'Agriculture and biodiversity can go hand in hand'

To what extent do agriculture and biodiversity go hand in hand? How do we make this practically feasible and feasible? And what options are there to stimulate biodiversity in rural areas? GreenBASE wants to be able to provide a solid answer to these kinds of questions in the coming years. "It is important that it is practically feasible and not too compelling for entrepreneurs. It must be a sausage, not a stick," says Jaap Bond, deputy and portfolio holder for agriculture of the province of Noord-Holland.

GreenBASE is a partnership in the Haarlemmermeer of 7 parties consisting of 6 arable farmers, LTO Noord, Agrarisch collective Noord-Holland Zuid, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the province of Noord-Holland, NMCX Center for Sustainability, Center for Agriculture and Environment (CLM) and Bayer .

These parties are taking the lead in bringing agriculture and nature closer together and in stimulating biodiversity in the agricultural area. GreenBASE therefore stands for biodiversity in Bermen, Akkerranden, Sloten and Erven.

Meeting at Forward Farm 
In order to properly highlight the joint plans and intentions, the representatives of all parties came to the Forward Farm in Abbenes on 14 June. "We have been working on sustainability and biodiversity at the Forward Farm since 2015. Here you can see daily practice with all its unruly sides. More biodiversity on farms is possible, but it requires a focused and farm-crossing approach." this is how Joris Roskam of Bayer opened the meeting.

Gijs Kuneman, director of CLM, then took over and asked all participating parties how they want to implement GreenBASE and what they expect from it.

(Text continues below the image)Kuneman asked all participating parties how they would like to implement it. 

Leony Tensen of LTO Noord/Collectief explains that a lot has changed at the 6 participating arable farms (for the benefit of more biodiversity). For example, various beehives have been placed and field edges and shrubs have been laid. She notices that it triggers a new kind of enthusiasm in many participants. "Because you immerse yourself in the material, you also see more. That makes it more fun. A colleague recently had a kestrel under the hood of the shed; we all get a smile from our mouth."

Participating arable farmer Richard Enthoven explains that sowing field margins provides a lot of new knowledge. "You recognize useful insects and see that they get further into the crop than you thought beforehand. That deepening makes it interesting." However, he emphasizes that not everything is all fun. Flower borders also cause more weeds, which are difficult to control because of the spray-free zone. "So it doesn't happen automatically, it takes extra effort."

Involving people in the project
Arjanne Lagendijk of NMCX Center for Sustainability is committed to involving as many people as possible in the project. "Cities and rural areas still have too much of their own agenda in the field of biodiversity; we want to connect them more closely. We are therefore working on making companies, organizations and schools enthusiastic and literally luring them outside. Hopefully we can do this with GreenBASE show how much beauty there is to experience in the countryside." In order to maintain the enthusiasm for biodiversity, she advocates making this measurable as much as possible. "You have to know what has been achieved in 1 year; with results you keep all parties on their toes."

Hinse Boonstra van Bayer indicates that 'hard results' regarding biodiversity are difficult to achieve for the time being. "At the Forward Farm we try out many things, where there is by no means always a prospect of results. So it is still an open-ended learning process." He also emphasizes that increasing biodiversity is not just a task for farmers. "We have to work together as broadly as possible in this area. Why don't we involve site and road verge managers too? Rijkswaterstaat and ProRail also manage a lot of land in this area; they could perhaps play a role."

(Text continues below the image)Boonstra: "We try out at the Forward Farm, which does not always lead to results."

'Not a stick, but a sausage'
Jack Bond, In his speech, the provincial executive and portfolio holder for agriculture of the province of Noord-Holland, discussed the crucial role that farmers play in the project. "We need entrepreneurs who want to integrate increasing biodiversity into their business operations with a positive attitude. For this it is important that it is practically feasible and not enforced. It must be 'a sausage and not a stick', so to speak. should be leading in my opinion; then agriculture and biodiversity can go hand in hand."

Bond also attaches great importance to a long-term vision. "Too often projects fail as a result of the cessation of subsidies. With GreenBASE we must prevent this; it must become a project that is widely embraced and supported long-term. We ourselves try to revise our lease contracts in such a way that biodiversity is given a clear role in it. That gives us less rent, but that's the way it is. In any case, this shows that biodiversity has value for us."

John Nederstigt, alderman for the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, sees GreenBASE as a challenge to make the municipality more beautiful and attractive. "We notice that flower borders have a positive effect on the population. After a bike ride along companies with a beautiful field edge, people are proud to live in such a region again. Investing in biodiversity therefore not only has natural value, but also provides fun and connection ." 

The municipality itself has, among other things, adjusted the roadside management, whereby mowing (and removal) takes place once. "With this we hope to get more flowers and herbs on our roadsides. We hope to learn a bit more about the most suitable mixture here at the Forward Farm, because biodiversity is still a major learning process for us too."Afterwards, all those present were given a tour of the Forward Farm.

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