Dirk van Apeldoorn

Dirk van Apeldoorn is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Farm Systems Ecology Group at Wageningen University & Research's Department of Plant Sciences, with extensive fieldwork in Lelystad. With nearly 25 years of affiliation with WUR—starting as a Tropical Land Use student before advancing to PhD and postdoctoral research—he focuses on enhancing biodiversity while sustaining farmer livelihoods through strip-cropping and agroecological innovations.

His research explores crop diversity, soil-plant interactions, and ecological pest management, aiming to reconcile agricultural productivity with environmental resilience. Key initiatives include optimizing strip-cropping configurations to boost beneficial arthropod populations and improve soil health.

Grants & Advising:

• Leads collaborative projects with Dutch farmers to implement biodiversity-friendly practices
• Emphasizes team science in crop diversification research

He coordinates the 'Biologische strokenteelt Valthermond' demonstration system, fostering knowledge exchange on organic strip-cropping techniques.