1. 1
Dr.ir. Jan de Wilt
Fachtagung Aktiver Klimaschutz und
Anpassung an den Klimawandel
Braunschweig, 15th June 2009
New concepts for agriculture
in relation to climate change
2
Content
1. InnovationNetwork
2. Effects of climate change on
agriculture in The Netherlands
3. Reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions from agriculture in NL
4. Conclusions
3
InnovationNetwork
• Develops and implements groundbreaking
innovations for agriculture and rural areas
• Funded by Ministry of Agriculture
• Budget € 4.5 million per year
• Evaluation every 5 years
4
2.
Effects of climate change in
The Netherlands
5 6
Salination of the soil due to
sea level rise over next 100 years

2. 2
7
Saline agriculture
Zeekraal Lamsoor
8
The Netherlands: a river delta
9
More heavy rains and floods
Flooding of the river Maas in 1995
10
Making a flooding area for the river
Overdiepse Polder:
730 ha flooding area,
0,3 m lower water level
in river
11
Dry summers
12
Peatland areas …
Watermanagement
• Oxidation of peat
• CO2 emission

3. 3
13
…changes to wetlands with nature,
recreation and extensive farming
14
Climate change and ecosystem
• Longer growing season
• Mismatches in breeding and flowering
• More exotic plants and animals
15
3.
Reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions
16
Goals of Dutch government
• 30% reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions in 2020 compared to 1990
• Increase in sustainable energy from
2% in 2008 to 20% in 2020
• Doubling of energy saving from 1%
to 2% per year
• 25-30 % less emissions of CH4 and
N20
17
Emissions of greenhouse
gases in Dutch agriculture
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Main sources of greenhouse
gases in agriculture
• CO2: energy use (greenhouses)
• N2O: fertilizer, manure storage
• CH4: dairy cows, manure storage

4. 4
19
Energy
from biogas
Drinking water
Waste
treatment
Cooling and
heating
Greenhouse as energy source
20
Local energy webs
21
Earth heat for greenhouses
~ 2,5 km
90 C 60 C
22
(Co-)digestion
Upcycling waste into:
• Biogas
• Electricity
• Heat
• CO2
• Biofertilizer
• Water
23 24
Clustering
of different agricultural sectors
with non-agricultural sectors
and re-/upcycling of waste streams
Industrial ecology
Agropark

5. 5
25
Agropark in development
Arable farming
Pigs
Greenhouses Fish
AlgaeDigester
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Agriculture in industrial estate
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Carbon capture and sequestration
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Biochar
Charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass
• Energy from biomass
• CO2 sequestration in the soil
• Positive agronomic and environmental
effects
29
Organic Carbon dioxide for
Assimilation of Plants (OCAP)
Shell provides CO2 for greenhouses
30
Biology of algae
• 6CO2+12H2O C6H12O6+6O2+6H2O
• Light
• Primairy nutrients (N, P, K)
• Heat
• Salt and sweet water

6. 6
31
Powerplants and algae
NREL, 2007
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Windpark
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Bio-offshore park
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Ecopyramid:
optimal use of biomass
35
Bioport: example Terneuzen
Starch and steam from Cargill go to Nedalco
36
Climate change: Policy
instruments in The Netherlands
• Economic instruments (subsidies, tax
profits, levies)
• Legislation / agreements
• Knowledge development
• CO2 emission trade

7. 7
37
Conclusions
• Impact of climate change on Dutch
agriculture is significant
• Ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse
gases
• Technical solutions are promising
• Policy instruments not yet in place
38
Thank you
for your attention
j.g.de.wilt@innonet.agro.nl
www.innovatienetwerk.org