Innovation Visit- Sustainable Dairy Practices for Healthy Soil- Netherlands September 2026

Overview

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) invites applications from farmers interested in attending an Innovation Visit (IV) as part of the new Farming for Sustainability – Innovation Scheme.  The visit will take place in the Netherlands across three days from 7^th September to 9^th September 2026. 

This is a unique opportunity for dairy farmers to learn how research organisations and farm businesses are improving soil health, enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining productive and resilient dairy systems.

The visit will include a trip to Wageningen University & Research (WUR), a globally recognised centre of excellence in agricultural innovation. Here, farmers will gain insight into soil structure, biodiversity and soil carbon monitoring tools. Participants will also learn how these tools are being used to support better decision-making and improve sustainability at farm level.

Farmers will also see innovative technologies in practice, including a portable infrared soil scanner. This technology enables real-time, rapid, on-farm assessment of soil properties and nutrient status, removing the need to send samples to a laboratory and providing instant results. This supports more responsive and precise nutrient management, improving soil health and the efficient use of nutrients.

A visit to De Marke’s dairy research farm will showcase long-term research focused on soil health, nutrient efficiency and environmental performance. Farmers will see how integrated soil management strategies can improve soil structure, soil organic matter, and reduce nutrient losses, while supporting sustainable dairy production systems.

The programme will also include visits to commercial dairy farms (one conventional and one organic) which will demonstrate practical soil health applications and carbon management on working farms. These will include the use of clover and multispecies swards, improved nutrient management practices and approaches to build soil organic matter and increasing on-farm carbon storage.

Across the three days, farmers will gain first-hand experience of how innovative tools, research and practical approaches are being combined to improve soil health and deliver low-carbon, efficient and resilient farming systems. The visit will highlight practical measures that can be adapted and implemented within Northern Irish farms.

Applications are invited from one member or employee of a farm business, who is 18 years old or over on the application closing date and not in full-time education.  Twenty places are available on this visit; these will be allocated with preference given to those who meet the selection criteria.  Applicants must commit to attending pre and post trip training with dates to be arranged.  Preference will be given to applicants who have not been on a previous Innovation Visit.