In the VPRO Tegenlicht episode, ‘Bouwen met de Boer‘, we see how farmers and builders are partnering to lead the material transition, using natural and local resources to create a more sustainable future. Could these innovations reduce our reliance on polluting materials like concrete and steel, while offering new opportunities for farmers and restoring nature? This transition isn’t just a dream – pioneers are already proving it can be done.

We meet innovators like Luc and Wout de Wit, the so-called ‘Building Farmers’, who are cultivating hemp in Utrecht to construct bio-based tiny houses. Or Drenthe-based farmer Koos Vos, who traded his cattle for elephant and mammoth grass, using these crops as insulation materials for buildings. These efforts highlight how natural fibers such as straw, hemp, and bamboo can be cultivated across the country, transforming the construction industry and creating healthier environment.

Watch the summary of the episode with English subtitles here.