| Title | BO-07-432 The importance of Agro-biodiversity for a transition towards a more sustainable agriculture |
|---|---|
| Period | 01 / 2004 - 12 / 2007 |
| Status | Completed |
| Research number | OND1302592 |
| Data Supplier | METIS Wageningen Universiteit en Researchcentrum |
| With the signing of the Rio convention (Convention on Biological Diversity) the Netherlands has taken on the responsibility to preserve biological diversity on its territory. This has been developed further in diplomatic notes `Natuur voor mensen, mensen voor natuur , NMP4 and Bronnen van bestaan . NMP4 explicitly demands research towards agrobiodiversity. Besides biodiversity goals the Dutch government also focuses on sustainable agricultural production. In this respect the diplomatic note Zicht op Gezonde Teelt , which focuses on a reduction of crop protection agents, is of major importance. Furthermore, within the framework of the reorientation on the soil nutrition policy, the Dutch government puts emphasis on a reduction of external inputs in agriculture and the promotion of a more natural soil fertility. For this, the TCB advise duurzamer bodemgebruik op ecologische grondslag is important. Finally, the research is important for a further development of rural areas (nota vitaal platteland). The promotion of a sustainable use of agrobiodiversity in which an optimal use is made of ecological relations between organisms, is the key factor in Dutch agricultural policy. Ultimately, this should result in a sustainable agricultural production, which is appreciated and valued by society (people, planet profit). With the proposed research we will try to answer the following policy related questions as they were formulated in the Kaderbrief 2004 : 1) Is it possible to control insect plagues on the farm level by structuring the landscape and the green-blue veining (e.g. land and water non-crop elements), in such a way that optimal use is made of natural enemies of these insects, if necessary in combination with measures on the crop culturing level? 2) What is the role of soil biodiversity in the prevention of diseases and natural soil fertility? 3) What is the relationship between above and below ground biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems Besides this the program will give support to the LTO project functional agrobiodiversity: healthy crops in a biological rich and divers environment and to the program Koeien en Kansen . Objective and results: Biodiversity is decreasing worldwide, variation within species is lost, species go extinct, whole ecosystems become disturbed or disappear. To a certain level this also applies to Dutch agriculture. In the draft version of the vision paper on agrobiodiversity, that is being written at this moment by the collaborative effort of several ministries in the Netherlands, the starting-point is that this trend should be stopped. Agreements need to be made regarding the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity as an integral part of agricultural policy. Also it is pointed out that a transition process is needed to reach sustainability in agricultural production. In that process we need to create new solutions an make better and smarter use of biodiversity in agriculture. Conservation and sustainable use offers new opportunities for sustainable agriculture and more vital rural areas, is the message that needs to be told. This program explores these opportunities. It starts from acknowledging that there are many chances for a better use of agrobiodiversity. However, before these can be put to use in practice, research is needed. To enlarge the chances on actual use of the knowledge gained, projects are linked to networks of farmers, whenever possible. Within the theme disease and plague regulation in relation to cropping system and green-blue veining possibilities for the use of natural enemies for the control of insect plagues are explored. This theme will amongst others result in quantitative knowledge on suppression of plague insects via green-blue veining. Also it will identify possibilities that a farmer has to control insect plagues. As effectiveness of plague regulation strongly depends on the structure of the landscape, also rules for the development of landscapes with improved plague regulating activity will be produced. In other words we will try to identify areas that have the best chances for regulating insect plagues via green-blue veining. This is also the major issue in the LTO-FAB project. Also the theme healthy soils, nutrients and prevention of pests and diseases is carried out in close collaboration with farmers that are active in networks. Here, the aim is to develop applicable biological indicators for soil quality and tests for determining the disease suppressing capacity of soils. In addition, knowledge with respect to effects of agricultural practices on biodiversity, soil quality and disease suppressiveness will be generated. There is a direct link with the project soil-biological indicator of the Dutch network on soil quality coordinated by the RIVM. As the largest part of the territory of The Netherlands is in use for agriculture (70%), the question was raised how important this area is for species diversity. This question is also addressed in this program. Part of this diversity may be important for increasing sustainability. Finally agrobiodiversity program supports the Koeien en Kansen network with research aiming at biological indicators important for dairy farmers. Publications of this programme are available Here |
| Doel: De huidige landbouwproductiesystemen zijn vaak voor een groot gedeelte niet duurzaam. Dit thema probeert de duurzaamheid van dit soort systemen te verbeteren door de relaties tussen biodiversiteit en landbouw te onderzoeken. Werkwijze Het onderzoek richt zich op 2 thema s. Binnen het thema Biodiversiteit en bodemgezondheid wordt geprobeerd te komen tot praktisch toepasbare bodem-biologische indicatoren voor bodemkwaliteit en toetsen van de ziektewering door de bodem. Binnen het tweede thema, ziekte- en plaagregulatie tot teeltsystemen en Groen Blauwe DoorAdering (GBDA), worden de mogelijkheden verkend van aanwezige organismen binnen de GBDA om plaaginsecten te onderdrukken. Resultaten Praktische indicatoren voor bodemkwaliteit en ziektewerend vermogen Microorganismen (bacteriën, schimmels en microarthropoden) bieden inzicht in het functioneren van het bodemleven en mineralisatieprocessen: ze zijn indicatoren van bodemkwaliteit. Door bepaalde teeltmaatregelen kan de diversiteit en het functioneren van het bodemleven worden verbeterd. Ontwerpregels voor landschappen met verbeterde plaagregulatie Verschillende typen landschapselementen (bos, houtwallen, greppels, weiland, wegbermen) kunnen de effectiviteit van natuurlijke vijanden verschillend beïnvloeden bij het onderdrukken van plagen in kool. Door gebruik te maken van ruimtelijke modellen worden ontwerpeisen. Kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve kennis over plaagdierregulatie Infectiebronnen en bronnen van natuurlijke vijanden worden op en rond het bedrijf kwantitatief in kaart gebracht voor het plaagcomplex in kool. Het gaat daarbij vooral om bladluizen en rupsen en hun natuurlijke vijanden die gebonden zijn aan kool, kruisbloemige groenbemesters en kruisbloemige onkruiden in de gewassen. Publicaties bij dit programma zijn beschikbaar via deze Link |
| Secretariat | Plant Research International (WUR) |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | Alterra (WUR) |
| Financier | Department of Knowledge (EL&I) |
| Collaboration | Wageningen UR Livestock Research (WUR) |
| Project leader | Dr. B. Vosman |
|---|
| A21000 | Agriculture and horticulture |
|---|---|
| D22400 | Ecology |
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