Interview Jan Cees Vogelaar
'We don't know whether the nitrogen problem exists'
A debutant at the Binnenhof, but certainly no stranger. With extensive administrative experience within the agricultural sector, there are few agricultural entrepreneurs who do not know Jan Cees Vogelaar (58). First he was on the list of FvD, but after the struggles there, now on number 7 of the list of JA21.
Many farmers are disappointed in the traditional parties. You have also turned your back on the CDA, for which you were active. Why?
"That is motivated by disappointment in current politicians, who time and again have let the farmer suffocate. In the past 35 years I have never seen politics so bursting on the farmer."
What can be done differently?
"Policy should be made on the basis of science and knowledge and not on the basis of calculation models, as is currently happening. Not on the basis of 'expert's best judgement': that an expert puts his finger in the air and feels where the wind is coming from. "
The nitrogen problem, don't you think it exists?
"I'm not saying that. We don't know whether it exists or not, I'm not denying anything, because we haven't measured it. You have to measure it first before you make policy. No soil sample has yet been submitted in nature reserves. only measured air concentrations and then calculated approximately how much the deposition will be. We all have to put our heads together and then start measuring. We are talking about billions here. And if we do not measure, we cannot determine afterwards whether measures have an effect had."
What is the core of JA21's election manifesto?
"The core of our election program is: the entrepreneur must be able to do business. Nature and environmental organizations receive a lot of money for nature management, but it is never checked whether this is effective. Organizations such as Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer receive millions for the meadow birds, but whether there are meadow birds "It doesn't matter. Start rewarding for the results achieved. For example, pay €1.000 or €2.000 per godwit. That seems like a lot of money, but that is a fraction of what is currently being invested in control measures and the effectiveness of this has not been demonstrated."
What do you think is the most important point in the field of agriculture?
"That farmers must be given the space to do business and that the very large regular diarrhea from The Hague of recent years must come to an end. It is cost-robbing and is not in proportion with foreign countries. You do not have phosphate legislation abroad, the nitrogen standards in Germany are 7 times wider than here. All those rules cost us money. The policy is also constantly changing. Look how the fertilizer policy changes every 2 years, the agricultural policy every 6 years. Companies had to submit a PAS report and are now faking in the street, outrageous."
The election program Van JA21 states that the responsibility for the income of farmers and horticulturists must be placed with the entire chain. How?
"Everyone says: if we raise prices, we increase income, but it starts on the cost side. Compared to other countries, we are above the milk price. You can pay 2 to 3 cents more for milk, but the regulation jungle ensures that the margin is ultimately lower. There must be fewer and better rules."
The election program also states that modern innovative plant breeding techniques must be given the green light. Crispr-Cas is still banned in the EU. Are we in danger of falling behind?
"We are not in danger of falling behind, we are already lagging behind. Genetics and seed developers are already developing abroad, while we can stay put here. You are talking about all of Europe. With Crispr-Cas you can develop resistant more quickly. develop varieties. You can improve crop protection enormously. It is all about sustainability, and therefore also income. Fewer crop protection products means less expenditure. By applying Crispr-Cas, you can also grow 10 tons more onions per hectare, for example, and you have less mold pressure."
JA21 also wants to facilitate cows in the meadow and farmers who are committed to grazing. Should there be an end to cows that don't come out of the barn?
"We would like livestock farmers who have cows in the meadow to be actively helped with a larger house plot. The government should facilitate that. If you would like to see cows in the meadow, and you know that the house plot size is important, then that is a important thing."
The reason for not becoming more sustainable is often stated that there is not enough demand from the market. What is the sustainable business model?
"There is also not much demand from the market. The consumer is looking: is it affordable and does it taste good? You only have to produce what is in demand. Albert Heijn has a partnership with Royal A-ware and their customers are prepared to pay for it." PlanetProof was installed from above and turns out not to work like that."
Ja21 is in the polls on 3 seats. What would you like to mean for the people who help you into the House with preferential votes in the next 4 years?
"Same thing I've been doing for the past 25 years: raising nonsense and madness and explaining it's different."
Linda van Eekeres
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