News Politics
Parties still far apart when it comes to sustainability
The politicians of the VVD, CDA, D66, GroenLinks, PvdA and ChristenUnie cannot dispute the need to make agriculture more sustainable. Yesterday (Monday) they took part in an election debate about the transition to a more sustainable agriculture. How this change should be initiated and how quickly it should take place remains a matter of debate.
According to the organization, these 6 political parties (Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Greenpeace, Tapp Coalition, Transition Coalition Food, Nature & Environment and Bionext) were deliberately invited because they 'have a chance of a serious coalition'. As a viewer of the debate, hope you at least get a glimpse of what a possible coalition on agriculture has in store. That proved difficult.
Investing hefty billions
Agricultural economist Krijn Poppe did fact-checking during the election debate in Nieuwspoort - which could be followed online. In mini-debates, the spokespersons of 2 or 3 parties entered into a verbal battle. In between, questions were also asked from the (online) public.
Remarkably enough, Joris Thijssen of the PvdA ('for') and VVD'er Arne Weverling ('against') did not comment on the first statement: 'Investing substantial billions in the transition to sustainable livestock farming is economically very profitable'. financial picture. Weverling did point out that he thinks 'our system isn't that crazy after all'. "A Nitrogen Agreement has been concluded, now we just have to implement it, then we will come a long way. We have grown into a global player, let's look at the revenue model of Dutch farmers, they must have perspective. There is a need for peace, the entrepreneur should be able to do business again."
PvdA member Thijssen wants 'not peace, but action'. "We have to stand next to that farmer. To solve the climate crisis and prevent the next corona crisis. Tell us what to do."
"Let's not pile action on action in a new cabinet, but implement agreements," said Weverling. Thijssen responded: "The VVD has not done half of what is necessary, says the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Not enough ambition has been shown." Weverling: "I wonder whether farmers will be happy if the PvdA comes to power. We have to get to work. Very good things are happening. The agreements have been concluded with the VVD and many parties present here."
Environmental costs of meat
When asked by moderator Anouschka Laheij who is the polluter and who should pay the environmental costs of meat, Vedder (CDA) answered: "That is us as a society. But you should not narrow it down to just meat." She is afraid that the costs will be borne by the farmer. "Every time prices rise, you see that that is calculated back to the farm by the chain." According to her, a meat tax is therefore not the means to help livestock farmers become more sustainable.
Laura Bromet (GroenLinks) is in favor of a sustainability tax. "The kilo banger is the least responsible and most economical choice. Products without side effects must be cheaper." Pieter Grinwis of the ChristenUnie believes that the end user should pay the real price. "Meat has the largest footprint of the entire food package." He first wants to differentiate with VAT. According to him, supermarkets should have an extra levy that benefits 'products where an extra step is taken'.
CDA member Eline Vedder has to 'first see and then believe'. "How are you going to determine what is and is not included in that tax with a pizza salami. Our tax system is not suitable for that." Grinwis objected: "It works perfectly with sustainable energy." Vedder sees more in other solutions, such as a tool for providing credit and expanding the Switching Fund with a risk and transition fund. Weverling (VVD) is also not in favor of a meat tax. "We should not make it more complex." Tjeerd de Groot (D66) is in favor of the 'polluter pays' principle: "Not only a flight tax, but also a meat tax."
roll banks
A question from viewers is whether the banks play a role, also in connection with a broadcast of Zembla from last week† Bromet (GroenLinks) has spoken to farmers who had to go from the bank to get financing from 100 to 140 cows and wonders whether Rabobank, as an important player, should not contribute to the reduction of livestock.
According to Vedder (CDA), society is responsible in total. The CDA member, who is a farmer himself, did say: "Rabobank has 85% of agriculture in its portfolio and I recognize the experiences. I myself have also spoken about switching, perhaps to organic. The answer was: then it is better to immediately put up a for sale sign in the yard."
Grinwis (ChristenUnie) is 'very in favor' of the statement that VAT should be reduced as much as possible for organic food and for fruit and vegetables. For organic products, he thinks the differentiation with VAT, which may not fall below 5 percent by law, is too small. "Introduce a levy on meat, but without organic meat. At the moment the price difference is huge." De Groot (D66) wants supermarkets to be obliged to make the entire range sustainable.
European agricultural subsidies
In the statement 'The Netherlands should only use European agricultural subsidies for the greening of agriculture', the parties are closer to each other than appears at first sight. Eline Vedder ('against') of the CDA does not completely disagree with the statement, but feels put off by the word 'exclusively'. According to her, you need a 'realistic timeline', because if you suddenly stop with subsidies for conventional agriculture, you 'saw your feet under the seat of family businesses'. "Forcing a revolution through the farmer's household book is not right economically and socially."
Bromet (GroenLinks) is fully in favor of the position. She points out that European policy has always focused on food production. "That is no longer the challenge. We are overweight, food is thrown away. Now the goals are: clean air, clean water, biodiversity." According to her, "some farmers receive so much subsidy that it is not aid, but income. Just because you have land. You have to do something for it. It is very good that farmers can perform tasks that we consider important."
According to Vedder (CDA), half of the dairy farmers are currently unable to pay their bills and many families on other farms also live below the poverty line. 'Naturally', according to her, you should focus on green and blue services. "But you can't take away half of the income and then you might be able to earn back some."
Vedder was unable to answer the question of what a realistic timeline would be. So much in this debate remained under the surface. The politicians seem cautious about this sensitive subject for agricultural entrepreneurs.
At the end of the debate, Krijn Poppe said that he got the impression that there is involvement in the transition. "It's clear where we have to go. There is a bit more discussion about the instruments and the tempo."
Linda van Eekeres
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