Louis Bolk Instituut

About Louis Bolk Instituut

The Louis Bolk Institute is an independent, internationally recognised research institute focused on sustainable agriculture, nutrition and health. It works from a systems perspective, linking science, policy and practice, and aims to contribute to a resilient, healthy and fair system for agriculture, food and human health.

The institute develops scientific knowledge together with partners and then translates that knowledge into practical advice, process support and implementation-oriented research. Its work is practice-based and participatory, and it serves a broad client base that includes Dutch ministries, provinces, municipalities, water boards, the European Commission, health and welfare organisations, nature organisations, funds and businesses.

Core Values

• Systems thinking: The institute consistently looks at issues in their wider context, rather than in isolation, because it sees agriculture, food, health, nature and climate as interconnected.
• Practice orientation: Research is designed with and for practitioners, with an emphasis on applicability, real-world robustness and results that can be used in daily practice.
• Collaboration: The institute works together with farmers, businesses, public authorities, healthcare organisations and other partners to build shared solutions.
• Transparency and knowledge sharing: It states that it shares its research results openly and values a transparent approach to developing and applying knowledge.
• Innovation with courage: The institute presents itself as innovative and willing to explore new knowledge questions and new ways of working across sectors.

Unique Aspects

• Independent research institute with broad public-sector reach: Louis Bolk Institute works for a wide range of public clients, including Dutch ministries, provinces, municipalities, water boards and the European Commission, which underlines its role as a policy-relevant knowledge partner.
• Strong focus on linking agriculture, nutrition and health: Its work is explicitly built around the connection between soil, farming, food and human health, including questions such as how healthy soils may influence crops, products and consumers.
• Practice-based and participatory method: The institute conducts research together with those involved in the issue, including farmers and other practitioners, and aims for practical and applicable outcomes.
• Networked role in transition topics: It is active in transition areas such as circular agriculture, protein transition, climate adaptation and nature-inclusive farming, and uses its network to bring parties together in complex processes.
• Monitoring role in long-term nature-inclusive farming collaboration: According to known news, the Louis Bolk Institute is involved in monitoring a long-term collaboration on nature-inclusive farming with Staatsbosbeheer and the Dutch Ministry of LVVN, alongside Wageningen Environmental Research and Wageningen Livestock Research.