22 March 2021
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In the transition to circular agriculture, soil plays a major role. For arable farmers who want to work on sustainable soil management, the use of green manures is a proven method. Specialist in the breeding of green manures is Joordens Zaden from Kessel. With crops such as yellow mustard and leaf radish, the company hopes to help not only the Netherlands, but the whole world, to make the transition to sustainable agriculture.
Jubilee
The story of Joordens Zaden in Helden starts in 1921, when Sjang Joordens starts his own seed business from home. At first he only traded seeds, but later he expanded by cultivating and developing new varieties himself. Now it is exactly one hundred years later and Joordens has 25 employees, an annual turnover of 12 million euros and worldwide sales in forty countries. The company is part of the French RAGT group, which belongs to the top ten of global seed breeders. Over thirty years ago Joordens started breeding green manures and now offers many varieties of different plants.
Green manures
A green manure crop can be used to improve physical, chemical and/or biological soil fertility, but also has other qualities such as controlling diseases, pests and weeds and maintaining and/or improving biodiversity. Through the proper application of certain species, varieties and/or mixtures, predetermined objectives can be achieved, such as the supply of organic matter, nematode control, improved mineral management, suppression of plant pathogenic fungi in specific rotations, structure improvement and erosion prevention.
It is no coincidence that Joordens already explored the possibilities of green manures in the eighties. The company supplied seed for the very intensive Dutch sugar beet cultivation, where it became increasingly difficult to produce. The beets turned out to die as a result of a nematode species. Research in Joordens' lab showed which plants could be used to chase away these nematodes.
Combining
Now Joordens supplies black radish, yellow mustard, Ethiopian mustard, brown mustard, rocket salad, Japanese oats, facelia, African Marigolds and buckwheat. Each crop has its own specific characteristics and possibilities, but especially the combination is important. In an interview with the Limburger, board member John Smolenaars explains. "The trick is to find a good combination of seeds. If there are plants among them that the harmful nematodes like, they still multiply." Researchers at Joordens are finding out which seed mixtures of green manures and other plants best serve biodiversity in the fields.
Worldwide
Green manures are already widely used in organic arable farming, but conventional arable farmers in the Netherlands and Europe also know the benefits. On other continents it is more difficult. Although the crops usually do not yield harvestable products, Joordens knows to convince more and more in America. The intensive agriculture there causes unwanted pests to which Joordens can give answers.
Research
In addition to the mentioned green manures, Joordens also supplies leguminous plants, forage brassicas, forage grasses, forage beets, and organic seeds. In the research station in Neer, fungal tests and resistance trials are conducted under climate controlled conditions. Field research takes place on experimental fields at home and abroad. In all development of new varieties the future of agriculture and a healthy soil are central.
More about Joordens Zaden can be found at the website. Read the full interview of De Limburger with John Smolenaars here. You can find everything about green manures in the Handbook Green Manures. Also check out our background article on circulating agriculture.