Project
Nature-inclusivity in Dutch food production systems
Food production in the Netherlands faces growing pressures from climate change and biodiversity loss. Current responses remain fragmented across arable, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors. This research uses a nexus approach to explore trade-offs and synergies between food, climate, and biodiversity. By assessing nature-inclusive practices that support ecosystem services, it will develop scenarios and pathways for resilient marine and terrestrial systems. The study will offer practical guidance to stakeholders – farmers, fishers, policymakers – on aligning food production with environmental conservation.
Introduction
Food production in the Netherlands is under pressure. Climate change and the loss of important plant and animal life are making it harder to produce food in a reliable and sustainable way. Farming, livestock, fishing, and aquaculture each face their own problems, and solutions are often created separately. For example, crop farming may focus on soil health and climate rules, while livestock farming tackles emissions and land use. At sea, efforts focus on overfishing and protecting marine life. While these efforts are valuable, they often ignore how closely connected these systems are. A change in one area can impact another, for better or worse. To help make Dutch food production more future-proof, the idea of “nature-inclusivity” has been introduced. This means working with nature instead of against it—protecting biodiversity, improving the landscape, and making sure ecosystems stay healthy, while still supporting farmers, fishers, and other food producers. But turning this idea into real, practical action hasn’t been easy. It’s not always clear what nature-inclusivity means in practice, and most efforts focus only on land-based farming, leaving out the seas. Different policies don’t always fit together well, and there’s no shared vision to guide bigger changes. This research looks at how food production, climate change, and biodiversity are connected. By understanding these links and how they affect each other, we can find better ways to support food production that works for both people and the planet—on land and at sea.
Objectives
This research aims to (1) analyse the key interconnections and drivers linking food production, climate processes, and biodiversity in the Netherlands; (2) assess how resilient these systems are by identifying trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services; (3) develop cross-sectoral scenarios to explore future pathways for food, climate, and biodiversity; and (4) identify practical adaptation pathways to guide the transition toward nature-inclusive food systems, balancing environmental and production goals.
Method
This research combines literature review, expert interviews, and stakeholder engagement to identify key drivers and interdependencies. A System Dynamics Model will simulate ecosystem service interactions. Scenario analysis will synthesize future visions, and adaptation pathways will be co-developed through participatory workshops to support nature-inclusive transitions in food systems (Figure 1).
(Expected) results
The expected results include: a detailed mapping of key interdependencies and drivers of change between food production, climate change, and biodiversity; a System Dynamics Model simulating these interactions and assessing trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services over time; a set of synthesized, cross-sectoral scenarios exploring future developments in Dutch food systems; and adaptation pathways to support the practical implementation of nature-inclusive approaches across marine and terrestrial production systems.