Powerful words by MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik during the opening speech of the Potato Demo Day in Westmaas. After the lack of compensation for damage caused by the drought and the failure to allow new breeding techniques, she believes that the Dutch potato sector is not sufficiently supported by politics.
"The European Union (EU) embraces the agrarian family business and the development of circular agriculture. This feeling should be reflected in the House of Representatives," says Schreijer-Pierik. The new Common Agricultural Policy (GLB), which will be decided in the next period within the European Commission (EC), provides more freedom and fewer rules. However, it is up to the Member States to embrace it. "I sometimes hear from other MPs that the Dutch have gone mad," she says.
Unfair distribution
A good example is the failure to use the European disaster fund for extreme weather events, such as the dryness† “The funds for this, in the second pillar of the CAP, are given by the Netherlands to nature organizations. That is why these NGOs are shouting in the media how badly nature is suffering from the drought. crazy for words. Prime Minister Mark Rutte was in Friesland this week and spoke highly of the farmers there. It is time for him to speak like this about all farmers in the Netherlands."
Schreijer-Pierik calls the rejection of new breeding techniques, such as Crispr-Cas, a bad development. "This is crucial in the potato sector. Research institutes receive billions, but they are withheld from one of the most important breeding techniques. With this company, the EU is driving companies to America or Russia. That is unacceptable. The latter has not been said about this," said Schreijer-Pierik.
Own protein
She sees the development of the new protein strategy by the EU (with more local cultivation and less soy imports) as a positive point for the potato sector. The climate is changing and the potato is a very climate-resistant crop. "If we don't support (family) businesses and new breeding techniques, the Netherlands will put its potato sector up for sale."
Schreijer-Pierik is supported by former WUR researcher Anton Haverkort, who has been involved for years in the development of resistant potato varieties. "After wheat and rice, the potato is the third food crop in the world. The only drawback is that the product is susceptible to diseases, we can do something about this with breeding," Haverkort said.
Grow potato cultivation
NAO chairman Dick Hylkema also expresses his ambition about the potato sector: "Rabobank recently calculated that an additional 1,9 million tons of potatoes must be grown annually to feed a growing world population. They do not see that growth taking place in the Netherlands. I say, let's try to bring as much as possible to our country and sell knowledge and technology."
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Don't be so squeaky all, you elected this government after all. repentance comes to sin.
In our country there is no one who cares about agriculture.
Germany, England and France, there is still some feeling with the sector.
And yes, our house banker sees growth opportunities again, but not here.
It would be smarter for Rabobank to withdraw most of the financing from companies that are under water.
If the sector is immediately freed from its overproduction and there is a healthy contraction in acreage, the companies that have just stayed can start earning something.
Folks, what an enormous mechanization can someone tell you how you can profitably count on such a machine on those stamps that we farm here in the Netherlands.