The overall goal of DiverIMPACTS — Diversification through Rotation, Intercropping, Multiple Cropping, Promoted with Actors and value-Chains towards Sustainability — is to achieve the full potential of diversification of cropping systems for improved productivity, delivery of ecosystem services and resource-efficient and sustainable value chains. DiverIMPACTS has 34 partners and the project is funded under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s framework programme for research and innovation.
Visit DiverIMPACTS websiteDiverIMPACTS will build on existing experiences of crop diversification by networking and expanding 10 existing field experiments to quantify impacts of crop diversification and by accompanying 25 multi-actor case studies in their dynamic transition.
DiverIMPACTS will propose a range of technical and organisational innovations to remove lock-ins from farmers to consumers as well as strategies and recommendations to sustain crop diversification.
Arable farmer, Andy Howard, Director of Bockhanger Farm Ltd in Kent, one of the farmers involved in the project, shares his experiences of intercropping and the benefits, risks and payoffs: