Pioneer in organic and saline agriculture awarded knighthood

Pioneer in Organic and Saline Agriculture Awarded Knighthood

He is considered a pioneer in biodynamic agriculture and has spent many years advocating for saline agriculture both domestically and internationally.

Marc van Rijsselberghe's work was honored with a Royal decoration on Friday morning. He was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. This occurred in the presence of his wife Geertje and their sons Adriaan and Dorian, the latter having come from America to the island specifically for the occasion.

Mayor Mark Pol recounted how Van Rijsselberghe began with the Donatus Foundation in Den Hoorn (now the Novalishoeve) in 1977. It was one of the first six biodynamic farms in the Netherlands and a model in organic agriculture. It was also one of the first care farms in the Netherlands, where young people were taken in.

In 2006, Van Rijsselberghe initiated research into salt-tolerant agriculture together with the VU University Amsterdam. This was based on the idea that saline soil is not useless but can be used to cultivate salt-tolerant crops. This led to the establishment of the Saline Test Farm, where practical experiments were conducted with growing saline vegetables to see under which salty conditions crops would thrive or fail.

Over the years, this attracted dozens of TV crews and dignitaries from both domestic and international origins to Texel, all of whom were warmly received by Van Rijsselberghe. This ensured that the island frequently received attention. The knowledge developed on Texel about saline cultivation was utilized worldwide.

According to Mayor Pol, Van Rijsselberghe was highly driven to contribute to alleviating the global food problem. "He collaborates in his own unique way with ministries, universities, and research institutions."

In addition, Van Rijsselberghe served as a board member and organizer for the Ronde om Texel, the Watersportverbond, and the Watersportvereniging from 2012 to 2018. At the Ronde, he co-organized several surfing championships. He is also involved with the Dorian Foundation, established after Dorian became the Olympic windsurfing champion for the first time in 2012.