Farmer tests wildflowers in tractor tracks to boost insects and cut pesticides
Sunday 12th July 2026 on 11:30 in
Denmark
A Danish farmer is sowing wildflowers in tractor wheel tracks to attract beneficial insects and reduce chemical pesticide use, as part of a nationwide project testing new ideas for sustainable agriculture.
Thorsten Pedersen, who farms 108 hectares of crops including barley, peas, rapeseed, and wheat in Roslev, Salling, has planted a mix of wildflowers, clover, and grasses in the compacted soil where farm machinery passes. The goal is to create habitats for predatory insects such as ladybugs, ground beetles, and spiders, which naturally control pests like aphids that damage his spring barley.
“We’re trying to combat aphids biologically by creating attractive habitats for the predatory insects that eat them. That way, I can reduce the amount of spray I use,” Pedersen told DR.
He also hopes the increase in insect life will benefit birds and mammals such as larks, hares, and partridges, aligning with his view that efficient farming and thriving nature should go hand in hand. “It matters to me that you can see life when you’re working in the fields,” he said.
Pedersen’s experiment is one of more than 60 currently underway across Denmark under Landmandsdrevet Innovation (Farmer-Driven Innovation), a national project funded by a 23 million kroner grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The initiative, running until September 2027, allows farmers to test new ideas with expert support from institutions like the Technological Institute.
“Normally, innovation comes from the top down—from universities and researchers. In this project, we go directly to the users and gather primary information,” said Bodil Lorentzen, center director at the Technological Institute. The aim is to accelerate the green transition by collecting and sharing viable ideas from farmers, with 115 proposals already submitted to the project’s website.
Successful innovations will be shared through workshops, field walks, and networking events, with the hope that some may develop into long-term industrial solutions, Lorentzen added.