Globally declining biodiversity is a major threat to the planet, which is being accelerated by climate change. That is why action is needed now: a different diet and agriculture switching to nature-friendly methods, so that there is room again for species richness instead of monoculture. With a different diet, we will also make less use of large areas of agricultural land outside the Netherlands.
For Marjan Minnesma, founder and director of the Urgenda Foundation, food and agriculture have a high priority - alongside energy, construction and mobility. Her organisation, whose motto is 'sustainable together faster', is paying increasing attention to the agricultural world. "Everyone knows us from the lawsuit with which we forced the Dutch government to do more to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil energy. But the decline of biodiversity is an equally great threat. That is why we have been spending many years there more time and attention."
Extinction wave
How serious is it? "Scientists are talking about the sixth wave of extinction. Since 1900, most species have declined sharply in numbers. Whether animals, plants or microorganisms. This does not only worry nature lovers: scientists warn that it is also the basis of our existence "Nature also provides us with food, medicines, raw materials and pleasure. Species richness is essential for maintaining natural balances. We have gone too far in ignoring nature and that is ultimately at the expense of agriculture itself," says Minnesota. "After all, our food supply is largely dependent on pollinating insects and a healthy soil with a lot of soil life".
Eating pattern
According to Urgenda, the Western diet will change to stop this. The current ratio of 70% animal protein and 30% vegetable in our food is going to be reversed. Much less livestock is therefore needed, especially in the Netherlands. "This not only solves many environmental problems in the Netherlands. It also preserves forests in South America, which we cut down for soy cultivation. Importing soy from South America for animal feed is then no longer necessary. We then have less agricultural land from other countries, but honestly."
livestock
The size of the livestock must be adjusted to the amount of animal feed available in the form of residual flows from the food industry and grass from land where we cannot grow food for people. These grounds are then extensively managed to give nature sufficient space. The yield in the form of grass is used by dairy cattle that graze in the pasture for a large part of the year.
We then use the entire manure from the cattle for the cultivation of potatoes, vegetables and fruit, among other things. The vegetable sector will also change considerably. We are going to many more food forests, where food production is a result of the symbiosis of various (tree) species, a rich soil life and a great diversity of insects. Strip cultivation replaces the large-scale monoculture of current arable farming. It ensures natural crop protection, less depletion of the soil and cleaner water. A lot of land is and will continue to be needed for food production. But in addition, we are now looking at how much space is available for the 'biobased economy': where can we focus on the cultivation of vegetable components in building materials, such as cattail, hemp and elephant grass.
New revenue model
Such a change is at the expense of the size of the agricultural sector, the number of farms and the (export) contribution to the national economy, say critics. According to Minnesma, that is not necessarily the case. Urgenda strives for more farmers with fewer animals and more crops. "Farmers must be rewarded for the so-called ecosystem services such as more nature, clean water, CO2 storage, etc. This could perhaps be done through a tax on unhealthy food. The agricultural sector remains just as important. The farmer is given new opportunities and building blocks for a new business model."
Marian Minnesma
Healthier food
According to Minnesma, the Netherlands can continue to lead the way internationally as an agricultural nation. "We can show you how to produce food with a form of agriculture that does not exhaust nature, but rather strengthens it. And if that leads to less turnover and export, the effect is less negative anyway than continuing on the path we have taken so far. have walked." She adds that food that is produced in a healthier way and with less chemical crop protection can greatly reduce the costs of care. "Just look at the increase in the number of Parkinson's cases in the elderly that seems to be related to the use of agricultural poisons and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes in young people as a result of a one-sided unhealthy diet."
Stuck in system
How do we arrive at the desired nature-inclusive agriculture that Minnesma has in mind? First of all, by not blaming the farmers for the current malaise. Minnesma emphasizes that in many cases the current situation is not the fault of farmers. "They are stuck in a system where low food prices are decisive and both Europe and the bank set impossible and often unsustainable requirements. Many farmers know that it is a disastrous path, but they do not yet see a clear new perspective." She especially advises young farmers to be open to change. Not only because it is unavoidable, but also because the government is now making a lot of money available and we now have the chance to change course.
Initiatives
"Fortunately, I see more and more initiatives from farmers who are going to do things differently, often in collaboration with other groups in society." In this context, Urgenda supports Caring Farmers, a group of several hundred farmers who, together with veterinarians and doctors (Caring Vets and Caring Doctors), advocate a faster transition to nature-inclusive and more animal-friendly agriculture. "As far as we are concerned, this is the vanguard that deserves support. And as long as governments and banks do not or insufficiently do so, we will take action." Urgenda also helps farmers directly with sustainability because many subsidies end up with advisers, while it is better to ask the farmer directly what he/she needs. For example, Urgenda has already given away 1,6 million trees and shrubs with the More Trees Now campaign. A third of those trees ended up with farmers for free.
Another Urgenda initiative is 1001ha.nl, a crowdfunding campaign for more herb-rich grassland on dairy farms, in collaboration with LTO Nederland. This allows livestock farmers to purchase herb-rich grass mixtures for almost half the price on the basis of donations from private individuals, provinces, the national government, companies and municipalities. More than 1.000 livestock farmers have already participated. Urgenda takes all the work off your hands, farmers only have to order and receive help if necessary. "Three quarters of them are enthusiastic and will continue with it, which means that they will use 80% less fertilizer on those plots," says Minnesma. In addition to dairy farmers, her organization now also helps arable farmers with species-rich green manure mixtures at a discount.
Government vision?
According to Minnesma, it also shows that it is high time for a clear vision and ambition from the government. "The government must help farmers who want to change. But the cabinets of recent decades have postponed all problems, certainly including the necessary adjustment of agriculture and food. And even now that everything is locked up because things are legally unfeasible , clear choices are still not being made. My impression is that farmers also prefer a clear policy on which they can build their businesses, even if this is partly at the expense of established practice. That is always better than any problem trying to solve it with new policies and new rules. Because that means farmers are now stuck in prohibitions and impossibilities. Choose nature, that's better for all of us. And help farmers who want to get out of the rat race of getting bigger and bigger and work more intensively. Help the farmers who want to change and make it possible. It's possible!"
AGRICULTURE & FOOD IN 2040
according to Marjan Minnesma
This sponsored article is part of the series 'Speakers of the Future', an initiative of the Food Transition Coalition. In this series of interviews, written by Jeen Akkerman, visionaries give their views on the future of food production in the Netherlands. The editors of Boerenbusiness is not responsible for the content of these publications.