Significant decrease in standard violations

The ecological water quality in the Netherlands shows an enormous improvement. The percentage of measurements that exceed standards decreased by 2013% between 2017 and 66, according to a report by LTO Nederland.

The percentage of measurements that exceed the standard in 2017 was 0,3%, which is based on the Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MAC-EQS). The agricultural and horticultural sector is therefore below the target of 0,4%, as described in the Memorandum on sustainable crop protection 'Healthy Growth, Sustainable Harvest'.

In the memorandum, the Rutte II cabinet has laid down the joint ambitions, goals and measures for sustainable crop protection in the period 2013-2023. One of the interim goals was to achieve a halving of the number of exceedances of the standard for plant protection products in surface water by 2018 (compared to 2013). When looking at the annual average, the percentage came out at 0,8%. That's just above the target: 0,7%.

Efforts of farmers and horticulturists
These figures come from the publication 'Sustainable Crop Protection; Agriculture and horticulture on track'. According to LTO Nederland, the results are mainly due to the efforts of Dutch farmers and horticulturists. For example, there is a strong focus on integrated crop protection, biodiversity, purification and reuse of water, (food) safety and (water) quality.

In addition to the most up-to-date figures on water quality, the publication also zooms in on individual performance of the plant-based sectors. In arable farming, the environmental impact per hectare decreased by 2012% in the period from 2016 to 46, while glasshouse horticulture managed to reduce the environmental impact of plant protection products on aquatic life by 2004% to 2016% between 90 and 95. Various current projects are also mentioned that should contribute to making crop protection more sustainable.

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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