Veterinary Medicine’s farm works to increase biodiversity
At De Tolakker, ten hectares of grassland is making way for ecological corridors and ditches with nature-friendly banks. This is possible because the Faculty has reduced the size of its dairy herd and will therefore need less cattle feed. Farmer Jorn Vernooij ploughs less deeply, sows herb mixtures in some fields and uses a drone to check for lapwing eggs before he mows. Meanwhile, biologists are studying how such measures benefit biodiversity. “Practise what you teach."
It is a gloriously sunny spring day in June. Some 250 Biology students are on their hands and knees, crawling through the pastures at De Tolakker, the teaching farm belonging to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. They are counting herb and insect species in the grass. “They will do this every year, going forward,” says Merel Soons.
Soons is Professor of Land Use and Biodiversity at Utrecht University and chair of the Biodiversity Council that explores potential ways to increase the biodiversity at Utrecht Science Park. “Together with the students and a new PhD candidate, and using wildlife cameras, we are studying whether it is possible to reverse the decline in species found at Utrecht Science Park. We are looking at plants, insects and other animals. In particular, we’re focusing on twenty species that act as indicators for the state of biodiversity in the area.”
Resilience is a vital necessity
That is important for two reasons, according to Soons. First, because biodiversity is a key factor in determining the resilience of an ecosystem, i.e. how easily it will recover from extreme drought or flooding. And in light of climate change, such resilience is a vital necessity. “Wild plants and animals are more than just useful: they have intrinsic value as well. They are living organisms with whom we share this planet.”
In its education and research, UU dedicates a great deal of attention to preserving and restoring biodiversity. This forms a vital cornerstone for the strategic theme of Sustainability. “But we have to put that knowledge into practice ourselves as well,” says Soons. “Practice what we teach!” The Executive Board of the University was eager to hear Soons’ proposal for turning Utrecht Science Park into a ‘living lab’. Biodiversity became one of the lines of action in UU's Strategic Plan. And the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is deeply involved with the theme, too.
The Netherlands in miniature
“Having the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 100% on board is crucial,” according to Biodiversity project leader Dorinne Raaimakers. “With around 150 hectares, De Tolakker accounts for approximately one-third of the total area of Utrecht Science Park.”
Raaimakers calls Utrecht Science Park “the Netherlands in miniature”. There is a farm, but also a hospital. It has educational institutions, homes, businesses, restaurants and cafés, its own energy supply and sports fields. “As in the real Netherlands, all those functions must compete for a limited amount of space. I am very proud that we've managed to make biodiversity an equal consideration in the planning process. Which is not to say that biodiversity will always take precedence. But it does mean that we will work together to identify and weigh all the interests and functions.”
Biodiversity thrives better in arid soil
The same goes for De Tolakker, a farm at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine that is used for research and education programmes for veterinary students. The farm is home to pigs, sheep and dairy cows. “The fact that the dairy farm is organic is a big help, actually,” says Raaimakers. “It seems counterintuitive, but biodiversity actually thrives better in arid soil. In organic farming, the farmer uses fertiliser (manure) that is much lower in nitrogen. But we wanted to do more. And that’s what we went to talk to the Faculty about.”
During preparations for the new construction at De Tolakker, for instance, the Faculty Board took a critical look at how many animals were needed for its education and research. By arranging more opportunities for students to gain experience at other farms, and by having them work with model cows in a Skills Lab at the Faculty instead of living animals, De Tolakker was able to decrease the size of its dairy herd. “That decreased the amount of cattle feed we needed, too, and enabled us to literally make space for biodiversity.”
Striding across a pasture at De Tolakker in coveralls and boots, farmer Jorn Vernooij is more than happy to show off that space. Shading his eyes from the bright sun with his left hand, he uses his right to point out a row if trees in the distance. “We’re going to shift the fence about 25 metres along the entire length of the ditch and excavate the strip of ground between the pasture and the ditch. This will make the soil more arid, allowing wild plants and animals to move in, and ultimately creating a corridor along the edges that connects the separate nature areas.”
