We had the pleasure of connecting with another inspiring LIFE project – the Dutch LIFE CO2SAND – which focuses on improving the resilience of sandy soils through innovative use of clay. As climate change intensifies, farmers face growing challenges: longer periods of drought, alternating with extreme rainfall. These conditions hit sandy soils particularly hard, impacting crop yields and long-term sustainability.
LIFE CO2SAND is tackling this head-on. The project, coordinated by Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) and the Province of Gelderland, promotes the ‘clay-in-sand’ principle: applying clay to sandy soils to increase water retention, buffer against extreme weather, and improve soil fertility. It’s a nature-based solution with real promise.
During our networking visit, we had the opportunity to present our project, exchange knowledge, and explore potential synergies. It was incredibly valuable to see how each team approaches soil health from different angles—yet with a shared goal of supporting farmers and land managers.
During our networking visit, we had the opportunity to present our SoilLifeProject, exchange knowledge, and explore potential synergies. It was incredibly valuable to see how each team approaches soil health from different angles—yet with a shared goal of supporting farmers and land managers.
We also visited Demo Farm De Marke, one of LIFE CO2SAND’s field labs, where the clay-in-sand technique is being demonstrated in real conditions. Even better, we joined in applying clay on an actual farmer’s field—rolling up our sleeves and experiencing the method in action. These kinds of hands-on exchanges are where ideas truly take root.
We left full of inspiration and practical insights, and we’re looking forward to future collaborations.