NordForsk: Climate-smart resilience through diversified cropping systems – Identifying springboards in Nordic and Baltic agriculture

AgroMixNorth is a project aimed at adapting farming systems in the Nordic and Baltic regions to rising climate extremes and spring droughts by promoting sustainable agriculture through diverse crop mixtures. Researchers are investigating the benefits and challenges of growing a diverse mix of crops, like spring barley, oats, and legumes. A recently published study by NIBIO in 2025, led by Dr. Thiago Inagaki, provides key insights into how cover crops can improve soil health in Norway. The research, which is part of the AgroMixNorth project, highlights that root growth is a major driver in forming stable organic matter in the soil, known as mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). The NIBIO team continues its work in Steinkjer as part of the ongoing AgroMixNorth project now taking a deeper look at the nitrogen cycle and plant development, including advanced measurements of photosynthesis activity. New field experiments have also been initiated in 2024 to examine how cover crop mixtures in faba bean and oats fields affect yields, carbon inputs to the soil, nutrient use efficiency. Also, the NIBIO team is working together with the international consortium of AgroMixNorth on a review paper analyzing the impacts of mixed cropping systems in Nordic countries on crop development, nutrient cycling and soil health. To share this research and promote understanding of diversified cropping systems, NIBIO is organizing the AgroMixNorth Virtual Academy, a monthly seminar series, where several researchers share findings about crop diversification.

Climate extremes are projected to become more frequent and severe in Nordic and Baltic regions. In particular, spring droughts lead to a significant reduction in crop yields with negative economic consequences for farmers and society. Therefore, resilient production (eco)systems that deliver genuinely long-term sustainable cropping systems are required to secure crop productivity that will contribute to necessary climate change mitigation. The EU Common Agricultural Policy reform promotes a policy of sustainable intensification of agricultural land e.g., via crop diversification. Yet, little is known on the potential of diversified cropping systems and their influence on soil functioning (e.g., carbon sequestration potential, soil biodiversity, nutrient cycling) and food security (e.g., food quality). The aim of AgroMixNorth is to improve our understanding on the impact of crop diversification (both intra- and interspecific), soil functioning and food quality, and to evaluate potential synergies and trade-offs arising from specific agricultural management systems. Focus will be on systems that include an increase of the intraspecific diversity of cereal crops with and without intercropping of legumes or cover crops. In Norway we will map existing datasets and initiate new field experiments on the most relevant systems such as the mix culture of cereal and faba bean in Eastern Norway. We will further use the STICS model to predict the effects of species competition on crop yield and soil C input under different climatic scenarios. The project is constructed around the central hypothesis that diversified cropping systems, due to their spatial and temporal niche complementary, are more climate-smart and resilient cropping systems compared with mono-culture systems.