Think of the dry June we had this year. It’s urgent that we make the ecosystem more resilient
Cooperating with nature
Vernooij is quite pleased with the attention for biodiversity. “But,” he says, “I don't want to give you the impression it’s all hardship and heartache. I’m often here early in the morning when everyone else is still in bed, or late in the evening. You wouldn't believe what I see: deer, hares, a pine marten, grass snakes, lapwing nests. I often see foxes walking by, and badgers, too. That is amazing. But we definitely can – and must – keep striving for improvement. We have to cooperate with nature. Especially now that the climate is changing. Think of the dry June we had this year. It’s urgent that we make the ecosystem more resilient.”
If you ask Vernooij, those efforts should start with the soil. “To me, biodiversity starts underground, with the fungi, bacteria and worms. I started working here at De Tolakker when I was 16 – that's 19 years ago – as a holiday worker. A lot has changed since then. At the time, no one was talking about biodiversity. It was rye-grass here, there and everywhere. If you had said then: ‘We’re going to sow herbs without using artificial fertiliser’, everyone would have told you you were nuts. And now look!”
Taking good care of the soil
Vernooij practices sustainable soil management. “That means you take good care of your soil. The kind we have here is clay-based. That’s good soil, very fertile. But it can be ruined, for example by working the fields when the ground’s wet. You end up compressing the soil and then the roots won’t be able to grow during the next dry spell. At that point, nature comes to a halt, so we look out for that. Or take fertilising the soil, for instance: it has to be done at exactly the right moment. We also analyse the soil so that we know how much fertiliser it needs.”
The next step is sowing. Vernooij points out a field of peas. “Peas are a fantastic crop. They are high in protein, which we need for the cows. Because we grow our own supplemental feed, we don't have to import any. Peas can also capture nitrogen from the air and sequester it in their roots. When we mow the peas, the roots die and release that nitrogen so that it can be used by the next crop. Another benefit is that pea plants have flowers, which means you attract more insects.”
We are studying whether it is possible to reverse the decline in species found at Utrecht Science Park
Sowing herbs
Vernooij strolls into another field. He squats. Runs his hand through the crops. “From the fence line, it just looks like grass, but there are all kinds of things growing here. I sow all manner of herbs, such as chicory, parsley, caraway, Swedish clover and burnet. That way the cows always have something to eat and we get more flowers. Those attract insects, which in turn attract birds and other animals.”
The farm recently bought a drone with a heat sensor, so that Vernooij can check for lapwing eggs before mowing. He already has an eco-plough on hand. The eco-plough makes much shallower furrows and leaves more of the soil intact. “It’s a fantastic device,” says Vernooij. He also rents the eco-plough to an agricultural contractor, who uses it at other farms in the area.
The fact that the dairy farm is organic is a big help
The only farmer with a contract
For what it’s worth, Vernooij sympathises with these farmers. It is something he is eager to express. “I truly feel that we are being unfair to farmers right now by depicting them as this group that doesn't care enough about their land or their animals. That's not accurate at all!” Vernooij is aware that his position is a privileged one. He grins: “I'm the only farmer in the Netherlands with an employment contract.” Then he adds, more seriously: “At De Tolakker, we need to be as self-sufficient as possible – but ultimately, it’s all about the education and research. That is a different point of departure. When I talk with colleagues, I see good will among the farmers. People should sit down and talk with them openly. That’s what Dorinne and Merel did with me. That cleared up any misunderstandings and now we work really well together.”
This cooperation has even resulted in a new phase being added to the biodiversity plans, which will free up another ten hectares of pasture. When that happens, there will not only be natural borders edging the pastures, but eco corridors in the pastures as well. Is that convenient for him as a farmer? “Well, no,” Vernooij laughs. “It does mean extra work for me. But I'm more than happy to do it.”
Faculty Green Team
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine wants to make sustainability a top priority in everything it does. We will put this into practice in many areas: in our accommodation and business operations, when deciding on priority areas for research, in our degree programmes and when providing veterinary care. A Faculty Green Team, which was established just before the summer break, will translate these plans into concrete action and work to get all students and employees involved.