Given the increasingly perceptible effects of global warming, the Government will promote crops that are adapted to changing climatic conditions and more resistant to drought, while reducing the risk of loss of yield and quality. In addition, the Government will be doing more to promote the rotation of different plant species instead of monocultures.

Luxembourg is promoting annual crop rotation on fields in a relatively mixed manner – this is a measure that promotes soil fertility and efficient nutrient utilisation, as well as helping to reduce pests:

Unfortunately, the obligation on crop rotation within the framework of the EU’s agricultural subsidy policy is only optional in this country and the rules are generally not very ambitious – the main crop may be sown for four consecutive years in Luxembourg. At present, silage maize producers in particular benefit from the requirements – but this should be examined more closely in terms of its impact on the environment and water quality. At the same time, however, there is also a voluntary support programme (AUKM 548 Crop rotation and diversification of arable crops), which has been relatively well received (32% of Luxembourg’s arable land). It should be reviewed once again how the requirement could be made more ambitious, in coordination with the support programme. In addition, a field visit for farmers on this topic took place as part of the ADAPT research project ‘Smart Cropping to Adapt Luxembourg Agriculture to Climate Change’ (led by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and funded by the Fonds national de la recherche and the Ministry of Agriculture), which was already launched in 2022.