Beyond the Science: What Does Paludiculture Need to Succeed?
Over the past 25 years, paludiculture has evolved from an academic concept into one of the most widely discussed approaches for managing rewetted peatlands. Yet while much attention has focused on crops, carbon and hydrology, a new review from Regina Neudert, Anke Nordt, Sandra Kleine, Sabine Wichmann, Bas Spanjers, Hannah Hirschmann, Telse Vogel and Volker Beckmann suggests that the biggest challenges may now lie elsewhere. A comprehensive analysis of 231 publications reveals that economics, value chains, policy, social acceptance and practical implementation remain some of the least understood aspects of wet peatland farming.
A quarter-century of paludiculture research
Paludiculture emerged more than 25 years ago as a land-use concept that allows productive use of wet and rewetted peatlands while conserving, and potentially rebuilding, peat soils. Since then, interest has grown rapidly. Researchers identified an exponential increase in published studies, from just a handful of papers in the early 2000s to around 40 publications per year by 2024. Most research has emerged from Europe, particularly Germany, alongside a growing body of work from Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia. Together, these two regions now dominate the global paludiculture evidence base.
More than crops and carbon
One of the most interesting findings from the review is that paludiculture is no longer viewed simply as a farming system. The authors describe it as a complex transformation involving agriculture, economics, planning, policy, markets and social change. Success therefore depends not only on growing suitable crops but also on developing value chains, creating markets, adapting governance systems and supporting land managers through transition.
The review groups paludiculture research into five interconnected themes:
Establishment and crop production
Planning and approval
Utilisation and value chains
Economics
Socio-economic transformation
Together, these represent the practical foundations required to turn rewetted peatlands into productive landscapes.
We know a bit about crops
Of all the themes examined, crop establishment and production received the greatest research attention. Studies have explored species selection, water management, harvesting methods, nutrient requirements and yield performance across a range of paludiculture crops. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sphagnum mosses dominate the evidence base, particularly in Germany where long-term research trials have been running for more than a decade. Significant work has also been undertaken on Typha (cattail), common reed (Phragmites australis), reed canary grass and various wet meadow systems. However, even in crop production the review highlights important gaps. Researchers repeatedly call for more long-term trials, improved understanding of yield stability, better genotype selection and further work on harvesting machinery suited to wet conditions.
We now have a growing body of evidence about what can be cultivated under wetter conditions. However, farmers need more than proof that a crop will grow. They need to know how reliably it will produce a marketable yield, what it will cost to establish and manage, what machinery is required, and whether it can be harvested efficiently under real farm conditions. These are precisely the questions that long-term trials and demonstration projects are intended to answer, helping to bridge the gap between experimental success and commercial adoption.
The economics: can wet farming make commercial sense?
Perhaps the most significant finding from the review is not what we know about growing wetland crops, but how little we know about making them pay. Despite the growing body of research into paludiculture, relatively few studies have examined its economics in detail. Most economic studies originate from Germany and Indonesia, and many rely on assumptions rather than long-term evidence from commercial-scale farming. This is an important gap because, for farmers and land managers, the decision to adopt paludiculture will ultimately depend not just on whether a crop can be grown successfully, but whether the economics stack up. Paludiculture offers a range of potential products. However, the review suggests that biomass sales alone are unlikely to make many systems commercially attractive. High establishment costs, specialist machinery requirements, uncertain yields and underdeveloped markets all present significant challenges.
This raises a fundamental question: if the value of paludiculture extends beyond the crops it produces, should the economics be based on biomass sales alone? Wet peatland management can provide wider public benefits through peat conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, carbon storage and biodiversity enhancement. The authors argue that these wider benefits are unlikely to be fully delivered at scale without policy support, environmental payments and financial mechanisms that reward ecosystem services. However, support schemes alone will not create a thriving sector. Long-term success will also depend on reducing production costs, developing higher-value products and creating stronger links between growers, processors and end users. As the review repeatedly highlights, successful paludiculture depends not only on growing crops, but on building the value chains and markets that turn those crops into viable businesses.
Markets matter as much as farming
A recurring theme throughout the review is the importance of value chains. Researchers have invested considerable effort in understanding how wetland crops can be transformed into useful products. Building materials, bioenergy, horticultural growing media and specialist fibres all feature prominently within the literature. However, producing biomass is only the first step. The review argues that greater attention is needed on logistics, supply chains, market development and product demand. In many cases, the technology exists to grow and process wetland crops, but commercial markets remain immature. Without buyers, even successful crops struggle to become viable businesses.
