Hoe? Zo! GLB Pilot Delivers Promising Results

The GLB-Pilot 'Hoe? Zo!' (2019–2021) involved 71 dairy and arable farmers from Friesland and Groningen, led by three agricultural collectives—Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, Groningen West, and Midden Groningen. The project tested a regional system to help farmers implement environment- and climate-friendly measures under the revised Common Agricultural Policy (GLB) from 2023. Measures included diverse grassland, green fallow, controlled fertilizer use, and edge management near hedges. Five tailored regional plans were developed with input from municipalities, provinces, water boards, and environmental groups. A farm-level points system rewarded synergy and proximity of measures, especially complex ones. The pilot demonstrated that collective guidance and stakeholder collaboration significantly improved compliance and decision-making. Key success factors included the points system and strong regional coordination. The project concluded with recommendations for provincial leadership and scaled stakeholder involvement in future GLB implementation.