Rabobank: new cabinet must provide clarity

It is important that the formation agreements for a new cabinet provide clarity to the agricultural sector where we are going and within what time frame. That is what Bas Rüter, director of Sustainability at Rabobank, said today (March 26) at an online meeting with the trade press.

According to Rüter, it is important for agricultural entrepreneurs to have transitional periods that are easy to handle in making their business more sustainable. And also predictability and reliability. "Also because there are official surveys about shrinkage, it is important that it is clear for the long term where we are going and that there is compensation for this."

Rabobank is in talks with the government to see how agricultural entrepreneurs can be supported in making them more sustainable, says Carin van Huët, director of Food & Agri Netherlands at Rabobank. Everything depends on the revenue model, says Van Huët. "That remains the starting point. We are working on how that can be improved."

Putting a lot of money into innovation
When asked how the bank looks at the long-term outlook published last week'Nitrogen space for the future', stating that the development of innovations is too expensive and not going fast enough, says Van Huët: "We do not deny that it is expensive, but the question is what it costs if you halve the livestock." She also refers to employment. "Remediation will cost a lot. We say: try to put a lot of money into innovation." Shrinkage should not be an end in itself, according to the directors.

If the new cabinet nevertheless proceeds to halve the livestock, 'then you will enter a new reality', says Van Huët. This will also have consequences for other industries that depend on dairy farming, such as contracting companies. "Then we have to talk to these parties. What is your future strategy?"

Rabobank is calculating the cost of separating urine and manure on dairy farms, based on assumptions, says the Food & Agri director. This calculation is becoming clearer, according to Van Huët, but it is still too premature to make it public.

Friesland license
The already granted nature permit of a Frisian dairy farm has expired 2 weeks ago the District Court of the Northern Netherlands annulled† "We were just as surprised," said Van Huët. The ruling is not a reason to adjust the financing policy. "We continue to fund, keep an eye on it and are in contact with the government. We assume that we will get out. At the moment it has no policy implications."

Linda van Eekeres

Linda van Eekeres is co-writing editor-in-chief. She mainly focuses on macro-economic developments and the influence of politics on the agricultural sector.

l.vaneekeres@boerenbusiness. Nl

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