Arla’s Nature Connect project has got off the ground in western Denmark, where eleven cooperative members are trialling regenerative farming practices across nearly 1,400 hectares, with a focus on nature, water quality and biodiversity.

Arla Foods has launched the first concrete phase of its Nature Connect project in Varde Municipality in western Jutland. Eleven farmers have committed to trialling a range of on- and off-field practices aimed at strengthening the natural content of the area, according to a press release from Arla.

The project was launched in autumn 2025 and covers approximately 1,400 hectares of agricultural land in total. All participating farmers will sow catch crops after harvest to improve soil health and retain nutrients through autumn and winter.

“For me, it is about finding solutions where we can both produce feed for our animals so they can produce food, and at the same time make more room for nature,” says Henrik Søgaard, one of the participating Arla farmers.

He points to catch crops and smaller measures such as brushwood piles and buffer strips as ways of improving conditions for biodiversity.

Locally adapted wildflower strips
Another element of the project is wildflower strips designed to improve living conditions for insects and small animals. The seed mixtures have been tailored to the local natural conditions of western Jutland and include native species.

“It is crucial that we work with nature locally. A wildflower mix in western Jutland will not be the same as in other parts of the country, because the natural basis is different,” says Mette Ulsø Kristensen, Head of Sustainability at Arla Denmark.

Broad advisory group
The project is being monitored by a cross-disciplinary group that met on Tuesday 16 June at Henrik Søgaard’s farm. The group includes WWF Denmark, the Bikuben Foundation, Aarhus University, Varde Municipality, the Danish Outdoor Council, SEGES Innovation and the Association of Danish Agricultural Schools.

Varde Municipality has expressed support for the project from the outset.

“It is positive to see a project where farmers are leading the way and working systematically to integrate nature considerations into their operations. When more farmers work on nature initiatives at the same time and scale, we gain valuable knowledge about what works,” says Jan Pedersen, head of Water Environment at Varde Municipality.

By Maja Løvstrup
Photo: Arla Foods