European Parliament votes en masse for 'Farm to Fork'

The European Parliament approved the 'Farm to Fork' strategy on Tuesday evening 19 October. The result is a victory for the Green Deal of European Commissioner Frans Timmermans.

The 'Farm to Fork' strategy was adopted by a large majority with 452 votes in favour, 170 against and 76 abstentions. That is remarkable. Farm to Fork has been lying in recent weeks under heavy fire. Among other things, there was considerable criticism of the weak substantiation of the plan and the Commission was accused of attempting to cover up a critical report.

With the adoption of the strategy, the European Parliament "adops a resolution to ensure a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system within the European Union", the Parliament writes in a press release. However, farmers must be supported to achieve the goals, says co-rapporteur Herbert Dorfmann. "Our farmers are already doing a great job, so if we are right to ask them to reduce their use of pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics, we need to support them so that production doesn't just take place outside the European Union."

Critical Sounds
Yet there is also criticism. For example, Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) warns that Parliament is taking major risks with food production. "Putting unachievable and unaffordable targets on agriculture is a recipe for crop failure, clearing the countryside and growing reliance on imports from low-standard countries." He says about the goal of reducing substance use by 50%: "A nice goal, but you can't impose that on a natural product. What if there is another wet summer full of fungi and plant diseases? Then no bread for a year?"

Annie Schreijer-Pierik (CDA) points out the consequences of this strategy. "The costs of the production contraction and targets in Timmermans' transition will be placed on the plate of farmers and horticulturists, whose revenue model already falls short. A full impact assessment must first be carried out that provides certainty about the consequences for farmers' incomes, the food chain and strategic food supply. , followed by a recalibration of objectives."

Alternatives
That is also where the pain lies for Jan Huitema (VVD). The Commission presented the objectives of 'Farm to Fork' without waiting for the impact study. "I am not against the ambition to use less pesticides and fertilizers, but on the condition that alternatives are available to make the best use of our agricultural land," he writes. "A logical alternative to fertilizers, for example, is animal manure. However, due to European legislation, farmers can currently not fully use their own animal manure for their crops. Instead, they are forced to use fertilizers. The world is turned upside down !"

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

He is a market specialist in grains and other agricultural commodities at DCA Market Intelligence. He also focuses on onions, potatoes, and roughage. Jurphaas also runs an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland).

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

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