A plate of vegetables that not only nourishes people but also helps restore biodiversity, improve soil health and make our diets more climate-friendly. That is exactly what a new Dutch research project, led by Wageningen University & Research, aims to achieve. The project has been awarded nearly 6.8 million euros in funding from the Dutch Research Agenda (Nationale Wetenschapsagenda, NWA).
Under the name REAP2SOW, a consortium of farmers, scientists, companies and societal partners is working together to build a more sustainable food system. The focus is on three crops that are still relatively unknown in the Netherlands: white lupin, quinoa and the 'forgotten vegetable' aardaker. These crops offer multiple benefits: they are resilient to climate change, provide high-quality plant proteins from seeds or tubers and contribute to healthier soils. The roots of lupin and aardaker can also fix nitrogen, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers.
"With REAP2SOW, we want to do more than just replace meat," says project leader Wouter Kohlen. "We want to grow a food system that is better for people, nature and farmers - and that fits well within Dutch landscapes. The project therefore goes beyond farming alone. We also look at how consumers adopt new products and how schools and citizens can get involved through field trials, taste testing and educational programmes. In addition, we are working on policy and business models to make sustainable cultivation more attractive."
Contribution to climate goals
Through the protein transition, the Netherlands aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore biodiversity and decrease dependence on imported soy. REAP2SOW supports both national and EU ambitions for a more sustainable food system.
Alongside Wageningen University & Research, the universities of Groningen, Leiden, Twente, Utrecht and the Jan IngenHousz Institute are involved in the project. Various breeding and cultivation companies, including Aardaia, Radicle Crops and Lekker Lupine, are also partners, as well as growers' association LLTB and the Dutch national sports centre Papendal.
Funded through the Dutch Research Agenda
REAP2SOW is one of fourteen consortia receiving funding this year under the Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC) programme of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). Each project is awarded around 6.8 million euros to immediately start research and collaboration with knowledge partners and societal organisations. The goal is to develop and share knowledge that creates both scientific and societal impact.
