LTO: Developing agricultural land in the North Sea

LTO Nederland advocates thorough research into the extraction of new land in the Netherlands for agricultural development, for example in the North Sea. There, space can be made for modern high-tech sectors with high added value, such as new forms of livestock farming, seed potato cultivation, vegetables, flowers and bulbs. 

'These sectors are in need of that and can give innovation impulses to the entire sector. This offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the special international position of the Netherlands as an innovative agricultural and horticultural country writes LTO in its Ground Vision 2021 published this morning (Friday 5 March). 

The Netherlands has a long history of land reclamation, but it has now been over 50 years since the last polder was reclaimed. New land should ease the current pressure on open space, LTO emphasizes, which could have a beneficial effect on land prices. "But the reclaimed land does not only have to be used for agricultural purposes. Urban planning, recreation, nature and biodiversity can also benefit from it." A survey among its members shows that 45% of agricultural entrepreneurs are in favor of land reclamation at sea.

Half of farmers want more land
LTO Nederland argues in the vision for more agricultural land in the Netherlands. With this, the organization wants to reverse a trend that has been going on for years. Every year, an average of 8.000 hectares of agricultural land in our country is used for another purpose. In the last 70 years, 500.000 hectares of agricultural land have been lost, leaving about 1,8 million hectares. While according to a survey among LTO members, more than half of the farmers and horticulturists need more land, while only 5% want to sell or lease land.

'There is nothing to indicate that these claims for housing and infrastructure will decrease in the coming years. According to recent reports, up to a million new homes are needed by 2030. At the same time, it is becoming clear that social wishes with regard to nature, biodiversity and climate demand more instead of less land,' LTO writes in the vision. 

Limit calving agricultural area
In the vision, LTO makes a series of proposals to limit the current erosion of agricultural land. In doing so, the government must get rid of the 'social routine of looking directly at agricultural land in spatial plans.' The agricultural and horticultural organization states, among other things, that proposals for a different use of agricultural land must be accompanied by area compensation. Also, any space claim must first be searched for land that is already owned by the government.

Furthermore, in urban development, one must first look at infill, i.e. building within the existing urban or village contours. Solar parks on fertile farmland should be banned. According to LTO, they are 'an unnecessary attack on the available agricultural and horticultural acreage. They also drive up land and lease prices.'

Rewarding additional nutrition for land use
In the land vision, LTO also makes proposals for multiple land use, in which agricultural entrepreneurs combine the cultivation of crops on their land with the fulfillment of social goals in the field of nature, climate and biodiversity. LTO mentions nature-inclusive agriculture, water storage and forestry as examples. These kinds of measures should not be mandatory, according to LTO, because they undermine the revenue model and the competitive position of the Dutch farmer on the European market. The organization suggests that compensation should come from society for this.

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