Netherlands Case Study
In The Netherlands, the Partnership aims to explore nexus-informed pathways towards circular and ‘nature inclusive’ food systems.
Overview
Project Updates
Q4 2024
- A new PhD student, Alfred Paarlberg, joined Rob’s team to work on scenario synthesis for food systems in the Netherlands.
Q3 2024
- A modeling workshop will be integrated into the upcoming biannual meeting, with Solen leading the organization.
Q2 2024
- NFF activities have been elaborated upon, with a global initiative initiated by the same team as in 2019 for Global Assessment.
- The global initiative aims to find new scenarios with the same modeling community, focusing initially on land and then ocean.
- William inquires about the readiness of the data site to be shared with others on NFF for refreshing their knowledge.
- Garry is working on updating and proofreading the site, and will subsequently send an email and password for access.
- There are plans to link various resources for better usability in the future, including the creation of a more user-friendly examples page.
Q1 2024
- In the Netherlands, they have successfully navigated all administrative matters and are currently hiring a student.
- This student will be traveling to UBC, where they will develop a plan and initiate work on various scenarios.
- Additionally, they are organizing a workshop focused on modeling.
- From a qualitative method perspective, the key update is that they have Andrea, their postdoc, who will ensure that everything proceeds coherently and seamlessly.
- They emphasized the importance of appointing a contact person for each of the case studies related to scenario development, allowing for efficient communication and coordination.
- Senna, currently in the field in Benin, is actively contributing to an in-depth case study on mangroves.
- They have already met Andrea, the postdoc, and are working on refining the methodology details, particularly related to dates.
- Their case studies include one from Benin, focusing on indigenous and local knowledge in the mangrove ecosystem within the biosphere reserve, and another from Costa Rica, with assistance from Andrea.
Q4 2023
- Netherlands team are finalizing legal / admin aspects.
- Starting to hire PhD students soon/in 2024.
- They will look at existing scenarios to develop new ones
- food production, agriculture, biodiversity, climate
- future of agriculture – current debate in Netherlands
- 3.5 meters sea level rise predicted
- eco-mining and relationships
- PBL – will start next year / new futures
- case study team will act as a bridge
- Solen Le Clec’h:
- sent out a draft survey
- expectations + needs with respect to modeling
- she’s finalizing the survey and preparing a workshop
Related publications:
- De Knegt, B., Lof, M. E., Le Clec’h, S. & Alkemade, R. (2025). Growing mismatches of supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Netherlands. Journal of Environmental Management. 373, 123442.
- Kok, S., Le Clec’h, S., Penning, W. E., Buijse, A. D., & Hein, L. (2025). Trade-offs in ecosystem services under various river management strategies of the Rhine Branches. Ecosystem Services, 72, 101692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2024.101692
- Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca; Polasky, Stephen; Alkemade, Rob; Burgess, Neil D; Cheung, William WL; Fetzer, Ingo; Harfoot, Mike; Hertel, Thomas W; Hill, Samantha LL; Johnson, Justin Andrew. 2024. Integrated modeling of nature’s role in human well-being: A research agenda. Global Environmental Change 88102891 à this one is related to the modelling, not to the Dutch case specifically.
- Pereira, Henrique M; Martins, Inês S; Rosa, Isabel MD; Kim, HyeJin; Leadley, Paul; Popp, Alexander; van Vuuren, Detlef P; Hurtt, George; Quoss, Luise; Arneth, Almut; … Rob Alkemade. 2024. Global trends and scenarios for terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services from 1900 to 2050 Science 384 6694 458-465.
- De Knegt, B., BC Breman, BC., Le Clec’h, S., Van Hinsberg, A., Lof, ME., Pouwels, R., Roelofsen, HD., and Alkemade, R. (2024). Exploring the contribution of nature-based solutions for environmental challenges in the Netherlands. Science of the Total Environment.
- Le Clec’h S., van Bussel L., Lof M., de Knegt B., Szentirmai I., Andersen E. (2024). Effects of linear landscape elements on ecosystem services supply and trade-offs in agricultural landscapes. Ecosystem Services.
BSc and MSc thesis:
- Vos, J. (2023). The integration of telecoupling and ecosystem services in coastal areas. BSc thesis
- Tijssen, H., (2023). The Coastal Protection Potential of Nature-based Solutions in the Dutch Wadden Sea. MSc thesis
Presentations in conferences:
- Paarlberg A., Le Clec’h S., Alkemade R. Nexus approach for resilient food futures in the Netherlands. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany, 2024
- Le Clec’h S., Paarlberg A., Alkemade R. Nexus approach for sustainable futures in the Netherlands. PECS-3, Canada, 2024
- Le Clec’h S. The contribution of Nature-based Solutions for resilience food systems, Huazhong Agricultural University, China, 2024.
- Le Clec’h S. Effect of field margins on multiple ecosystem services, Ex-ante analysis of agri-environmental climate measure, ETHZ, Switzerland, 2023.
Media coverage:
Case Study Objectives
- Environmental System Analysis (ESA) of the WUR
- Analyse, interpret, simulate complex environmental problems to understand causes, effects and solutions
- Communication to stakeholders.
- One key research topic: ecosystem services and biodiversity
- PBL – Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
- Prime institute to support Dutch government
- Conducting outlook studies, analyses & evaluations for environmental policy, using an integrated approach
- Two senior staff + PhD student and Msc students
Background
- Vulnerable food production systems on land and at sea to climate change.
- Hotspots of biodiversity
- Threats from human activities such as urbanization, agriculture activities and climate change.
- New policy concept of “nature-inclusive”, “circular” farming;
- Similar policy goals are set for fisheries under the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policies.
Aim of the Dutch Case Study
- Develop integrated scenarios for the FCB nexus
- Explore nexus-informed pathways towards circular and “nature inclusive” food systems;
- The Netherlands and Western Europe.
General Approach
- Review, harmonize and build upon existing scenario studies and outlooks on the environment, nature and food production sectors;
- Stakeholder consultation and participation;
- National and European scales;
- Consequences and trade-offs.
- Construct integrated environmental scenarios for NL;
- Inventory of models and data, and selection of appropriate models;
- Construct pathways towards ‘nature-inclusive’ climate smart, healthy food-systems;
- Analyse levers and barriers to achieve a natureinclusive society;
- Towards the synthesis – integration / linkage to other case studies.
Impacts
- Representation of plausible futures of ‘nature-inclusive’ food systems;
- Guidance to policy-makers and stakeholders on socioeconomic and/or policy transitions;
- Application of the nexus approach to solve FCB challenges in well-developed economies.
Milestones
- Synthesis of existing scenarios for nature inclusive food systems (year 2);
- Inventory of existing models and data and discussion of their applicability and needed adjustments (year 1);
- Portfolio of plausible pathways and associated trade-offs (year 4);
- Guidelines to transition towards ‘nature-inclusive’ food systems, for policy-makers and stakeholders based on the shared visions (year 5)
Team
Rob Alkemade
Wageningen University
Solen Le Clec’h
Wageningen University
