Impact and effect

Foto: Eva Rosenqvist, University of Copenhagen

The Deep Frontier project developed results, methods and ideas for the development of sustainable agricultural systems for the future, through increased exploitation of resources from deep soil layers.

With a focus on deep rooting the knowledge gained contribute to the development of systems that:

  • Need less resource input in terms of plant nutrients and irrigation water 
  • Loose less plant nutrients to the environment 
  • Give higher productivity and higher production stability, as resource availability from deeper soil layers is less affected by short term variability for example in water supply 
  • Give stronger climate change mitigation through increased storage of carbon in the subsoil.

In addition, the results contribute to the understanding of the limitations of current agricultural practices and may inspire for change even if it will be less radical than the ideas studied within this project.

Finally, the public at large may find these topics interesting. Moreover, it is fascinating to observe live roots in their natural environment – which is now possible with the unique research facilities at Højbakkegård in Denmark.

See the facilities