Recycling plan Schouten certainly not watertight

The realization plan for the transition to circular agriculture was presented by Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) on Monday 17 June. For this project she worked together with a sounding board group of livestock farmers and arable farmers. However, this group was unable to reach a unanimous opinion. In addition, the reactions from society are not mild. 

The minister covers himself in advance by saying that every transition is a process of trial and error. Schouten mentions the ability to adapt to new circumstances characteristic of the Dutch agricultural sector, but she also indicates that much is demanded of farmers. "From fertilizer to animal manure, it takes quite a bit." The transition to other types of animal feed, for example through the use of new protein sources, will also be quite difficult.

It's time for experimentation
The realization plan works with 'Experimental areas'. Schouten sees this as a sign of trust. "The Netherlands is small, but has unique areas. The regional deals are in line with the strength of that region." The deals mentioned are not new: closing the cycles in the Achterhoek. That is, for example, a project that has been running for quite some time. She also mentions Food Valley, which is also a project that has been worked on for some time.

Schouten went in search of the frontrunners and existing initiatives. Farmers who do it differently are used as an example. In her plan she describes that farmers who have switched to circular agriculture earn a better living with it. The relevant question is what kind of business those entrepreneurs had before they made the switch. That question is not answered.

Learning from unproven concepts 
One of the farmers who got a place on the podium at the presentation is Geert van der Veer from 'Herenboeren'. This new initiative is presented as the ultimate connection between producer and consumer. Citizens hire a farmer to produce food for them. However, this concept has not yet proven its right to exist. The same goes for food forests. Those forests have hardly yielded any harvests yet. After all, it takes years before the trees are fully grown.

Food production chain
Schouten indicates that many links in the food production chain are involved in the plan. "It's ambitious, but we need to prepare the sector for the challenges ahead." She is in consultation with the supermarkets and reports that they do want to move and think along. The minister explains that the supermarkets are very interested in new concepts.

The 'price' aspect, however, remains undisclosed. According to Schouten, consumers should demand that products with a low environmental impact are on the shelves. The minister indicates that consumers have a lot of power. A pig farmer from the audience shouted that the entire realization plan is missing just one important player: the consumer, to which Schouten said: "If we set higher standards and still buy the cheapest meat, then we put the problem back to the farmer. I can feel it. as my assignment to take steps in that direction."

Fuss over more expensive food
On social media and in various newspapers Monday 17 June It is clear that consumers are not at all interested in the message 'environment' if a higher price has to be paid for it. Wierd Duk, journalist at De Telegraaf, wondered in which bubble Schouten lives and various other reactions were not lying. The actions taken by the minister to do something about the farmer's income are not reflected in the price side.

This mainly concerns the use of the funds for innovation, the use of the funds from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the strengthening of the farmers' market power, making them stronger compared to the large purchasing organisations. In the autumn, the minister will open a subsidy scheme for innovation and investments in source-oriented emission reduction in stables. This plan simply comes too late for farmers in Brabant.

Minister Schouten is also in talks with the banks and various financiers for more favorable green financing. A revenue model is not yet available, but the minister is commissioning more research into this.

Healthy soil is the key
Healthy soil is also central to the plan. With healthy soil and natural pest protection, Minister Schouten hopes to be able to significantly reduce the share of crop protection products. The minister wants to map the soil quality in the Netherlands and is therefore working on unambiguous measurement methods that should be operational in 2021.

In September 2019, the minister will organize the 'National Soil Summit', which must be held annually. Schouten previously worked on a National Program for Agricultural Soils, which will become an important part of the path to circular agriculture: "My goal is that all agricultural soils in the Netherlands (1,8 million hectares) are sustainably managed by 2030 and that efforts for sustainable soil management are also valued by society."

Lack of communication
One of the biggest obstacles in the path to circular agriculture is abroad. The opponents of livestock farming cite export as the reason why circular agriculture will not work. A major problem, however, is the import of products that do not meet Dutch standards.

According to Schouten, it is important that the Netherlands leads the way with a low environmental impact, because other countries can produce more cheaply (for example through cheaper labour). It assumes that the consumer chooses that better product. Communication and information play an important role in this regard. It was mentioned several times during the meeting that this is not the case.

However, Minister Schouten's efforts are at odds with the treaty with the Mercosur countries: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. Negotiations have been going on for 20 years. This trade agreement is being concluded by Minister Sigrid Kaag (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) and she sees no point in 'protectionist measures'. In practice, this means that even more products are coming onto the Dutch market that do not meet the Dutch requirements, but are cheaper. It is a knife in the back for Schouten's ambitious plans.

Minister Schouten is one of the speakers at the National Economic Agricultural Congress of Boerenbusiness. Click here for the program and tickets.

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