What is paludiculture?

Paludiculture is the productive use of rewetted peatlands that preserves peat soil and so minimises CO2 emissions.

Europe was once covered in wet, boggy areas of peatland but over the last few hundred years these have been drained for farming, development or peat extraction. In the past, farmers were even paid by governments to drain peatland for agricultural use.

Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon. However, drainage causes peat oxidation, resulting in CO₂ emission.

More than 80% of the UK’s peatlands are damaged or degraded.

‘A win-win for farmers’: how flooding fields in north-west England could boost crops’ – The Guardian UK

Some 1.5 million hectares of Ireland’s land (21 per cent) is peatland. Of this, 300,000 hectares are drained for farming.

‘Paludiculture could see Ireland’s peatlands store vast amounts of carbon and yield profit’ – The Irish Times

Why is Europe investing in paludiculture?

Amounts and types of wetland vary across Europe but there is significant potential to rewet large areas of European wetlands and to make major contributions to net zero.

Promoting the prosperity of Europe’s farmers and meeting climate goals are guiding priorities for the European Union. The challenge for agricultural and environmental communities is to work together to develop farming practices that are both lucrative and sustainable.  Paludiculture offers a solution that has enormous potential for farmers and for the environment.

A well-developed paludicultural sector promises: increased employment

• increased earnings
• access to carbon credits
• reduced GHG emissions
• improved biodiversity
• improved water quality
• reduced flooding

Palus Demos will provide evidence; to entrepreneurs in agriculture, biobased circular industry, communities, politicians, water and nature organisations and many others; that paludiculture is a viable new direction for European agriculture. 

Is paludiculture good for farmers and landowners?

Crops grown on rewetted peatland offer a profitable and sustainable living for farmers.

Foods that grow well on wetlands include blueberries, cranberries, lettuce and rhubarb.

Non-food crops that are paludiculture-friendly include typha (bulrush) and sphagnum moss. Typha is an important and valuable material for sustainable construction and sustainable textiles. Sphagnum moss is an increasingly in-demand alternative to peat fertiliser in the horticultural sector. 

When it comes to sustainable farming that is also lucrative, paludiculture is a great option for farmers and landowners and will likely form a larger part of the European farming story in the decades to come.