Belgium: Development of resilient systems for biologically protected cultivation

Biological greenhouse cultivation in Europe takes place at different levels and intensities whereby the high-intensity producers are under greater pressure to safeguard the sustainable nature of their company. Nonetheless, resilient, less-intensive biological production systems can be set up with the aim of delivering quality and tasty vegetables all year round through the application of agro-ecological cultivation practices. An important factor in these systems is the preservation of good soil health and the improvement of the soil fertility.

As part of a new European project we therefore want to work on innovative, resilient agro-ecological systems for biological greenhouse cultivation. In Central and Northern Europe, the focus will be on production under low-energy and low-light conditions, while in the Mediterranean countries efforts will be made to reduce the use of crop protection products.

The GreenResilient-project will start in April 2018 and for the next three years it will research the sustainability potential of (a combination of) cultivation practices such as extensive crop rotation, mixed cultivations, the laying out of flower rows and the application of suitable, local organic soil improvers in unheated and low- energetic greenhouses or polytunnels.

Within this project, PCG joins forces with several European partners, whereby the CREA-RPS (Italy) will carry out the coordination.

The GreenResilient project is one of the 12 approved projects within the CORE Organic COfund ERANET.