Agroscope, ENDURE’s Swiss partner, is to lead a work package dedicated to diversified cropping systems as part of the €6 million Horizon 2020 project CROPDIVA. CROPDIVA, whose name is derived from ‘Climate Resilient Orphan croPs for increased DIVersity in Agriculture’, is to examine arable crops that are currently rarely grown compared to wheat and potatoes.
The crops in question are oats, hull-less barley, triticale, buckwheat, faba beans and lupin. They have been selected for their numerous positive features in terms of cultivation and nutrition, and Agroscope is recruiting two PhD students to focus on oats and hull-less barley. These students will be investigating the performance of breeding lines of these cereals and of mixed cropping systems using oats and hull-less barley with legumes.
In total the project brings together 27 partners, coordinated by Belgium’s University of Ghent. Agroscope’s Susanne Vogelgsang will lead the work package on diversified cropping systems.
“In this work package, 11 partner institutions from research and practice work together with Agroscope on issues such as diseases, pests, yields and the processing of oats or hull-less barley in mixed cultivation together with legumes,” explains Agroscope.
“The advantages: firstly, a diversified crop rotation like this leads to fewer problems with plant diseases and pests; secondly, it improves the ecosystem services of the cultivation system; and thirdly, it allows the development of new food and feed products, helping to diversify the income of farmers.”
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Last update: 24/05/2023 - ENDURE © 2009 - Contact ENDURE - Disclaimer