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provide up to eleven months of ground cover to restrict
the harmful effects of wind and water erosion on soils
over the vulnerable winter months. It can also provide
valuable late summer protection against moisture loss.
Rapeseed has additionally shown to have an overall
positive effect on crop health and therefore causes a
decrease in risks and costs on farm level.
From a broader environmental resilience perspective
rapeseed can be beneficial for farmland wildlife. Its
thick and relatively long-term overhead canopy with stiff
stems provides an ideal environment for a wide range of
bird species and populations of invertebrates.
However, large-scale farming of rapeseed can also
pose a challenge for insects, since food is available in
large quantities during a small period of time and scarce
for a large period of the year. Buffer strips along the
fields with wild flowers and shrubs are therefore highly
recommended in order to increase insect biodiversity.
In AAK we are using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)
to analyze the impact of our rapeseed supply chains
globally, but also in comparison to other oil crops. This
way we get full insight into the climate impact of our
supply chains and can work towards minimizing it and
offer the best solutions to our customers.
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