The main objective of the GREENRESILIENT project, which started in April 2018 and is now halfway, is to demonstrate that an agroecological approach to greenhouse production is feasible and can enable robust agroecosystems in different European areas. The project hypothesis is that the implementation of more resilient production systems, based on low energy consumption, appropriate crop rotation, use of agroecological service crops (ASCs) and local organic amendments, is possible at almost any latitude in Europe. Eighteen months after the start of the project, the main research activities carried out so far seem to support the hypothesis, but further studies are needed.

Experimental sites

 The five experimental sites of the project (located in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy and Switzerland) compare two types of production systems in protected conditions:

• A more intensive 'Business As Usual' (BAU) system, which is characterized by an “input substitution” approach and based on common practice and organic regulations in the individual countries, and
• One or more innovative (INN) system(s), which introduce more diversified crop rotations and a set of agroecological practices that differs between countries.

The BAU and INN systems are assessed according to a multidisciplinary approach, looking at crop yield, nutrient availability, soil fertility, soil health, functional biodiversity (nematodes, microbiological activity, weed biodiversity, diseases and pests) and life cycle analysis. Paul van Rijn and Arne Janssen, researchers at the UvA Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, are are responsible for the design and analysis of monitoring the arthropods with focus on pests, natural enemies and other functional groups.

Preliminary results

Preliminary results indicate that growing short-cycle green manure species guarantee a relatively slow release of soil mineral nitrogen over time, whereas soil solarization immediately provides a high level of soil mineral nitrogen, which can potentially leach and cause negative environmental impacts.

Growers, policy makers and the general public had a chance to learn more about these developments and see the experimental sites at Open House events, which will be repeated during the upcoming growing season. Consumers also had the chance to get involved in the project and learn about diversified production systems at targeted events in Switzerland, Denmark and Italy.

Further information

To learn more about previous and upcoming events as well as project results and updates, visit the Greenresilient website: https://www.greenresilient.net/  or follow the project on Twitter and Facebook.