'Making a broader construction plan yields profit'

Making a wider rotation mandatory, if necessary, will help the arable farming sector to make the transition to circular agriculture. It was one of the recommendations put forward at the ABN Amro 'Next Generation Farming' meeting on Wednesday 14 November.

The aim of the meeting was to contribute, together with representatives from the agricultural sector, to the elaboration of the agricultural vision of Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality). Pierre Berntsen, agricultural director at ABN Amro, kicked off the meeting by describing the successes of the past 70 years. He said that the situation for the position of farmers and the environment is now starting to become precarious.

pinching situation
Aldrik Gierveld, the director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, also demonstrated this pressing situation. "The production increase over the past 10 years has been 25%, while the farmer's income has only increased by 10%," says Gierveld.

"The route to escape this negative spiral and to find the way to a sustainable sector is food that is produced. The price for the product must improve, so that the farmer has room for sustainable initiatives," says Berntsen. "It is also important that the value of the sustainable product is also recognized in the export markets."

Then it was the turn of the industry representatives to come up with recommendations. Making the wider rotation mandatory was widely supported by representatives from the plant sector. "Where the construction plan is now often 1 in 3 or 1 in 4, this should be expanded to at least 1 in 5", it was said.

Peace, space and efficiency
This provides various advantages: less disease pressure and as a result less crop protection products will also be used. In many cases it also provides more manure space, for example by including wheat in the cropping plan. This is beneficial for both the arable farmer and the livestock farmer. Applying more wheat and animal manure is also important for soil diversity, organic matter levels and soil quality. In addition, fewer potatoes and onions will be produced as a result, which is better for price formation (less surpluses). In short: peace, space and efficiency.

This should be achieved through rewards, including from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), instead of working with punitive measures. Growers who have a wide rotation and collaboration with a livestock farmer should receive more subsidy. It was also advised that the value of the product should be more clearly displayed; this can be done, among other things, by communicating the actual cost of the product.

Entire chain as a starting point
The representatives from the animal sector argue that the entire chain should be approached as a starting point and that all parties in that chain should work together better. All parties must be prepared to give up freedoms in this regard. Long-term agreements should form a basis for this.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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