Provinces increasingly strict on sustainable leases

The various provinces are increasingly focusing on sustainable leases. Sustainability often means that the tenant must take biodiversity into account and, for example, must comply with various quality marks.

The province of Friesland recently announced that it would prefer to lease its unused land to tenants who will use the land sustainably. The more the tenant takes biodiversity into account, the lower the rent.

As a result, the price in Friesland can be reduced by 5% to 75%, depending on how sustainable the soil is. Certificates such as SKAL, Boerengilde and Milieukeur or participation in an agricultural nature association are used as benchmarks for sustainability. 

Distance also counts
The distance criterion is also taken into account: 1 plot may not be further than 5 kilometers from the company. The plots are then allocated on the basis of the sustainability requirements and the distance criterion.

The renewed policy was mainly the result of a motion by the Provincial Council of Friesland and will have consequences for both current and new tenants. The province leases about 1.800 hectares every year and will also partly do the leasing via the internet from this year. 

Gelderland
The province of Gelderland is also going to impose more restrictions on the lease. Of the 900 hectares of leased land that the province is currently issuing, 210 hectares are being allocated as part of the policy of promoting biodiversity. These plots are therefore located in areas designated for agricultural nature management.

Previously, the province Noord-Holland already known that 1.800 hectares of leased land must be managed more sustainably. An example is that the tenants have to lay flowery herb strips along arable land.

Short-term lease
The Association of Land Tenants and Own Land Users (BLHB) is critical. The union finds it strange that nature-friendly leases are pursued, but that the provinces often spend the land on short-term leases.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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