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Circular agriculture asks for Schouten's help
Circular agriculture asks the help of Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), in order to develop further. This is done through an open letter, in which the lack of coherence and knowledge on the farm are mentioned as weak spots. The sector also wants to be given the opportunity to experiment more.
In the coalition agreement, politicians expressed a positive opinion about circular agriculture, but there appears to be a lot of uncertainty surrounding this subject. "For example, how is this form stimulated, and which policy measures can contribute to a transition to circular agriculture?" Frank Verhoeven (Boerenverstand), Jan Willem Erisman (Louis Bolk Institute) and Dirk Hart (Secretary Network Vitale Agriculture & Nutrition) write this in an open letter to Schouten.
Coherence is missing
The writers identified 4 things that are important to improve circular agriculture; for example, there is no cohesion between ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, climate and food policy. As a result, there is no consistent course, but it also frustrates soil restoration measures.
The men also point out that insufficient attention is paid to the quality of food production, and according to them the current policy is strongly based on 'end-of-pipe solutions' (such as housing systems and sod fertilization). Finally, there is a great need for more independent knowledge on the farm, in order to successfully implement circular agriculture.
To tackle the problems, they propose setting up a conversion program to 'Circular Agriculture 2030'. Within this programme, in collaboration with the provinces in the various regions in which the farmers are active, areas are designated where circular agriculture "can flourish". Those areas will have to deal with long-term goals, but also with mechanisms to make this form of agriculture possible.
Ask for development fund
What is needed for that? According to the writers, these are the opportunities to experiment and a development fund. The fund must help spread knowledge, define circular agriculture (so that it is clear what is and what is not circular agriculture), set up an incentive or risk fund, organize meetings for government officials, meetings for agriculture and agribusiness and set up an education program .
Herman van den Pol
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