News Revenue model
Collective chain plan for more money on the farm
Farmers' organisations, Rabobank, the processing industry and supermarkets will continue to discuss forming chains, in which better revenue models are formed for agricultural entrepreneurs. The parties decided this on Friday (April 2) at a meeting in Utrecht.
In it, the parties adopted a plan from Sjaak van der Tak, the chairman of LTO-Nederland. This plan should result in chains between farmers, agribusiness and supermarkets, in which agreements are made for a shorter period about the requirements set for sustainability and other social wishes. This can be done, among other things, on the basis of brands and quality marks.
The efforts that the agricultural entrepreneurs have to make to meet the wishes must be compensated from as much as possible from the chain. What is not removed from the market through its own brands (such as 'Beter voor ...' from Albert Heijn), quality marks (such as Beter Leven from the Animal Protection) or industry standards (such as collaborating companies or an independent standard such as Global GAP) must be removed from the market. government treasury. This applies, for example, to ecosystem services that farmers can provide to improve biodiversity, soil, water, air and landscape quality in the Netherlands.
This total package should result in a cost-effective operation of healthy farms. Subsequently, the step abroad must be made quickly, reports the CBL, the branch organization of supermarkets. "The majority of the production is sold outside the Netherlands."
Government should stay away from the market
The CBL emphasizes that the government also plays a role in this, but that it must stay away from the market. "The government should actively develop policies and finance sustainability issues and ecosystem services that are socially desirable, but for which there is no market demand." The supermarkets also want the government to contribute to the costs resulting from nature and environmental policy and that farmers who have to stop their business are generously compensated by the nature policy.
In addition to the supermarkets (CBL, Jumbo, AH), Rabobank and LTO, POV, NAJK, NFO, NAV, Farmers Defense Force (FDF), Vion, FrieslandCampina and A-ware also took part in the consultation. According to the CBL, various discussions will be held in the coming period to build up confidence in order to make the realization of the chains a success.
Establish Agrifood Business School
LTO Nederland reports in a statement that the aim is to develop standards that provide the basis for financing financing from the market through (certificate) brands and industry standards, as well as through ecosystem services. The latter must be done through agricultural policy and the GreenDeal. The ultimate goal is a profitable and sustainable agriculture and horticulture that solves its social challenges.
LTO also reports that an Agrifood Business School is being established, in which the entire chain can learn to innovate together. That is 'an envisaged new partnership between various Dutch universities. The ambition is to fulfill a leading position in Europe as a center of expertise with this.'
Recovery policy Wijkers and Blijvers
According to LTO's plan, the 'Wijkers en Blijvers' policy for the agricultural sector should also be restored. This was a policy that actively helped farmers who were unable or unwilling to follow the market to make way for farmers with a future and a revenue model. Van der Tak: "The Netherlands has had a policy for too long in which the farmer was, as it were, chased out of the market due to increasingly strict rules. The chain approach gives promising farmers room. That commitment concerns the private sector. The government's commitment is also important: the creation of social funds to help farmers become redundant and - vice versa - to help promising farmers find places that residents want to leave behind. The private sector is now going to do its part of the job. There must be something in return. formation, politicians should work on formulating a policy of compensation for ecosystem services."
Talking to farmers
The role of FDF is striking. The movement around foreman Mark van den Oever was initially the initiator of the chain consultation with the plan for the FarmerFriendly quality mark. However, this concept was already rejected by Jumbo and Albert Heijn in February, according to today's session.
A delegation from FDF was also present on Friday to underline the call for a better revenue model. LTO leader Van der Tak, whose plan is now being adopted by the supermarkets, processing companies and Rabobank, talked to the farmers on the steps of the location where the meeting was organised. The Netherlands Agricultural Youth Contact (NAJK) says in a press release that it is 'pleasantly surprised' with the plan of the new foreman of the old farmers' organization.
Eric the Thrush
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