The Next Chapter of the Wageningen Forest

Last year, students, researchers, and partners gathered at Lukenya University in Kenya to plant the Wageningen Forest. Together, they planted 1,000 trees, celebrating a partnership that had grown over several years through the Food Systems Innovation Challenge. But planting the trees was never meant to be the finish line.

In semi-arid regions such as Makueni County, keeping young trees alive can be just as challenging as planting them. Limited rainfall and long dry periods mean that many newly planted trees struggle to survive. For communities investing time, labour and resources into reforestation, finding effective ways to use water is essential.

That question has now become the starting point of a new collaborative research project between Wageningen University & Research, Lukenya University, Dorcas Kenya, Groasis and local farmers.
Over the coming months, researchers and students will compare three different irrigation methods under real field conditions. Rather than relying on assumptions, the project aims to understand which approach helps young trees establish themselves while using water as efficiently as possible.

The study will compare three approaches: traditional watering with a watering can, the ZUDROT method developed by Lukenya University, and the Groasis Waterboxx, designed to capture and slowly release water around young trees. By testing each method under the same conditions, the team hopes to identify which approach offers the best balance between tree survival, water use and practicality for local communities.

Importantly, this research won't take place only on university grounds. Alongside a test plot at Lukenya University, local farmers are opening their fields to the project and helping test the different methods in practice. Their experiences and knowledge of the local landscape will be an important part of the research.

The project officially kicked off at the beginning of June with the arrival of the Groasis Waterboxxes in Kenya. Shortly afterwards, partner Dorcas organised a training for local farmers, introducing them to the technology and preparing them for the field experiment. It marked the first step in what will be a year-long collaboration between researchers, students and communities.

For Wageningen University & Research, the project is a natural continuation of a partnership that has steadily grown over the past few years. "What started through the Food Systems Innovation Challenge has developed into something much broader," says Mirjam Troost, Project Manager at Wageningen University & Research. "Students, researchers and local partners are continuing to learn from one another, and this project is another example of how those relationships can lead to practical solutions."

In September, WUR students will travel to Kenya to join the fieldwork, working alongside researchers and local communities. Their experiences will become part of the story too, offering a glimpse into what international collaboration looks like beyond the classroom.

The research is only just beginning, and there won't be quick answers. Over the next year, the team will be collecting data, learning from the field and sharing what they discover along the way. Over the coming months, we'll be following the project from the field and sharing the stories behind the research as it unfolds.