Netherlands-based nature conservationist group Natuurmonumenten has struck an agreement with Albert Heijn potato farmers to plant flowers and herbs in the borders of farming fields in an effort to promote biodiversity.
The Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CLM) was consulted for the agreement, talking directly to farmers about how best to encourage biodiversity in farm lands.
Reducing Agricultural Footprint
According to CLM, biodiversity on farm lands helps improve water quality, increases the amount of birds, bees, butterflies, and bumblebees, and creates a more pleasing landscape. Other measures for increasing biodiversity in and around agricultural land include nesting boxes for birds of prey and owls, bee-hotels, and bat-boxes.
Albert Heijn's vice president of produce, canned food, flowers and plants, Said Belhassan, said in a press release, "We are constantly looking for ways to make our potato cultivation sustainable through the use of resistant varieties and by using fewer pesticides. Additionally, our growers are looking for new ways to contribute to conserving nature.”
Frans van Zijderveld, Natuurmonumenten's provincial ambassador for Zeeland, said, "Nature goes beyond our nature reserves alone. It is becoming increasingly obvious to take nature into account in business operations.”
Already in the provinces of Flevoland, Noord-Brabant, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland, 35 growers have planted more than 20 km of field borders with fragrant herbs, grasses and summer flowers.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Padideh Aghanoury. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.