On Thursday, April 10, CropXR hosted its community event “Perspectives. Resilient crops in a changing world: from challenges to solutions” at DeFabrique in Utrecht. The one-day gathering brought together breeders, growers, researchers, policymakers, financial experts and others to discuss the pressing challenges and opportunities in sustainable crop production.
The program kicked off with an opening session by the CropXR Board of Directors, Auke Damstra, Guido van den Ackerveken, and Hedwich Teunissen, followed by a series of expert talks exploring different angles of climate-resilient agriculture. Topics included the impact of extreme weather conditions on crop production, reducing the use of fertilizers and harmful pesticides, and improving soil health through alternative cropping systems such as regenerative farming.
It was great to see so many people come together to explore the work we are doing at CropXR, and to feel the collective excitement about where we are headed.”
Guido van den Ackerveken, Scientific Director CropXR
Speakers Professor Steven Penfield (John Innes Centre), Guus Heselmans (Meijer Potato), and Marleen Riemens (Wageningen University & Research) shared valuable insights from the perspectives of research, plant breeding, and legislation. Additional contributions came from Aike Post (Deliflor), who represented the grower’s perspective; Wouter-Jan Schouten (ReGeNL), who offered a view on regenerative agriculture; and Casper Holl (Rabobank), who explored the financial dimension of transitioning to sustainable crop production.
In the afternoon, attendees engaged in a serious game designed to explore potential solutions to the challenges highlighted earlier in the day such as climate adaptation, reducing pesticide use, and improving soil health. The interactive workshops fostered cross-disciplinary dialogue, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and the exchange of innovative ideas.
By highlighting diverse perspectives and encouraging cross-sector collaboration, the CropXR event showcased the importance of personal commitment and collective action in developing resilient crop systems for a more sustainable agricultural future amidst rapid environmental change.
The event gave us fresh perspective, strengthened our sense of purpose, and reminded us why collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.”
Hedwich Teunissen, Managing Director CropXR
Reflecting on the event, we feel a deep sense of appreciation and insight. Auke Damstra remarks, “Looking back on the recent CropXR event, I’m filled with gratitude and inspiration. It was a fantastic gathering that brought together both familiar and new faces from inside and outside our community.” Guido van den Ackerveken supports the sentiment, saying, “It was great to see so many people come together to explore the work we are doing at CropXR, and to feel the collective excitement about where we are headed.” Hedwich Teunissen closes with, “The event gave us fresh perspective, strengthened our sense of purpose, and reminded us why collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.”
As we move forward, the event reaffirmed the critical role of collaboration in shaping the future of resilient agriculture. The energy, commitment, and shared vision of all those involved leaves us inspired and motivated to continue our work.
Foto’s door Jelmer de Haas