The flagship projects of the Delta Climate Center

Transitions in food, water safety and circularity shaping a sustainable delta

The Delta Climate Center (DCC) The Delta Climate Center (DCC) officially launched in the spring of 2024. It researches climate and sustainability issues that delta regions like Zeeland are currently facing or will face in the future (see box). This joint initiative of six educational and research institutions is funded by compensation funds allocated by the national government after the cancellation of the marines’ barracks in Vlissingen. The DCC has three so-called iconic projects: Delta Protein, Flexible Deltas, and Propelling Circular Economy in Zeeland (ProceZ). Paul Vader, editor HZ Discovery

The objective of the Delta Protein project is to contribute to the protein transition in Zeeland. The premise is a broad vision in which the Zeeland delta serves as the source of healthy, sustainable, flavourful, and affordable food, sourced both from land and sea. A key aspect of this project is the transdisciplinary approach, which involves all stakeholders in the research. This methodology not only brings a sustainable delta closer - one that respects natural boundaries - but also fosters an economic environment where Zeeland entrepreneurs can make a good living.

Establishing a transdisciplinary approach is a separate research line within the project. The aim is to develop a manual that will be used to organise transdisciplinary research, an approach that could be applied to all DCC research projects.

'You have to find out what their questions are'

Delta Protein

According to project leader professor dr. Klaas Timmerman (NIOZ, RUG), it is often difficult to determine precisely who the stakeholders are in research and then to actively involve them. "There are partners who attend the project’s launch but sometimes quickly lose interest afterwards.” He frequently encounters a gap between science and practice.

The challenge lies in organising a process in which stakeholders are genuinely heard. “You need to find out what their questions are and what challenges they face. As a scientist, you may have an idea, but you want to hear it directly from them.” Additionally, transdisciplinary research is highly dependent on context. “It is about identifying the stakeholders here in Zeeland. For example, what challenges do entrepreneurs face, and how do we ensure they truly embrace and contribute to a project?”

The other three research lines within the project focus on the protein transition, shifting from animal-based to plant-based proteins or to a low-trophic level (organisms low in the food chain), such as mussels. Timmerman has a personal motivation in this endeavour. “I am convinced that the current food supply, with its emphasis on animal proteins, is unsustainable.” He is particularly concerned about the climate crisis. “It is extraordinary to witness how the climate is changing within my lifetime. The pace is incredibly fast.” He believes there is still significant potential in Zeeland for crops like peas and beans, but the entire supply chain - from farmer to consumer - must be prepared for it. He also considers seaweed, a subject of his professional career. “We are now attempting to extract proteins from seaweed using enzymes to create a tasty and sustainable product.” When asked if this could result in a sustainable Zeeland seaweed burger within four years, he replies negatively. “Not necessarily. It might be an entirely new product, something we do not yet know today.”

Professor Herman Kasper Gilissen explains during the kickoff what his role is within the project.

'There is thus a greater chance that you can apply one of these techniques somewhere'

Project leader Teun Terpstra during the kick-off meeting at HZ in Middelburg.

Flexible Deltas

How can a delta region like Zeeland adapt to rising sea levels and periods of extreme drought and rainfall? This is the central question in the Flexible Deltas project. This iconic project explores new perspectives on the design of land-water transitions, driven by three key factors.

Firstly, the current water safety strategy is unsustainable in the long term, as the polder soil will continue to subside while the sea level rises. Secondly, climate change exacerbates existing problems in the dike zone, such as restoring natural values and ensuring the availability of freshwater in low-lying polders. Finally, there is a need not only for new, nature-based design and maintenance techniques but also for social, economic, and legal transitions. It is no surprise that this project also adopts a transdisciplinary approach.

Central to the project are flood-resilient landscapes, a concept that has been extensively researched. Project leader and lector Teun Terpstra (HZ) distinguishes three types of flood-resilient landscapes: polderlands (see box), forelands outside the dykes, and islands within the sea itself.

The latter reduce tidal fluctuations when built in estuaries, lowering extreme water levels and enhancing water safety. According to Terpstra, these three types of landscapes allow for location-specific solutions. “Not everywhere has sufficient space to continue reinforcing dykes traditionally, and structural solutions are costly and difficult to modify in the future. Future water safety is therefore a spatial challenge where we should ideally use natural processes to enhance both water security and biodiversity. By exploring different flood-resilient landscape types, we increase the likelihood of applying one of these techniques somewhere.” These three concepts are also well suited for research and modelling, allowing for comparative analysis. “We can conduct a scan to determine what works where and what the legal and policy implications are.”

