'Extra reward for farmers who do well'

Nevedi wants Dutch dairy farmers to be rewarded extra by the ministry because they have contributed to phosphate reduction with the feed track.

The members of Nevedi have set up a feed track from 2012 to reduce phosphate production. In that feed track, the standard for gross phosphorus has gradually been reduced to 4,3 grams per kilo of feed in recent years. This contributed to achieving the phosphate reduction target in 2017.

Feed track has worked
In the course of 2017 it became clear that the target of 1,7 million kilos of phosphate would be achieved through the extra efforts of the dairy farmers and their feed suppliers. Good news, because the pressure was great and it was not certain whether all parts of the package of measures would succeed.

As it looks now, the feed track result goes well beyond 1,7 million kilos. Dairy farmers who cooperate have ordered more expensive feed. This contains less and/or more usable phosphorus and fewer raw materials are available. That makes the food more expensive. Henk Flipsen, director of Nevedi: "Partly thanks to the feed track, phosphate rights have now been introduced and we have a greater chance of retaining the derogation. That should be rewarded more."

How?
Nevedi argues for a more extensive possibility to participate in the pilot of the Kringloopwijzer. Flipsen: "Around 700 companies are now participating in the pilot. We have estimated that this will cost 250.000 kilos of extra phosphate space. However, now that we have saved millions of kilos as a feed sector, we only get 250.000 kilos back. That is why we think that more farmers We should be able to participate. However, we must of course prevent ourselves from shooting through the phosphate ceiling again."

Nevedi is pleased with the recognition of the results and the efforts of Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) in Brussels. Flipsen expresses concern as to whether the phosphate space is being made available sufficiently. "There must be strong negotiations for the Dutch dairy farmers."

More advantage feed track?
"The advantage of the feed track via Nevedi has now been maximized," says Flipsen. "It is difficult to achieve more benefits, but Nevedi will continue with the feed track. This is to prevent the level from rising again. Extra phosphate reduction can now only be achieved at an individual level, for example via the Kringloopwijzer, no longer via the collective. "

When the pilot starts
When the Kringloopwijzer pilot starts, a maximum of 7,5% will probably apply (for the benefit to be gained). This is to ensure that the benefit does not end up with a limited number of companies. Nevedi wants the benefit to be available to as many companies as possible.

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