European agriculture is at a crossroads. Climate change, biodiversity loss and dependence on imported protein are putting increasing pressure on arable farming systems. CROPDIVA shows that diversification with underutilised crops offers a practical, field-tested pathway towards more resilient, low-input and future-proof agriculture—fully aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Through multi-country trials and close collaboration with farmers and value-chain actors, CROPDIVA has generated robust evidence on how crops such as oat, triticale, hull-less barley, lupin, buckwheat and faba bean can strengthen soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience and protein self-sufficiency without compromising food and feed safety.

Policy brief. Diversifying European Agriculture with Underutilised Crops

(Kevin Dewitte)

The CROPDIVA Policy Brief turns scientific evidence into concrete guidance for policy makers. It shows how underutilised crops and intercropping can reduce fertiliser inputs, improve soil and biodiversity, stabilise yields under climate stress, and increase Europe’s protein self-sufficiency—without compromising food safety. The brief outlines clear CAP-aligned actions to enable large-scale uptake.