With the new Schoof cabinet approaching and the old team almost gone, it is good to look back at what the outgoing ministers have actually achieved. Viewed from the agricultural sector, it was not very positive. These were stressful years with more threats than opportunities. Someone who realized it too late, but took the consequences, is Henk Staghouwer, who resigned in September 2022.
Perhaps the Groningen baker and former deputy was not the most politically adept, but when it comes to backbone and sincerity, he deserves some reappraisal.
Finger raised too late
Staghouwer, perhaps without much prior knowledge, stepped in as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality when the last Rutte cabinet took office, but according to a book by former Christian Union leader Gert-Jan Segers, he raised his hand within the cabinet just a little too late. when it came to control over the Nitrogen/Transition Fund. Colleague Van der Wal and other ministers did have a say in the spending of the billions, but he did not. It must have been one of the main reasons why he could not offer the farmers any prospects for the future, because he was lame. But how do you say something like that in Parliament?
Main objective
Staghouwer started his task in good spirits, but mainly had to achieve a shrinkage target and had to do his work in an environment that was toxic to agriculture. Both in the Netherlands and in Brussels. This also became apparent during the then ongoing negotiations on the derogation for manure policy.
Agriculture Council enthusiastic
The Netherlands has been trying to get European permission for the use of fertilizer substitutes for a long time, that is no secret. In Brussels, people did not want this for many reasons. When the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place in the spring of 2022 and the EU no longer wanted to import Russian fertilizer, among other things, a discussion arose in the European Agricultural Council about alternatives. Staghouwer pointed out the untapped potential of fertilizer substitutes. The Agricultural Council responded enthusiastically to this. It appears that Staghouwer's colleagues were willing to work on this recently made public documents.
Environmental faction sees foul play
However, this did not suit DG Environment and then European Commissioner Frans Timmermans. While Staghouwer's proposal was applauded in the Agriculture Council, he was criticized by the environmental wing in the Commission. Environment Commissioner Sinkevicius and his team accused the minister of pushing for a double derogation and thus foul play. Timmerman's employee Diederik Samsom confided to the writer of this piece that the Dutch minister thus 'ruined the derogation'. The derogation had to match the goals of the Green Deal, Russian invasion or not.
Staghouwers border
This line prevailed. Staghouwer came under increasing pressure and during the negotiations had to see that the European Commission became increasingly involved in Dutch policy for rural areas in the implementation of the last derogation, including the implementation of the NPLG. This was the limit for Staghouwer, he indicated. Defeated on two fronts and helped by no one in the coalition, he gave back his portfolio. Perhaps not the most politically adept, but still a man with a backbone.
Successor Adema immediately negotiated a vote in the Transition Fund, according to Segers. For the rest, Staghouwer's substitute showed himself to be more flexible towards the Commission. He did obtain approval in principle for the use of fertilizer substitutes, but not immediately and for the time being the preconditions are so restrictive that little has been gained.
Dislikes intensive
It is striking how Adema recently spoke out about intensive livestock farming. He believes that the Netherlands should get rid of it. According to him, this is necessary 'to be able to extensify' and to save dairy farming. If he had been able to stay in office until 2025, he would have also ensured that intensive livestock farming disappeared, he even told Omroep Friesland. The issue would keep Adema so busy that it keeps him awake at night. And previously he also argued with the ZLTO, because they did not want to think along enough.
This emotional outburst seems more like a party political expression than supported by facts. Action groups such as Wakker Dier and others do not stop their campaigns when the pigs and chickens have left the country. In addition, there is little concrete evidence that 'extension' always helps the environment.
Nasty note
A striking underline of this fact is a very short, almost nasty note that Adema sent to the House of Representatives this week. It's about the pilot Cow and Protein, about dairy farming! About two hundred farmers participate. The idea is that by reducing the crude protein content in the feed to 160 or even 155 grams per kilo (less intensive feeding), harmful emissions would decrease significantly. For the time being, there is little indication of this, Adema must admit. "In the pilot, the degree of intensity of the company - expressed in milk production per hectare - appears to be less decisive for the realized RE content in the ration than the share of corn in the ration," he writes.
Facts over emotion again
Adema has in common with his predecessor Carola Schouten the aversion to anything that smells intensive. For that reason, they already opposed a motion to adjust the excretion standards for highly productive animals, because the results were contrary to expectations (the excretion was lower, but adjustment would help intensively). Adema recently confirmed that choice.
Perhaps it would be nice if the agricultural sector would soon have a minister who does not hate (parts of) agriculture, looks at the facts soberly, and can also do a few nice things for the sector, such as giving room for innovation again.