Questions about a new model for the agricultural sector and our food are not spent on Mark Venner. He wants to make the place where he ended up as a 'passerby' 'simply more beautiful'. By opting for quality and nature, instead of blindly participating in the consumer society. It is not intended as a criticism of conventional agriculture, but he likes to show how things can be done differently and better. By working traditionally to strengthen nature and better food for people.
Young farmer Mark (27) receives me in a simple office in a converted sea container. It stands in the yard of his parents' former dairy farm. The interior consists of homely items that look dated and cosy. Furniture from the 50s and 60s. "This is traditionally made and can last for a very long time. That appeals to me enormously," he explains. From an early age he was amazed by the economic system, which seems to be completely focused on growth of material consumption in particular due to a rapidly growing population. "When I asked questions about this at school, I didn't get a real answer. I haven't found that answer myself yet, but I choose my own path. I try to embrace nature as much as possible, which results in a robust system that The most important thing for me personally is: I make this piece of land, where I happened to be born, a bit more beautiful."
forester
Being born into a warm family with a thriving business in the beautiful landscape of Central Limburg gave Mark many opportunities to develop. He himself describes it aptly when he says: "I won the grand prize in the birth lottery." He experiences it as happiness, but also as an assignment to use his privileged position responsibly. After primary and secondary school, Mark chose to study forest and nature management. He wanted to become a forest ranger, to devote himself to conservation and restoration.
Taking over the family business with 50 dairy cows on Leukerweg in the Limburg village of Baexem was not an obvious choice. Too small and too few development opportunities. Mark's two brothers and sister were also not interested, so the sale was obvious. Especially because their parents had built up a thriving healthcare company in addition to the dairy farm. Initially as a subsidiary company, but today it is a major enterprise. Selling the dairy farm would mean that the 25 hectares of land would probably end up in the hands of a large farmer in the area. This could have led to an even more uniform and large-scale landscape. While Mark discovered that allowing the stream to meander on their land again - a project of the water board - had a surprisingly large positive effect: nature can recover very quickly, with some help. A fascinating phenomenon, especially if - like Mark - you opt for nature, quality and sustainability.
Food forest
The pieces of the puzzle came together in 2017. In his quest for more sustainable living and entrepreneurship, Mark came into contact with Wouter van Eck, the pioneer in the field of food forests. And in his job at the Foundation for the Conservation of Small Landscape Elements (IKL) in Limburg, he met Erik Rietjens of the Food Forest Factory consultancy. “I realized that this was the opportunity for me to start a business based on our land agroforestry Mark did not become a forest ranger, but a farmer nonetheless. Together with his brother Luuk, who is involved in the business plan and financing. And with the help of his father Peter, who first had to get used to the idea, but is now enthusiastic about the new future of the company.
Three shapes
On more than 15 hectares, Mark Venner is now fully engaged in agroforestry to give shape. He uses three variants:
The three parts are in full development, in many places the crops, shrubs and trees have yet to come to fruition. "agroforestry also means investing in the future and being patient until nature gives you something in return."
Can this be done?
We ask the question that many farmers who see Mark's approach also ask: Can this be done? Can you with agroforestry earn a good living? "I am not looking for a lot of profit. We are still in the construction phase, so there is no profit yet. However, more money is coming in this year than we had budgeted." According to Mark, this positive financial development also has to do with his philosophy on sustainability and nature, which is catching on with a growing target group. "Because I give priority to nature, I manage to get my chickens adopted by consumers and companies for 200 euros per year. With 200 chickens, that is already a turnover of about 40.000 euros. Restaurants in the area also know us too. because they know that we have special products such as Sichuan pepper and Nashi pears. Local, special products are doing well in the catering industry. In addition, I receive 10.000 euros per year for the development and management of herb-rich grassland and for our partridge field. On the rest of the land we grow fiber hemp for building material, which yields between 1.500 and 2.000 euros per hectare, including compensation for the capture of CO2."
Nice profits
In this phase, Mark is content with a relatively modest income, which partly comes from starting up the agroforestry activities. But can you make a good return with 15 hectares of 'mature' agroforestry? Mark Venner had that question answered by the Agrifirm cooperative. "If what they calculate is correct, then we will make good profits with this activity." He immediately adds that he will then invest those profits in further strengthening nature on his land. "I actually want to return as much as possible to the situation before the land consolidation: much more structure in the landscape and to cooperate with nature for a robust system. So that we suffer less from drought and can harvest healthy, tasty products."
Rabobank
He wouldn't be surprised if more farmers choose this path. "You can already see that experiments with this type of agriculture are being done in various places." To give it a serious place in Dutch agricultural and food production, more parties in the chain must join. Mark is not pessimistic about that. He cites his experience with Rabobank as an example. "When we first presented our plans there, the reaction was downright negative. They didn't believe in it at all." But after the necessary consultation - eventually with a new, younger account manager at the bank - it worked out. "It is a change that not everyone can easily make. I am quite pleased that the bank will eventually participate." The same applies to processors and retail. There, too, Mark sees a growing interest in local initiatives that take nature into account. According to him, it also helps if more agroforestry entrepreneurs work together: not only in knowledge development and exchange for their own company, but also in the form of a marketing cooperative. "In this way we can develop a better offer for retail parties."
More fun
Ultimately, the success of nature-inclusive agroforestry mainly depends on the consumer. As long as they opt for a lot and cheaply without thinking too much, initiatives such as those of Mark Venner will remain a niche for a small group. "I don't want to lecture anyone. But my own experience is that it is better to pay a little more for real sustainable quality than to always buy as much as possible for the lowest price."
The young entrepreneur tells us as we walk back past the old cubicle barn. It has been empty since December, when the cows left for good. Next to it is a sand bed for the construction of a parking lot. Mark is going to receive people in the stable and start a shop. The signs of CRV and FrieslandCampina still hang on the facade. They will be removed soon, to be replaced by the logo of the new company: 'More fun, since 1818'.
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.