What have phosphate rights brought to the sector?

Until 2015, dairy farming was limited by the milk quota system. When it became known that the milk quota would be abolished as of April 2015, an attempt was made to halt the growth with the Responsible Growth Act and the Land-Based Growth Act. Everyone knows how this ended.

April 1, 2015 was labeled as 'liberation day' in the sector and livestock farmers have focused on growth in the run-up to this date. And then there came July 2, 2015. Again on the chain, this time via phosphate rights. Now that we are 5 years after the announcement of the system, it is time for a look back. What did it bring?

• Fragmentation in advocacy (see contrasts soil-based versus non-soil-based and conventional versus organic)
• 8.500 notices of objection, 1.400 appeals and 2.800 reports of bottlenecks, which placed an enormous burden on RVO and the competent court (CBb), which started a project to be able to settle the cases
• Procedures between tenant farmers and lessees, in and out shearers and dairy farmers and young stock rearers
• Dairy farming has become more capital intensive. In addition to investing in land/buildings, a livestock farmer should also invest in phosphate

Reading back, I notice that the phosphate rights have brought the sector little good. It is nice to see that many entrepreneurs nevertheless keep their course and continue to develop. That typifies the Dutch dairy farmer. I therefore expect that the phosphate rights, which have been introduced for an indefinite period and not for 10 years, will remain provisional.
The introduction of phosphate rights will have landed nicely in 2020, but the sector is not yet sailing in calm waters. Themes such as nitrogen, CO2, climate, circular agriculture and rethinking manure policy hang like dark clouds over the Netherlands.

Finally, the social pressure on the sector is also increasing. Although consumers are often unwilling to pay for sustainable products, society believes it can exert more influence. I look with admiration at entrepreneurs who continue to see and seize opportunities in this changing world. There is also a group that looks to the future with less confidence, we should not close our eyes to that. It is up to all stakeholders to fight for a strong future for agriculture in the Netherlands.

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