Update welzijnsprestaties biologische veehouderij

Dit rapport geeft een actuele weergave van de werkelijke welzijnsprestaties van de biologische veehouderijsectoren, en welke ontwikkelingen er gaande zijn. Aan de hand van verbeteragenda's wordt aangegeven waar en hoe nog welzijnswinst te behalen is. De biologische veehouderij wil laten zien dat ze staat voor een maatschappelijk verantwoorde en duurzame productie, met aandacht voor milieu, klimaat, natuur en landschap, voedselkwaliteit, inkomen en dierenwelzijn. Dierenwelzijn als één van de thema’s van duurzaamheid staat centraal in deze rapportage. De bestaande kennis over dit onderwerp is geïnventariseerd voor de melkvee-, varkens-, pluimvee-, schapen- en geitensectoren. De welzijnsprestaties zijn gebaseerd op dierkenmerken en zijn ingedeeld in vier welzijnsklassen: gedrag, gezondheid, comfort en voeding (Welfare Quality®, 2009). Omdat geen algemeen geaccepteerde en geldende manier bestaat om welzijnscriteria tegen elkaar af te wegen, zijn voor de uiteenzetting van welzijnsprestaties alleen individuele welzijnscriteria gehanteerd

Optimal length of the grass-clover period in crop rotations: results of a 9-year field experiment under organic conditions

A nine year crop rotation experiment was carried out in the Netherlands from 2002 through 2010 to (1) determine the optimal length of the grass-clover (mixture) and maize period in crop rotations and (2) to determine which crops should receive slurry application with priority in case the availability of cattle slurry is limited. The results show that dry matter yield decreased for all treatments over the experimental period, due to a decrease in plant-available N (from N fixation by the clover, applied slurry and mineralization of soil N). The relative yield increase (increase relative to the negative trend) due to slurry application was largest when all crops received slurry application, and the effects of slurry application increased over time

Integrating maize and triticale in grass/clover based dairy systems: examining yields and autumn soil nitrate levels

To establish N-efficient crop rotations with perennial ryegrass/white clover, maize and triticale, a 9-year field experiment was executed on an organic experimental farm in the Netherlands. Crop rotations with different levels of slurry (dairy effluent from the free-stall barn, average dry matter content of 7%) application were tested for dry matter (DM) yield, N yield, soil mineral N in autumn, soil organic matter and soil organic N. Maize cropping and slurry application both increased annual DM yield. However, the second year of grass/ clover following maize, maize itself and slurry applications each resulted in higher soil mineral N in autumn, increasing the risk of nitrate leaching losses. A rotation of 4 years of grass/clover, 2 years of maize and 1 year of triticale resulted in relatively high average annual DM production (12 t DM/ha/year) for Dutch conditions, with a higher potential N leaching loss in 2 out of 7 years

Gestaltung einer partizipativen Forschung und Beratung innerhalb eines Projektes in der ökologischen Milchviehhaltung

In The Netherlands a participatory project was established, called BIOVEEM (Management for organic dairy farming) (www.bioveem.nl). The central idea was an integration of science and practice and the renewal of experiential methods. Advisors and researchers were trained how to be a coach and to stimulate active learning within a pioneering group of farmers. Three different approaches were used in the project to achieve the project aim: on-farm experimental and observational research, (process)-monitoring plus comparison, evaluation and systematic inclusion of farmers’ experiences in the research & development process. Much emphasis was put on describing ‘the systems that work’, pinning down and distributing the novelties that were developed by the group of pioneers

Policy and practice certainty for effective uptake of diffuse pollution practices in a light touch regulated country

Although the link between agriculture and diffuse water pollution has been understood for decades, there is still a need to implement effective measures to address this issue. In countries with light-touch regulation, such as New Zealand and Australia, most efforts to promote environmental management practices have relied on voluntary initiatives such as participatory research and extension programmes; the success of which is largely dependent on farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt these practices. Increased understanding of the factors influencing farmer decision-making in this area would aid the promotion of effective advisory services. This study provides insights from 52 qualitative interviews with farmers and from observations of nine farmer meetings and field days. We qualitatively identify factors that influence farmer decision-making regarding the voluntary uptake of water quality practices and develop a typology for categorising farmers according to the factors that influence their decision-making. We find that in light-touch regulated countries certainty around policy and also around the effectiveness of practices is essential, particularly for farmers who delay action until compelled to act due to succession or regulation. The contribution of this paper is threefold: (i) it identifies factors influencing decision-making around the uptake of water quality practices in a light-touch regulated country; (ii) it develops a typology of different farmer types; and (iii) it provides recommendations on policy approaches for countries with light-touch regulation, which has potential relevance for any countries facing changes regarding their agricultural policy, such as post-Brexit policy in the UK

Addressing complex challenges using a co-innovation approach : Lessons from five case studies in the New Zealand primary sector

Co-innovation can be effective for complex challenges – involving interactions amongst multiple stakeholders, viewpoints, perceptions, practices and interests across programmes, sectors and national systems. Approaches to challenges in the primary sector have tended to be linear, where tools and outputs are developed by a few, mostly scientists/researchers, and then extended to stakeholders. A co-innovation approach first deciphers and delineates the biophysical, societal, regulatory, policy, economic and environmental drivers, constraints and controls influencing these challenges at multiple levels. Second, stakeholder interactions and perspectives can inform and change the focus as well as help in co-developing solutions to deliver agreed outcomes. However, there is limited systematic and comparative research on how co-innovation works out in different projects. Here we analyse the results of applying a co-innovation approach to five research projects in the New Zealand primary sector. The projects varied in depth and breadth of stakeholder engagement, availability of ready-made solutions and prevalence of interests and conflicts. The projects show how and why co-innovation approaches in some cases contributed to a shared understanding of complex problems. Our results confirm the context specificity of co-innovation practices.</p