An effort to make Dutch farms friendly to native plants and animals has failed, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature. Fields managed according to an environmental protection agreement were no richer in plant and bird species than those farmed conventionally. David Gibbons, of the U.K.’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said he wasn’t surprised by the study’s conclusion, but added that it was a warning, not a death knell, for green farming: “You have to monitor agri-environment schemes closely and adapt the details to make sure they’re working.” That’s sound advice for the European Union, which is set to double its spending on eco-friendly farming in the near future.
