The De Rusthoeve experimental farm in Colijnsplaat will receive €180.000 from the Province of Zeeland. The funds will be used to continue the Biobased Innovation Gardens Rusthoeve. This will allow research into crops that can replace fossil fuels. The province announced the grant during the Biobased Acceleration Day at De Rusthoeve on September 2nd. Provincial Executive members Jo Annes de Bat and Arno Vael presented the check. The Acceleration Day brings together growers, companies, and researchers and has become a showcase for biobased innovations in the Southwest Delta region.
Since 2014, De Rusthoeve and the cultivation knowledge company Delphy have been collaborating on a pilot program involving biobased crops. The site boasts over sixty test plots. The design is practical. Researchers and growers are testing varieties, cultivation methods, and harvesting methods, while simultaneously exploring value creation within supply chains. This new funding will allow the program to continue, with activities that bring knowledge development and application closer together.
The subsidy is intended for the period up to and including 2028. During that time, at least five market studies and three business cases will be completed. There will also be support for entrepreneurs, and results will be shared through meetings and webinars. This should accelerate the dissemination of knowledge to growers and buyers in the construction and chemical sectors.
From cultivation to application
The experimental farm is researching both the cultivation and processing of crops. Well-known crops like flax, hemp, and miscanthus are being highlighted for their potential use in insulation and building materials. Sugars as raw materials for plastics are also being considered. A notable example is the Russian dandelion, which produces latex as an alternative to natural rubber. The combination of field trials and supply chain research should demonstrate which crops are scalable and which are ready for the market.
For farmers, the contribution can result in additional cultivation options suited to soil and climate. For construction and chemical companies, it means a tangible supply of fibers and other bio-based raw materials closer to home. By linking trials and market research, De Rusthoeve reduces the risk of projects stalling after the test phase and increases the likelihood of developing real products and supply chains. In this way, the province is taking a practical step toward a biobased economy that leverages the strengths of regional arable farming.
Photo: Provincial Executive Member Jo-Annes de Bat and Arno Vael presented the check during the annual Biobased Acceleration Day at the Rusthoeve Research Farm.
Source: Province of Zeeland
