Pilot projects nature-inclusive farming
Within the EU LIFE project LIFE B4B 'Belgium for Biodiversity', the Flemish Land Agency and the Agency for NAture and Forest will strengthen their efforts on nature-inclusive agriculture in some pilot areas in Flanders. In the B4B nature-inclusive agriculture project, INBO is using Soft Systems Methodology to explore the opportunities that farmers and other actors see there to work more nature-inclusively. This involves both measures in function of certain species or habitats and agro-ecological practices.
Cereal worthy
The project Cereal worthy is a follow-up project to the Cereal Farming with Nature project. This European Innovation Partnership project is building a sustainable partnership in the cultivation and processing of ancient cereals, also focusing on cooperation with biodiversity. This project is pulled by Flanders' Food.
Sheep grazing in winter
The Sheep grazing between nature and agriculture, towards a profitable and circular business model project is also a follow-up project to the Cereal Farming with Nature project. Sheep farmers, who graze their animals in natural areas in summer, have little fodder in winter. Light grazing by sheep in winter can improve cereal lodging in spring and improve productivity. This European Innovation Partnership project explores this potential win-win.
Coaching farmers towards nature-inclusive agriculture
The project Coaching farmers towards nature-inclusieve agriculture, funded by the Agency for Nature and Forests, guides three motivated farmers towards more nature-inclusive farming. Guidance is provided by the consulting firms Mieco-Effect and Wim Govaerts & co. INBO provides scientific support on biodiversity.
GoNaturePositive
The EU HORIZON project GoNaturePositive explores what an economy with positive impact on nature could look like. One of the applications it is investigating is agriculture.
Nut weevil in food forests
"A though nut to crack? Natural dynamics of antagonist communities affecting fitness of a nut tree pest insect in food forests" This is the doctoral research of Fien Debussche (FWO, VUB). She investigates how natural communities of pest insects in food forests can prevent problems with nut weevils.
Agriwilding
"AGRIWILDING: evaluating the potential of merging biodiversity restoration and sustainable food production in future agri-environmental schemes." This is the doctoral research of Frederik Van den Eeckhaut (FWO, VUB). He investigates 'edible nature' ecosystems, with the farmer as the keystone species, guided by ecological succession.
Past Projetcs
Green-blue business models for farmers
In the project Green-blue business models for farmers commissioned by the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, INBO explores inspiring examples and policies for green-blue measures in the agricultural area. Together with Bolhuis and Mieco-effect, some promising examples are calculated in business terms. Read the final report.
Urban agriculture in Brussels
Can scraps of (former) agricultural land with green zoning in the outskirts of the Brussels Region serve nature restoration and agro-ecological agriculture at the same time? During the project Urban agriculture in Brussels, we found 76 inspiring cases in Belgium and abroad and chose eight of them for deeper research. From these we concluded that agroecological farmers are important partners for policy. Read the final report.
Cereal farmers with nature
The Cereal Farming with Nature project brought together 15 farmers, millers and bakers to study agro-ecological practices at the Agro-Ecology Trial Platform in Hansbeke and experiment together. Based on joint discussions, researchers collect data, which are then discussed with the farmers, millers and bakers. This project is the result of the Project Call Agriculture-Nature: in search of a win-win. Read the final report.
Wildlife friendly farming
In the Protecting the Area's Resources Through Researched Innovative Demonstration of Good Examples (PARTRIDGE) project, we are conducting ecological and socio-economic research on the feasibility and impacts of wildlife-friendly farming on partridge populations (flagship species), biodiversity and ecosystem services.
short rotation coppice
INBO is participating in the AD LIBIO research project on renewable energy by conducting research on short rotation woodland. This biomass cultivation can increase biodiversity in the agricultural landscape and provide other services such as carbon fixation, erosion prevention, wind protection and natural pest control. In addition, it can also be a strategy for a farmer to produce his own energy. On the other hand, cultivation can also have negative effects on the environment and the cost can quickly add up if the wrong decisions are made.
Hamster protection
INBO conducted an evaluation of 25 years of hamster protection and policy in the Netherlands.