Fostering Legume Cultivation in the Netherlands

Abstract

The Netherlands faces several critical sustainability challenges in its agricultural system, including excessive nitrogen emissions that harm ecosystems and a heavy reliance on imported legumes, particularly soy. These imports contribute significantly to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in regions with a high biodiversity, like the Amazon. Despite the well-known environmental and agronomic benefits of legume cultivation, such as nitrogen fixation, improved soil health, and enhanced biodiversity, legume cultivation remains marginal, covering less than 1% of Dutch farmland. Therefore, this thesis investigates the systemic barriers and enables scaling legume cultivation in the Netherlands, aligning with national and European ambitions for a protein transition.

The study applies the mission-oriented innovation system (MIS) framework to analyse the adoption of legume cultivation. The analysis consists of three analytical steps: the problem-solution diagnosis, the structural analysis, and the functional analysis. By employing a qualitative methodology, including policy document analysis and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders such as farmers, policymakers, researchers, and agribusiness, the study uncovers critical systemic challenges and opportunities. The results reveal that significant progress has been made in aligning stakeholders around a shared goal. Moreover, networks and coalitions in the MIS facilitate effective knowledge diffusion. However, critical systemic barriers remain. Innovation development is hampered by the absence of key stakeholders and the lack of well-developed seed varieties. Furthermore, stakeholders struggle to effectively destabilise obstructive practices, thereby impeding regime transformation.

These findings contribute to the theoretical development of the MIS framework by demonstrating its applicability in agricultural transitions. This novel framework underlines the need for fostering innovation while also destabilising entrenched practices that hinder mission progress. Furthermore, this study offers policy recommendations, including the establishment of risk mitigation mechanisms for farmers and the empowerment of coordination frameworks to effectively steer the transition.

By examining the interplay of agricultural, economic, and institutional factors, this research contributed to a better understanding of the barriers and facilitators influencing the adoption of legume cultivation in the Netherlands. The insights of this research go beyond the Netherlands and offer insights that could support sustainable agriculture in other regions. Finally, this study validates the value of mission-oriented approaches in addressing complex societal challenges and contributes to the ongoing debate on sustainable food systems.