Esther Ouwehand speaks
Time for agriculture to make a choice
These are tropical days for the Party for the Animals (PvdD). That is why an interview in the Boerenbusiness studio was not possible. In this way we get a glimpse into the kitchen of the party that fights for the interests of animals. "It's time for agriculture to make a choice." Esther Ouwehand speaking.
How do you view the current situation in the agricultural sector?
'I keep trying to say that it's time for agriculture to make a choice. Either you opt for a realistic future perspective for farmers, in which you distance yourself from the growth agenda and the world market, or you continue to focus on that. Then you lose the family farm and more and more farmers are starting to see that.'
Scaling up has not resulted in extra income for the primary producer, what could boost extra income?
'With scaling up, the same song is repeated every time. You may be ahead for a while, but in the long run we will not be able to produce for the world market in the Netherlands. This is partly due to expensive labour. Over time, for example, Romania will see the trick and then you will lose it. However, the responsibility for a good income lies with politicians. I understand that farmers are always busy, they can't keep up with everything. They are also trapped in the system, taking every sound, including ours, coming from The Hague as a threat. But if you look closely at what the traditional agricultural policy has produced, the entire phosphate drama, it is the result of the politicians who said that the sector can grow. That was not possible and we were warned about that. Dare to make the choice and help farmers towards a sustainable, regionally produced food package. This is the only path where there is a revenue model. That is not the case with scaling up. And that change requires a lot. We have to create a transition process for that together. Presenting an integral vision for the long term is really a task for politicians. Then we have to look at what it means for each individual entrepreneur. How can they be helped to go along with this.'
Away from scaling up, back to regional production. What does it mean?
'That the livestock cannot remain so large. And I understand that this also sounds like a threat to farmers. For the long term, however, it is the only way we can go. I think that you can only restore confidence in politics when all the preconditions are combined. It means that you don't let things go until you have a total problem, such as not meeting the nature goals, animal welfare and more. It must be combined so that farmers do not have to invest again and then have to scale up again. It is important to see what agriculture is possible. Only when the picture of what you want with agriculture is complete can you start helping agricultural entrepreneurs. Even if companies have to close. With the companies that remain, you know where you stand. The fact that farmers do not trust The Hague is also because they are always not told what the long-term vision will be. They have to continuously focus on small problems and that has resulted in investment uncertainty, with a predominant feeling of what will come tomorrow.'
Back to the term mega stables. Compared to the Ukraine, for example, you cannot speak of mega in the Netherlands, what is your reaction?
'No, that's right, but the question is where it's going. In my opinion, the Party for the Animals was also the only agricultural party that was structurally opposed to the treaty with Ukraine. This is because we saw coming from agriculture that this meant free trade and that products from the Ukraine, which are far below the Dutch standard, can then enter the country. To prevent, for example, battery cage eggs from coming onto the market, a vote must be taken against these kinds of treaties. †
We are talking about regionally produced products here, but you notice that consumers have become suspicious of food. Does the consumer still recognize the taste of the pure, Dutch product?
'I am afraid not. If, together with the FNLI and CBL When a debate is organised, my question is where the pure farmers' interest is for the healthier production that we all want. All those processed foods are actually unhealthy by default, so you're not doing the industry any favors if we just sit down and pretend everything is healthy. We have to cook for ourselves. Fruit and vegetables, produced in the Netherlands, and we have to get rid of the idea that the food industry can be an ally of the farmers. It really isn't. They have their own interest and in all honesty that is not the interest of the farmers. We believe it is important to focus our policy on good and sustainable products with a good earnings model for the long term. Because you see that the mega stables will not survive in the long term either. I think it's time for choices. The fact that so many farmers are now stopping is not because the PvdD has been able to roll out its vision.'
Herman van den Pol
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