News Politics
LTO and agribusiness: billions to the countryside
LTO, together with FrieslandCampina, Cosun, Agrifirm and Vion, wrote a letter to informateur Mariëtte Hamer. Central to this is a spatial agricultural incentive of €2 billion for the quality of life in rural areas. They also argue for an agri-authority for public-private partnerships.
The 'Spatial Agricultural Impulse' is described as an area-oriented 'refurbishment'. "No large-scale plowing, but using modern technology to make small and larger improvements in the field of allotment, water management and infrastructure. This contributes to a better earning capacity for farmers and horticulturists, as well as to nature, biodiversity and social rural goals", it says. the letter.
Agri-authority for public-private partnership
A strong partnership between the national government and the agricultural business community, the so-called public-private partnership, is also crucial, according to the parties. They emphatically argue in favor of strengthening this form of cooperation through an agricultural authority. This is a platform in which the government and Dutch agribusiness can work together on the basis of equality.
The forming parties are also called upon to quickly work on the introduction of the fiscal climate and disaster reserve. This reserve should enable agricultural entrepreneurs to build up financial buffers to absorb climate and market disruptions with profits from better times. There is also a plea for a risk fund that will bear the costs if a proposed (socially desirable) transition turns out differently than included in the original business model.
No rigid policy after the decimal point
The letter writers also want more freedom to achieve goals instead of 'rigid policies that were prescribed down to the last decimal place'. In their view, it is very important in the coming years that efforts are made to develop measurable target parameters for individual companies and/or plots of land. "Then a choice should be made for uniform monitoring at farm level. Priority is given to sensor and data systems for emissions at barn level, the transition to green circular fertilizers and uniform parameters for emissions outside the plot and biodiversity in the plot."
The letter also asks for even stronger cooperation between the government and the business community to inform consumers, set standards and ensure that the Netherlands is assured of a high-quality food supply. They also believe that consumers at European level should be unambiguously informed about the origin of the product and the way in which that product was made.
European CO2 tax good for Dutch farmer
Finally, the lobbyists also think that a CO2 tax at European level could work to the advantage of the Dutch agricultural sector, because Dutch farmers and horticulturists already meet many sustainability requirements to a significant extent.
Linda van Eekeres
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