Planning remains an overlooked challenge
One of the most striking findings is how little research has focused on planning and approvals. While 109 publications in the review examined establishment and crop production, only 33 focused on planning and approval, despite these often being the factors that determine whether projects move from concept to implementation.
The literature that does exist examines issues such as site selection, water management permissions, land-use planning, policy frameworks and regulatory barriers. Yet these practical considerations often determine whether projects progress beyond the proposal stage. Researchers highlight the growing role of GIS-based planning tools, spatial modelling and decision-support systems that can identify suitable locations for different paludiculture crops while balancing environmental and agricultural objectives. The message is clear: successful paludiculture requires more than a willing farmer. It requires supportive planning systems, appropriate regulation and coordinated decision-making across landscapes.
From drainage to wet farming: a transition for land managers
The review highlights an important issue that can easily be overlooked when discussing the potential of paludiculture: the transition has to work for the people managing the land.
Moving from conventional drained agriculture to wetter land management is not simply a matter of introducing different crops. It can mean rethinking established farming practices, infrastructure, investment decisions and the way a farm generates income. For farmers, the question is not just whether Sphagnum, reed, Typha or other wetland crops can be grown, but whether a different approach to managing their land can form a viable part of their business. This involves practical and financial decisions.
What changes will be needed to the land and existing infrastructure?
Is suitable machinery available?
What will happen to farm income during the transition?
How will wetter land management fit alongside existing farming activities?
These are often the questions that determine whether farmers are willing and able to make the change.
Planning and regulatory requirements add another layer of complexity. Decisions about water management, land use and environmental regulations need to be understood early in the process, while uncertainty around approvals and long-term policy direction can make investment decisions more difficult.
Ultimately, farmers need confidence that wetter land management can form a practical and financially credible part of their business. The review suggests that generating this confidence may prove just as important as developing the crops themselves.
People matter too
Another important conclusion concerns social acceptance. The review highlights a near absence of large-scale quantitative survey research on stakeholder attitudes towards paludiculture. Much of the existing evidence comes from interviews and case studies rather than large-scale surveys. Researchers argue that successful transitions will depend on more than technical evidence. Cultural traditions, local knowledge, stakeholder networks and people's perceptions of land use all influence whether new approaches are adopted.
In parts of Southeast Asia, for example, traditional wetland management systems already provide important examples of productive land use adapted to wet conditions. In Europe, where drainage has long been associated with productive agriculture, the shift towards wetter farming may require a more substantial change in mindset.
No single model for paludiculture
The review also highlights striking regional differences. European paludiculture research is largely centred on crops such as Sphagnum, Typha and reed within mechanised production systems designed to support peatland restoration and climate mitigation. In Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, researchers more often examine diverse agroforestry systems that balance peatland restoration with food production and rural livelihoods. These contrasting approaches suggest that paludiculture is not a single farming system, but a flexible concept that evolves according to local environmental, economic and cultural conditions.
The biggest gap is long-term evidence
Unsurprisingly, across almost every research area, one recommendation appears repeatedly: the need for large-scale, long-term demonstration projects. Researchers identify major shortages of long-term data on crop yields, farm economics, carbon outcomes, biodiversity impacts, supply chains and social acceptance. The review highlights the success of established Sphagnum farming sites in Germany, where long-term collaboration between researchers and commercial operators has generated evidence across multiple disciplines. Similar demonstration sites for Typha, reed and other crops could accelerate learning and improve confidence among land managers, policymakers and investors.
From proving the concept to building an industry
The review of 231 publications provides a useful reminder that paludiculture has reached an important point in its development. Considerable progress has been made in understanding crop production, water management and the potential uses of wetland biomass. However, the evidence also highlights how much remains to be understood about the economic, commercial and social conditions needed to support wider adoption. The next stage will require a more integrated approach. Crop research needs to connect with farm economics. Biomass production needs to connect with processing capacity and market demand. Land management decisions need to be supported by appropriate planning frameworks, financial incentives and practical advice. Perhaps most importantly, farmers and land managers need confidence that wetter farming can offer a realistic and sustainable future for their businesses.
There is little value in demonstrating that a crop can be grown if there is no viable market for the harvest, just as there is little value in developing a promising product without a reliable supply of raw material. The opportunity now is to bring these different elements together. Long-term demonstration projects, stronger commercial partnerships and better evidence on the costs and benefits of production will be essential in moving paludiculture forward.
The first 25 years of paludiculture research have largely focused on proving that productive land use is possible on wet and rewetted peatlands. The next 25 years may be defined by a different challenge: building the markets, value chains, policies and partnerships needed to make it work at scale. Success will ultimately be measured not by what happens in experimental plots, but by whether paludiculture can become a practical, profitable and sustainable part of real farming systems and rural economies.
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