Salt water is infiltrating further and further inland. Previously, only the coastal areas were affected by salt water, but now there are problems in the 'Green Heart' and the Wieringermeer.
Due to the combination of soil subsidence and rising sea levels, salt water is moving further inland. In addition, people are using more fresh water. As a result, it is becoming more difficult to prevent salination in reclaimed areas such as polders. By circulating fresh water, salt water can be kept out of the soil.
Willem Brandenburg, researcher of saline crops at Plant Research International (Wageningen UR), is leading a project that is examining the possibilities of agriculture under saline conditions. He prefers not to have such a sharp separation between freshwater and saltwater. He believes it is better to learn to deal with a certain degree of salination. Are there opportunities for farmers if they are prepared to change their cultivation system? If no changes are made, existing crops will have problems growing in saline soil. It is therefore important to breed crops for greater salt tolerance. In addition, it is a good idea to look at new crops that thrive in saline soils, such as sea kale or sea lavender.