HZ will investigate whether polderlands and forelands meet the legal water safety standards and whether they are ultimately more cost-effective than traditional dyke reinforcement. Where exactly the islands in the Western Scheldt should be placed to achieve the desired effect is still unknown. “Model studies will provide initial insights. It appears that the shipping channel is the best option, which, of course, has implications for navigation.” The ultimate goal is to establish real-world pilot projects for each type of flood-resilient landscape. For the polderland and a potential island, the Western Scheldt is the most suitable location, while in the Eastern Scheldt, forelands could be created using sand replenishments. The latter is driven by the realisation that the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier will become ineffective if sea levels continue to rise. “If water levels rise, the barrier will have to be closed more frequently until it eventually remains permanently shut,” concludes Terpstra. “If we want to keep the Eastern Scheldt open, we must explore ways to maintain coastal safety.”

Terpstra acknowledges that the water safety concepts investigated in the Flexible Deltas project are quite radical. “We are raising questions that are not yet pressing today but will be in the future. We need to initiate this discussion, not only with all stakeholders but also with organisations embedded deep within society.”

According to Terpstra, the biggest challenges lie in the legal and governance aspects of the three flood-resilient landscapes. “The ideal outcome of this project would be a detailed plan to launch pilot projects for each technique somewhere in the delta. From there, implementation would be out of our hands. Society would take it forward, while we continue researching such solutions.”

Polderlands and Forelands

A polderland is a low-lying polder adjacent to the coast that is periodically opened to tidal influences, allowing natural sedimentation to raise the land level. Simultaneously, another previously sedimented area is prepared for agricultural use. This cyclical process naturally enhances water security in the hinterland by creating a higher-lying strip of polderlands.

A foreland is a strip of land outside the dykes, such as mudflats or salt marshes. Sedimentation in forelands can be encouraged through measures like flow-reducing dams, which increase sediment deposition. Forelands contribute to water safety by mitigating currents and wave action.

'Student engagement is an important aspect of this project'

ProceZ

The ProceZ project (Propelling Circular Economy in Zeeland) also embraces a transdisciplinary approach. It brings stakeholders together to extract valuable substances from existing residual streams, which can then be used to produce sustainable biobased products. Reuse, recovery, and reintegration of raw materials into the cycle will significantly reduce the consumption of fresh water, energy, and the need for additional raw materials.

The project is still in the planning phase. Project leader Dr Renata van der Weijden (UCR) has recently completed a comprehensive inventory of potential companies in Zeeland that could be of interest for participation, following discussions with the province and other stakeholders. The main focus is on making (waste)water streams more circular, for example, by linking companies so that one business can use another’s wastewater.

An interesting legal dilemma also arises here, namely, which company would be held liable for the wastewater that ultimately results from this process. Utrecht University will be investigating this issue. Additionally, for wastewater from the food industry that contains sugars, Scalda, HZ, and UCR plan to explore whether mycelium cultivation could be a viable solution. Mycelium has numerous applications, ranging from food (such as oyster mushrooms) to insulation materials, boards, and even filters.

A key aspect of this project is the involvement of students. The participation of Scalda, HZ, and UCR ensures that knowledge is both applied and transferred at all levels. The companies approached are also enthusiastic about the connection with education.

Kickoff

Het The Delta Climate Center (DCC) icon project ProceZ will be officially launched on Monday 10 March. Interested parties are welcome to attend the kickoff at Dockwize on Edisonweg 41B in Vlissingen.

The programme will last from 10.30 to 14.00. The walk-in with coffee and tea starts at 10.00 am. You can register for the event using this form.

The entire education chain works together

Delta Climate Center

The goal of the Delta Climate Center (DCC) is to contribute to sustainable, climate-resilient, and prosperous deltas, both in Zeeland and beyond. This is achieved through research, educational development, and the application of knowledge, in collaboration with businesses, social organisations, governments, and local communities.

The DCC brings together Zeeland’s educational institutions Scalda, HZ, and UCR with NIOZ, Wageningen University & Research, and Utrecht University. Its research focuses on three specific themes: water safety and availability, sustainable food, and circularity. A fourth theme, regional transitions, is overarching and intersects with the other three.

The Zeeland delta serves as a testing ground for the DCC’s research. A potentially powerful aspect of the DCC is the collaboration across the entire educational spectrum—vocational (MBO), applied sciences (HBO), and academic (WO)—which enables the development of innovative solutions and their implementation in professional practice.