Climate change is a serious threat to world food production due to salination, flooding and heat stress. Agriculture can also play a role in carbon sequestration and prevention of climate change. Several concepts are presented.

1. Dr.ir. Jan de Wilt
Fachtagung Aktiver Klimaschutz und
Anpassung an den Klimawandel
Braunschweig, 15th
June 2009
New concepts for agriculture
in relation to climate change

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Content
1. InnovationNetwork
2. Effects of climate change on
agriculture in The Netherlands
3. Reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions from agriculture in NL
4. Conclusions

3. 3
InnovationNetwork
• Develops and implements groundbreaking
innovations for agriculture and rural areas
• Funded by Ministry of Agriculture
• Budget € 4.5 million per year
• Evaluation every 5 years

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2.
Effects of climate change in
The Netherlands

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6. 6
Salination of the soil due to
sea level rise over next 100 years

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Saline agriculture
Zeekraal Lamsoor

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The Netherlands: a river delta

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More heavy rains and floods
Flooding of the river Maas in 1995

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Making a flooding area for the river
Overdiepse Polder:
730 ha flooding area,
0,3 m lower water level
in river

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Dry summers

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Peatland areas …
Watermanagement 
• Oxidation of peat
• CO2 emission

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…changes to wetlands with nature,
recreation and extensive farming

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Climate change and ecosystem
• Longer growing season
• Mismatches in breeding and flowering
• More exotic plants and animals

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3.
Reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions

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Goals of Dutch government
• 30% reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions in 2020 compared to 1990
• Increase in sustainable energy from
2% in 2008 to 20% in 2020
• Doubling of energy saving from 1%
to 2% per year
• 25-30 % less emissions of CH4 and
N20

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Emissions of greenhouse
gases in Dutch agriculture

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Main sources of greenhouse
gases in agriculture
• CO2: energy use (greenhouses)
• N2O: fertilizer, manure storage
• CH4: dairy cows, manure storage

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Energy
from biogas
Drinking water
Waste
treatment
Cooling and
heating
Greenhouse as energy source
35 C
25 C

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Local energy webs

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Earth heat for greenhouses
~ 2,5 km
90 C 60 C

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(Co-)digestion
Upcycling waste into:
• Biogas
• Electricity
• Heat
• CO2
• Biofertilizer
• Water

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Clustering
of different agricultural sectors
with non-agricultural sectors
and re-/upcycling of waste streams
 Industrial ecology
Agropark

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Agropark in development
Arable farming
Pigs
Greenhouses Fish
AlgaeDigester

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Agriculture in industrial estate

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Carbon capture and sequestration

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Biochar
Charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass
• Energy from biomass
• CO2 sequestration in the soil
• Positive agronomic and environmental
effects

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Organic Carbon dioxide for
Assimilation of Plants (OCAP)
Shell provides CO2 for greenhouses

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Biology of algae
• 6CO2+12H2O  C6H12O6+6O2+6H2O
• Light
• Primairy nutrients (N, P, K)
• Heat
• Salt and sweet water

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Powerplants and algae
NREL, 2007

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Windpark

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Bio-offshore park

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Ecopyramid:
optimal use of biomass

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Bioport: example Terneuzen
Starch and steam from Cargill go to Nedalco

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Climate change: Policy
instruments in The Netherlands
• Economic instruments (subsidies, tax
profits, levies)
• Legislation / agreements
• Knowledge development
• CO2 emission trade

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Conclusions
• Impact of climate change on Dutch
agriculture is significant
• Ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse
gases
• Technical solutions are promising
• Policy instruments not yet in place

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Thank you
for your attention
j.g.de.wilt@innonet.agro.nl
www.innovatienetwerk.org