Investigating farmer-driven co-innovation for increased species mixture cropping i european agriculture using the Danish ReMIX multi-actor approach

In the interdisciplinary H2020 project “Redesigning European cropping systems based on species MIXtures” (ReMIX) researchers and other relevant actors from 13 European countries are investigating “the benefits of species mixtures to design more diverse and resilient arable cropping systems, making use of agro-ecology principles”. Across Europe 11 Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs) are established as physical units in which local farmers, advisors and researchers, develop, implement and assess site- and farm-specific species mixture adjusted to local settings. Apart from locally designed solutions, MAPs facilitate the creation and sharing of local and demand-driven knowledge.
In Denmark, the potentials of species mixtures are investigated at the demonstration trials through diversified catch crops. Through regulation, Danish farmers are obliged to use catch crops in order to reduce nitrogen leaching during autumn with low soil temperature, high precipitation levels and downwards water movements (Thorup-Kristensen et al., 2012). Increasing the species diversity in the catch crop might increase the benefits for farmers through the provision of other ecosystem services (Duru et al., 2015). During several demonstration events 14 farmers located across the country volunteered as satellite farmers in the project receiving mixed catch crop seeds to implement on their farms. In the spring season 2019 several of these farmers will investigate further how to use the knowledge from catch cropping for increased use of main crop mixtures.
Farmers of the Danish MAP are navigating in a Danish agricultural sector characterized by increased mechanization and specialization justified by demand for high productivity in order to maintain competitiveness in a global market. A development based upon greater inputs of fertilizer, water and pesticides, new crop cultivars, and other technologies of the ‘Green Revolution’ (Tilman et al., 2002). Species mixtures has in that timeframe more or less disappeared in the Danish farming landscape. This development is in strong contrast to a long history of diverse and locally adapted agricultural systems. Agricultural systems based on traditional practices and developed by farmers as a strategy to minimize risk through yield stabilization and limited use of external inputs.
An increasing number of studies document yield gains using crop mixture cropping strategies without increased inputs, and greater stability of yield with decreased inputs (Raseduzzaman and Jensen, 2017). Increased emphasis towards such ‘sustainable intensification’ using crop mixtures (Jensen et al., 2015) may be a means to address some of the major problems associated with specialised ‘modern’ farming (Altieri et al., 2015). Danish farmers are struggling to make a living due to high investment levels and falling prices in key agricultural commodities combined with high agricultural market volatility. Impact of climate change such as more extreme heat and precipitation events influencing pests and diseases dynamics leading to increased crop yield variability is likewise challenging the practice of present specialised farmers (Duru et al., 2015; Folke, 2006).
Improved biological understanding is a prerequisite for reintroducing farming systems relying on the experiences of generations of farmers and their interaction with their local environment. Before the fossilisation of agriculture (Crews and Peoples, 2004; Jensen et al., 2012) the dependency on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services ensured farmers’ knowledge of complex system dynamics, which traditionally was grounded in sociocultural organizations and knowledge sharing. Finding sustainable solutions for future farming require an understanding of the complexity of farming systems (Darnhofer et al., 2012). The strong scientific advancement of agronomy and food science might therefore to a much higher extent benefit from including the knowledge and perspectives of farmers navigating in this complexity (Altieri, 2004).
For sure, crop mixtures challenge current farmers’ habits as well as other actors in the different agricultural value chains. Nevertheless, farmers are key actors in designing robust scientifically credible and socially valuable knowledge. The focus of the Danish MAP is therefore to unfold how crop mixtures can resonate with the wishes, beliefs and potentials possessed by the farmers involved. In this way, the MAP creates an arena for empowering the farmers (through experience, knowledge, network etc.) to create satisfying solutions, increase possibilities for action and reflection in practice.
Most updated information from the Danish MAP activities will be presented focusing explicitly on the participatory and explorative work with satellite farmers. This includes biomass cuts and photo documentation along the growing season as well as conclusions from workshop and game based interactions. It will be discussed how the participation of various actors can foster increased share of innovations, knowledge and engagement among Danish farmers and thereby support a transition towards more diversified agricultural systems.