim waterbeheer? En hoe kun je deze gesprekken op een interactieve manier faciliteren? In Nederland hebben we goede ervaringen met de dialoogmatrix rond watermanagement; een hulpmiddel om te praten over watermanagementmaatregelen en met boeren de implicaties van zulke maatregelen te bespreken.
Doel: bezoekers van demo bijeenkomsten informeren en een gesprek starten over klimaat slimme watermaatregelen. In de regio Veenkoloniën hebben we het bijvoorbeeld gehad over bovengrondse wateropslag.
Dialoogmatrix:
De dialoogmatrix tool bestaat uit 6 eenvoudig te volgen stappen. De eerste en tweede stap vereist enige voorbereiding door een expert (bijv. een onderzoeker, boer met veel ervaring, adviseur).
⦁ Maak een lijst van maximaal 10 klimaat slimme maatregelen, passend bij je lokale context. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan boven- of ondergrondse wateropslag, vruchtwisseling of bodemmaatregelen
⦁ Definieer elke maatregel in één of twee zinnen
⦁ Maak de onderstaande tabel en print deze uit op A4-papier;
⦁ Deel de tabel uit aan elke demobezoeker
⦁ Laat ze individueel elke maatregel scoren op effectiviteit en haalbaarheid (1= laag, 5= hoog) – check Table 1 for more detail
⦁ Bespreek plenair de antwoorden en plaats elke maatregel in de onderstaande matrix: hoe effectief is elke maatregel? En hoe haalbaar is het om te implementeren? – check Figure 1 for more details
Doelgroep: De dialoogmatrix kan worden gebruikt in gesprek met boeren en adviseurs.
Knowledge Transfer and Exchange & Sustainable Agricultural Innovation
Hungary
Continental Climate
Benefits of the practice
- Practical knowledge transfer
- Sustainable and climate-smart farming solutions
- Collaboration between academia, advisors, and farmers
Production system(s)
Thematic Area(s)
The Albert Kázmér Faculty of Széchenyi István University operates a network of approximately 70 demonstration farms, model farms, and recognized training sites, providing a comprehensive practical demonstration and knowledge transfer infrastructure.
The network consists of diverse and innovative farms and enterprises, ranging from small, specialized farms to large multi-sector agribusinesses. Members are engaged in various agricultural sectors, including livestock farming, mixed farming, arable crop production, horticulture, the food industry, and agricultural finance. 12% of the network farms operate under organic farming principles.
The Faculty actively collaborates with network members, engaging in joint projects and research with partners committed to innovation, sustainability, and digitalization.
Many demonstration farms apply a holistic, circular farming approach, ensuring efficient resource use and long-term sustainability.
The demonstration farms serve as living laboratories, allowing for the real-world testing and implementation of climate adaptation solutions, precision farming techniques, and sustainable soil management practices. Participants gain not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience with cutting-edge agricultural technologies, equipping them with practical skills for sustainable and modern farming.
A Széchenyi István Egyetem Albert Kázmér Karának mintegy 70 mintagazdasága/mintaüzeme/elismert gyakorló helye átfogó gyakorlati demonstrációs és tudásátadási infrastruktúrát biztosít.
A hálózat sokszínű és innovatív gazdaságokat és vállalkozásokat foglal magában, a kis, specializált gazdaságoktól a nagyméretű, több ágazatot lefedő agrárvállalkozásokig. A tagok tevékenysége többek között kiterjed az állattenyésztésre, a vegyes gazdálkodásra, a szántóföldi növénytermesztésre, a kertészetre, az élelmiszeriparra és a pénzügyi szektorra. A hálózatba tartozó gazdaságok 12%-a biogazdálkodást folytat.
A Kar aktív kapcsolatot ápol a hálózat tagjaival, és közös projekteken és kutatásokon keresztül dolgozik együtt azokkal a partnerekkel, akik elkötelezettek az innováció, a fenntarthatóság és a digitalizáció iránt.
Számos mintagazdaság holisztikus, körforgásos gazdálkodási megközelítést alkalmaz, amely biztosítja az erőforrások hatékony felhasználását és a hosszú távú fenntarthatóságot.
A bemutató gazdaságok lehetőséget biztosítanak a klímaadaptációs megoldások, precíziós gazdálkodási technikák és fenntartható talajhasználati módszerek valós környezetben történő kipróbálására és megismerésére. A résztvevők nemcsak elméleti tudást kapnak, hanem lehetőségük nyílik a legmodernebb technológiák gyakorlati alkalmazására is.