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In recent decades, agricultural production per hectare has increased enormously. There is another side to that big success, though. Intensive use of agricultural ground has resulted in deteriorated soil quality. This decline has been caused by the use of heavy machinery, artificial fertilisers and pesticides, for example. Consequently, the soil has lost its buffering function. Leve(n) de Bodem aims to encourage some 200 farmers to engage in recovery and improvement. Halting the negative spiral requires a transition in the way farmers think and act. Thanks to close cooperation between parties such as Proefcentra Inagro, PCG, de Rusthoeve and de Hooibeekhoeve, as knowledge and expertise centres for agriculture and horticulture, innovative techniques and knowledge are being applied. To optimise soil health, for instance, localised experiments are being conducted, adding lime to ensure an optimal soil pH and decontaminating the soil with green manure (biofumigation). Participating farmers implement the measures and a soil scan is made to monitor their effectiveness. This scan gives a picture of the soil quality so a coherent link can be established between soil chemistry, soil biology and soil physics.

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