Meuffels: 'Dairy will comply with climate agreements'

Oscar Meuffels, director of the Dutch Dairy Organization (NZO), participates in the debate at the National Economic Agriculture Congress, which will be organized on Thursday 30 November by Boerenbusiness in collaboration with CBS, Rabobank, NZO, Cosun and Accon avm. Meuffels takes a position and answers 5 questions. 

In recent years, the dairies' sustainability rules for dairy farmers have increased. Will there be more rules in the coming years?
"As a dairy sector, we will in any case contribute to the realization of the international climate agreement, as agreed in Paris and as stated in the coalition agreement. I also see it as our responsibility to meet the wishes of the market and society. to be translated as best as possible to the livestock farmers, which is necessary in order to be able to continue to add value to the dairy farmers' milk."

What vision do you have of land-relatedness in dairy farming?
"We are opting for land-based dairy farming that develops in a responsible manner. By this I mean that dairy farming remains within environmental constraints. About the interpretation of the concept of land-relatedness and how this should be achieved, we have asked a special advisor together with LTO for advice. Land-relatedness committee, which includes representatives from the dairy farming sector, the dairy sector, social organizations and the government. They set a goal on the horizon."

Do you think that the dairy sector can and should do more to promote the dairy sector, for example by means of large joint campaigns?
"The dairy industry has done a lot of collective promotions. Think of successful campaigns such as 'Joris Driepinter' and 'Melk de Witte Motor'. This was done via the former dairy agency. Our members now target consumers with their advertising. Much has been done in recent years to promote the importance of the sector. We mainly focus on politicians, policymakers and social organisations. Not only in the economic field, but also in terms of nutrition, quality and sustainability. It is not only the role of the NZO, but of all those who work in the sector."

With the new coalition agreement, compulsory grazing seems to have been averted, but the 'threat' has not completely disappeared. Do you believe that a (partial) obligation can be averted with the current stake?
"We want to bring outdoor grazing back to the level of 2020. The coalition agreement gives us the opportunity to achieve our own goal. Not only are we making efforts to achieve this, but as is known, we are doing this with more than 2012 other parties in the Agreement on grazing. I have every confidence that we will succeed in this together. The decrease in grazing has been brought to a halt and last year there was already a slight increase in grazing. We see that the efforts of the dairy companies, among others, are helping, such as higher grazing premium for livestock farmers."

Recently, the feeding of rumen-resistant fats has been largely restricted. Suppliers point out that the Netherlands uses different standards than in other countries. They call this unfair. Do you share this criticism?
"We have taken precautionary measures together with the animal feed industry. Both parties are convinced that the quality of our products should not be brought up for discussion. The quality of Dutch dairy products is praised all over the world. The basis for this success lies partly in the close cooperation between all links in the chain, with each party taking its responsibility."

Come to it too National Economic Agriculture Congress on November 30 in Bunnik (Utrecht). Click here for more information.

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