Good practice:

Ecolana: straw rich manure

Ecolana is an association of down-to-earth farmers who, through collaboration, form a modern, mixed company in the area between the coastal villages of Holwerd and Ternaard. The total acreage consists of approximately 360 hectares of clay soil inside the dike and 50 hectares of salt marsh outside the dike. Food safety, quality, animal welfare, the environment, nature and recreation are central to this. Switching from traditional agriculture to a socially responsible production method is and remains their goal. They do everything they can to close the cycle. One good practice they are experimenting with the use of straw rich manure (SRM) to enhance soils.
The dairy farmer has build a new barn. It is made in such a way that SRM comes out. The straw used is produced by the arable farmers.
On grassland SRM can be applied all year round, but on the arable land of the arable farmers that is more difficult because arable farmers are obliged to work SRM in the soil, large quantities of manure are scattered at once.
While smaller amounts per fertilization are preferred, because over-fertilization is not good for soil life. And less tillage is also important. Therefore farmers have been granted legal room to experiment with different amounts and ways of administer SRM. This experiment is monitored by researchers.

- farmers that are willing to collaborate in closing agricultural cycles.
- back-up by politics (law/ legal room if required)
- advisors or researchers for content
- funding for experiment/research

Farmers are working closely together. Over 20 students have done research. Ecolana has become an demo farm for applied research and education for vocational education and academic education.
Results of the experiment is promising but still ongoing.

How farmers work together and with research and policy to tackle problems with regard to closing local agri cycles certainly has potential for transfer.