“We will shift towards more plant-based diets”: Jim Rasmussen on the future of sustainable agriculture

Legume-cereal intercropping offers a sustainable alternative to traditional farming by reducing the need for artifical fertilisers and enhancing overall soil health. In this interview, Jim Rasmussen, Senior Research at Aarhus University in Denmark and member of Team LEGUMINOSE, highlights the critical benefits of intercropping and shares his vision for the future of agriculture.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is the LEGUMINOSE project about?

The project is about enhancing our use of intercrops, specifically focusing on grain legumes or pulses intercropped with cereals in several European countries. We aim to identify means of getting more intercrops into the farmer’s field.

What are the benefits of intercropping?

Intercropping has several benefits: It reduces the need for artificial inputs, especially nitrogen fertilisers, as legumes can fix their own nitrogen from the air. This leaves more nitrogen for non-legume companion crops. Intercropping also improves the utilisation of other nutrients and water, stimulates beneficial microbial interactions in the soil, and reduces pests and diseases.

What makes LEGUMINOSE unique from your perspective?

We want to gather real-life data on the benefits of intercropping in farmers’ fields. On-farm living labs will be set up in 20 locations in each participating country, allowing farmers to experiment with various intercrops and share their experiences. This approach will generate data and facilitate knowledge dissemination.

What are the main challenges in LEGUMINOSE?

One major obstacle we foresee is selling the combined intercrop product to the end user. A combined product of peas and barley may require separation before sale. Another challenge is that farmers may need to manage their crops differently than when cultivating pure stands of cereals.

What makes you personally excited about the LEGUMINOSE project?

I am excited about the international collaboration in this project, learning from other countries’ experiences and engaging with farmers and practitioners to make intercropping work. I look forward to applying the scientific knowledge to real-world situations.

What is your vision for agriculture in 2050?

By 2050, I believe we will shift towards more plant-based diets, requiring efficient production of grain legumes. Intercropping systems can play a significant role in efficiently using resources, reducing environmental losses, and producing high-quality food and feed.

Curious to learn more about intercropping?