Let’s Gro is the festival about the future of Groningen, where everyone is welcome to contribute ideas, join presentations on new projects, and be inspired by speakers. With a full programme of workshops, films, music, installations, models, and more, Let’s Gro is the place to reflect on Groningen’s future.
At this festival, BUFFER+ hosted an interactive session on the wetting of peat soils, a process that has major impact but also offers opportunities for climate adaptation.
To the east, south, and west of the city of Groningen (and north of Assen) lies a special low-peat landscape: many small and large nature areas, lakes, and surrounding landscapes that together form Groeningen. For this region, “green and blue goals” have been set to help government, entrepreneurs, education, and organisations work toward a climate-positive part of the Netherlands.
Participants were immersed in the world of wet cultivation on peat soils, which are found throughout the Groeningen Belt. Groeningen states that these soils must be used, experienced, and protected. Peat oxidation and soil subsidence strongly affect agriculture and liveability, and wetting peat soils also brings change. At the same time, wet crops offer new opportunities for climate adaptation and new revenue models.
The programme featured an introduction to peat soils and their future potential, an innovative student-developed game on business models for wet peatlands, and an interactive brainstorm in which visitors explored their own ideas. This input will feed into the development of a pilot and test location.
BUFFER+ partners also held a discussion with around 15 participants about the future of peatlands in Groningen, exchanging insights and identifying next steps.