Mourning about the renewal of LTO Nederland

Members of LTO Nederland grumble about the administrative changes that the new chairman Marc Calon wants to introduce. The criticism focuses mainly on the limited participation that members have in the composition of the new departments.

In addition, the new department chairmen do not necessarily have to be agricultural entrepreneurs. The new boards of the departments are appointed by a confidential committee. This committee is set up by the Federation Board. This change of course immediately means that the members will have less say. 

Apply again
Another pain point is that the incumbent department chairmen have to reapply for their current position. LTO Nederland has indicated that candidates from outside the organization also have a chance to win the position of department chair† The representative thus opens the door to more influence from the chain partners. The same chain partners were also involved in drawing up the new job profiles for the department chairmen.

Jaap Haanstra, arable farmer and former LTO department chair, is surprised. The incumbent board members have to leave. All members of the departments, including the chairperson, must be re-elected. Did they not function? Or do they just not get along? What is also strange is that the members are appointed for 4 years and that they have to reapply. In addition, a letter has already been sent to the chain parties to help them think about new candidates. They can even nominate new candidates. Have they lost track?'

Haanstra also criticizes the new application procedure. 'A confidential committee, appointed by the federation board, elects the department members and the chairman. That is upside down democracy. The regulations of LTO Noord and LTO Nederland state that the chairperson must come from the departments of ZLTO, LTO Noord or LLTB.'  

no farmer
Joost Lumens, chairman of the Noordoostpolder department, is also critical. The pain point for him is that the new department chairmen may also be persons who may not be an agricultural entrepreneur. 'I understand the renewal process and I endorse its necessity. However, I find it very difficult that LTO chooses to let people from the business community think about the positions of a department chair. That should be people from the primary sector and not from the chain.'

New departments are the basis
The departments will be central to the new policy of LTO Nederland. This also includes new board members. Calon wants the departments to be able to grow into a national platform in which there is intensive collaboration with chain parties. ZuivelNL is mentioned as an example. This administrative renewal was already started 2 years ago. The new chairman wants to complete the modernization process this year. 

LTO Nederland has announced that the departments are now composed by the sectors and no longer by the regions. Director Thijs Cuijpers: 'We have chosen to involve the chain partners in the job description of the department chairmen. We want to clearly show what someone has to meet. The business community can also supply people who fit the profile. In principle, these persons must be agricultural entrepreneurs.'

New statutes
In order to enable the renewal process, an amendment to the articles of association is necessary. Preparations for this have already started. One of the changes is the establishment of a Members' Council. This council is about the national policy of LTO Nederland. This is necessary, because the members are no longer primary members of their own regional organization. They are now members of the umbrella organization LTO Nederland. The Council of Members will be elected by the members. 

LTO Nederland emphasizes that the General Members' Meeting (GM) remains the highest body. This consists of the representatives of LTO Noord, ZLTO and LLTB. However, part of the GMM's influence will be taken over by the Council of Members.

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