KT&I Gateway
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Flourishing Farm |
Summary: This ‘Flourishing Farm’ project involves over 500 farmers in a collective effort to increase functional biodiversity on and around their farms in the Netherlands. The partnership is supported by over 30 regional partners. The farmer group receives technical advice from the Louis Bolk Institute, local conservation organisations, an association of organic dairy farmers and two other farmers associations.
Overall purpose: The main aim of this ‘Flourishing Company’ project is to enhance the diversity and abundance of natural enemies of crop pests, a strategy which in turn reduces the need for chemical crop protection materials.
Results and recommendations: In 2011 the farmers in the group created over 600 kilometers of wild flower field margins, and the number of participants keeps growing. Their objective is to increase the diversity and abundance of natural enemies of crop pests. By providing more room for natural pest control the need for chemical pesticides is reduced. Project results are published on the website of the Flourishing Farm project. Based on field observations in 2011 the Louis Bolk Institute has put together a waterproof mini field guide of beneficial biodiversity.
Project contact:
Project Leader Merijn Bos
m.bos@louisbolk.nl
