These 33 crops are resilient, healthy and future-proof

Dutch agriculture relies heavily on a limited number of dominant crops. WWF-NL and the Louis Bolk Instituut aim to change that. They present a list of 33 food crops that, according to their research, make the strongest contribution to a sustainable and future-proof food system in the Netherlands.

For the selection, more than 300 crops were assessed based on what they demand from soil and climate, what they give back to biodiversity and the landscape, and how nutritious they are. The evaluation included nutrient input, crop protection, water demand, climate resilience and nutrient density.

Broad mix for 2030

The final top 33 includes crops from six product groups. The legume category features lupin, broad bean, garden pea, marrowfat pea and soybean. The cereals selection consists of rye, spelt, oats, barley and wheat. Oilseed crops such as poppy seed, flax, camelina and rapeseed are also part of the list.

Vegetables and fruit are represented as well, including winter carrot, kale, spinach, samphire, apple, pear and blackberry. According to the report, care was taken to ensure a balanced distribution across product groups, allowing for a varied dietary pattern.

Corné van Dooren of WWF-NL says: “Deze top 33 laat zien dat we in Nederland meer gewassen kunnen telen die niet alleen gezond zijn, maar ook een directe positieve impact hebben op de natuur. Vooral peulvruchten versterken de bodem en verhogen de biodiversiteit.”

Practical guidance for the chain

The list is explicitly intended for the entire chain. “We hopen dat de uitkomsten van ons onderzoek bijdragen aan meer consumptie en productie van rijke en robuuste gewassen, geteeld in Nederland,” says Joost Lommen, researcher at the Louis Bolk Instituut.

Alongside the research, WWF developed a compact inspiration guide. For each crop, it shows how it scores, which product group it belongs to, and how it can be applied in the kitchen, product development or processing. The guide is designed to help companies in the sector start working with these crops today.

Wwf.nl
Louisbolk.nl