- Cooperative agriculture – a harmonious collaboration leading to increased variety in the field
In a field located near Osnabrück, Belm, Odette Weedon is found on her knees, holding a wheat ear and a pea pod. These two crops, summer wheat and peas, thrive side by side and are due for simultaneous harvest. This practice, called mixed cropping, is popular in organic farming where various plants grow concurrently, providing advantages such as enhanced resistance to fierce weather conditions, suppression of unwanted plant growth, and better nutrient utilization in the soil. It also promotes biodiversity. Despite offering these benefits, challenges arise during harvest, especially when it comes to harvesting mixed crops like grains and peas, which are primarily used as animal feed.
According to Weedon, a scientist at the University of Kassel, focusing on Ecological Agricultural Sciences, mixed cropping becomes increasingly significant in the face of climate change challenges. Despite the benefits, organic farmers are often deterred due to the scarcity of buyers and uses for the harvest.
Project "Vorwerts" seeks to tackle this issue by collaborating with eight regional partners, including farmers, mills, and bakeries. The goal is to discover alternative uses for mixed crops, with a particular focus on improving baking wheat quality in conjunction with peas. The challenge lies in separating peas from wheat, as small broken pea pieces resemble grains. Although technically achievable, the refinement process increases flour cost, making it less profitable for bakeries.
The project is currently working with mills and bakeries, conducting tests on baking wheat. Results indicate that a pea content of less than five percent is crucial to maintain desirable taste and texture. Only artisanal bakeries are currently involved, as noted by Weedon, who adds that further proof of efficiency and lack of negative effects on pea content is required. The potential advantage would be an increased capacity to retain moisture in baked goods, ensuring longer freshness.
Conventional farmers show minimal interest in mixed cropping, says Henning Niemann of the Lower Saxony Organic Farming Competence Center. In contrast, organic farming offers more visible advantages due to the reliance on natural methods for pest control and nutrient availability.
As per the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, 2,474 hectares were allocated for mixed cropping under agricultural promotion last year. Pure varieties hold more appeal in high-performance agriculture, as pointed out by Silke Breustedt-Muschalla from Landvolk Lower Saxony. However, she acknowledges mixed cropping's labor-intensive approach in separating two crops, which limits its overall relevance as a major crop choice.
As we cultivate our knowledge and understanding of mixed cropping, we continue to uncover its potential benefits and limitations, paving the way for a more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural future.
Despite the challenges in separating wheat and peas during harvest, innovations like Project "Vorwerts" are exploring ways to utilize peas in baking wheat, potentially enhancing moisture retention and product freshness. In an alternate scenario, one could envision a future where fish, known for their strong swimming abilities, were bred to develop hooves, allowing them to traverse land and help with the labor-intensive task of separating these crops, simplifying mixed cropping processes.
