WR Living Lab - Netherlands
Name / Location | Arable farming region, The Netherlands |
Lead Partner | DELPHY  |
Agroecological Zone | Temperate Atlantic |
Climate Type | Temperate Oceanic |
Legumes Tested |
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Cropping System Type | Diversified arable crop rotations with intercropping and cover cropping |
Agroecological Practices Applied |
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Living Lab Board Composition | Farmers, crop advisors, researchers, agri-food stakeholders and regional actors (10 members) |
Duration of Field Trials | 3 growing seasons |
Key Ecosystem Services Targeted |
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Overview
The Dutch Living Lab coordinated by DELPHY focuses on integrating annual grain legumes—faba bean and lupin—into intensive arable systems.
In a context where protein crops are largely imported and rotations are dominated by cereals and root crops, this Living Lab explores how locally grown grain legumes can strengthen nitrogen cycling, enhance crop diversification and contribute to European protein autonomy.
By testing intercropping strategies and covering cropping combinations, the Lab generates practical, field-based evidence to support economically viable legume integration in high-productivity systems.
Main Challenges
Dutch arable systems face structural and market-related challenges:
- High reliance on imported protein crops
- Limited inclusion of grain legumes in crop rotations
- Strong dependency on mineral nitrogen fertilisers
- Weed pressure in simplified cereal systems
- Market uncertainty for domestic legume production
These constraints hinder diversification and slow the transition towards more resilient cropping systems.
Legume-Based Response
Agroecological Strategy
The DELPHY Living Lab promotes annual grain legumes as key diversification crops through:
- Intercropping systems combining faba bean or lupin with cereals
- Cover cropping strategies to improve nitrogen retention
- Genotype evaluation to optimise adaptation to Dutch climatic conditions
- Rotation redesign incorporating protein crops
This approach enhances nitrogen fixation while reducing input dependency and improving rotation performance.
Cropping Systems Demonstrated
Indicative rotation schemes include:
- Faba bean → Wheat → Lupin
- Grain legume–cereal intercropping systems
The Living Lab evaluates:
- Nitrogen fixation efficiency and transfer
- Yield performance and grain quality
- Weed suppression capacity
- Soil fertility indicators
- Economic viability of protein crop inclusion
Data collection follows harmonised protocols to support agronomic, environmental and economic assessments within VALERECO.
Demonstration & Co-Creation
The DELPHY Living Lab operates as a practice-oriented innovation platform, engaging:
- Commercial arable farmers
- Crop advisors
- Protein value-chain actors
- Researchers and policy stakeholders
Demonstration of events and advisory exchanges ensure that findings are directly translated into practical recommendations.
The results contribute to:
- Cost–benefit analyses of grain legume inclusion
- Life Cycle Assessments
- Calibration of the Decision Support System (DSS)
- Development of policy recommendations supporting domestic protein production
Expected Impact
The Netherlands (DELPHY) Living Lab contributes to:
- Increased domestic production of grain legumes
- Reduced nitrogen fertiliser requirements
- Enhanced crop rotation diversity
- Improved weed regulation through intercropping
- Strengthened EU protein autonomy
By integrating annual grain legumes into intensive arable systems, this Living Lab demonstrates scalable solutions supporting both environmental sustainability and strategic protein diversification in Europe.
