Legumes value chain with innovative organic farms (The Netherlands)

ERF BV is the largest private organic farm in The Netherlands, cultivating 18 different crop species on 2100 ha, spread over the province of Flevoland. Land is rented from the government. While using the land, ERF invests in soil improvement, as a basis for current and future use. An important current trend, supported by policy is nature-inclusive agriculture. Another driver is the vicinity of the towns, and the development of housing projects which integrate agriculture and nature as part of spatial planning.

Agriculturally, ERF aims to be a pioneer in the development of organic production systems that include robust and resilient crops growing in an ecosystem in which agriculture and natural areas develop jointly and are connected with housing, employment and recreation. ERF continually experiment with agronomic and value chain innovations, all geared to large-scale organic production.

Since 2014, Wageningen University and Research collaborates with ERF in a project on strip cropping. Crops include 2 years grass-clover, spinach, Brussels sprouts, potato and carrot. Peas and beans are part of the alternatives; their share on the farm has remained constant over the years.

The marketing of products goes through various channels, both as bulk and into speciality value chains (under own brand in large supermarkets in the UK and The Netherlands; for vegetable crisps, for baby food). Strategy for marketing has included collaboration with other farms in the Flevoland province to arrive at a strong regional position on the organic market, provide packaging services for retailers and build labels that large retail can easily ‘buy into’.