Interview Politics
A different wind blows over the Brabant countryside
A quite different wind is blowing from the Brabant provincial government when it comes to policy for agriculture and food. That may be said, commissioner Elies Lemkes-Straver admits in an interview with Boerenbusiness.
If that is not already apparent from the Draft Policy Framework Agriculture and Food for the period up to 2030, it will try to make this clear in the explanation it provides. From a difficult situation, agriculture has to become a forerunner in ten years' time in terms of sustainability, innovation and viability.
Lemkes wants to boost these processes, but he is not crusading against intensive livestock farming or in favor of reducing animal numbers. "That is not the goal. It is about the big picture: reducing emissions and maintaining activity and liveliness in the countryside. We do set ambitious goals, but we also want to provide agriculture with clarity over the long term, so that it does not something different every four years. The policy framework we have developed for this is new in Brabant and should provide the structure for it. In addition to reducing emissions, we want more nature and environment-inclusive agriculture. This will be accompanied by a shift in emphasis to more vegetable crops, but livestock farming is also less dominant in Brabant than is often suggested. Vegetable crops already account for about 50% of production and that will only increase."
It all has yet to happen. The PlanMER study, which was drawn up on the basis of the draft policy framework, raises questions about the level of ambition. Isn't it too ambitious?
"Such a critical review makes sense," she says, but it should not curb ambition. Nor should it be assumed that the province needs to make adjustments urgently. "Our vision is written from strength. North Brabant is known for its high-tech, with a unique ecosystem for this. Such an ecosystem also exists in Brabant agrifood, and we want to preserve and strengthen it"
She quickly lists a number of strong clusters in Brabant: "Veghel is of course the food city of the South, with companies such as Jumbo, FrieslandCampina, Agrifirm and Hutten catering with more work than working population. In Oss we have Organon, where the agriculture is connected with pharma. MSD wants to expand there further, for both human and veterinary. We have the Cosun complex in Dinteloord. Bio-based is growing rapidly, including with bio-polymers. It is not possible without primary production."
As you tell it, it seems to be going well and in the right direction almost by itself.
"There are good developments, but there is also a lot of task ahead. In recent decades, agriculture has had a major effect on the quality of life in the province due to high emissions to the soil, water and air. We have to restore that. Nitrogen is a problem, so we are looking for a new balance with the policy framework: economically, ecologically and socially."
Energy producers and other industries also emit a few things, although they sometimes have exemptions. Is nitrogen only a task for agriculture?
"We have laid down our nitrogen policy in the Brabant Development Approach to Nitrogen. The basic principles are to make nature stronger, to reduce nitrogen emissions and to help enable economic and social developments. This applies to all sectors, not just agriculture. Farmers also have themselves benefit from stronger nature and better soil quality. It is of no use to them if the soil is polluted and not suitable for production."
It is often said that things have to change, and then there is another policy. How do you offer long-term security?
"For exactly that reason we have developed an Agriculture and Food policy framework. So that different rules and conditions do not apply every few years."
What instruments does the province have to achieve its goals?
"We are committed to innovation. In Reusel we have a testing ground for precision agriculture, there is a task force for innovative barn systems – looking at how barns can meet the requirements of a new environmental regulation and various soil and protein projects are underway. But we also have advice vouchers via VABIMPULSE for farmers who want to quit or focus on other business activities. It also lives among farmers. The majority of the pig farmers who rely on the warm remediation scheme of the government come from us, because we are pioneers in many areas in Brabant. We are also investing heavily in the farmer-citizen connection."
Are you going to ban too?
"As is well known, we have strict requirements for livestock emissions. We stick to them. We encourage innovation in that area. We are also strongly committed to nature-inclusive agriculture. We do this partly with the help of a favorable arrangement for long-term lease, via various partners. We try to get several land managers in our province on board. They also understand that they understand that they need farmers and that they have to do something about the lease situation. Initially, it concerns 1.500 hectares of leased land."
Manure problems are still often thought of in Brabant. How is that handled?
"A lot has already been done, but there is also definitely more work to be done on the authorization of green fertilizers. It is no longer a selling point that energy-guzzling fertilizers have to be used, just because regulations do not allow the use of natural nutrients."
According to the draft policy framework, many companies will disappear in the coming years, for all sorts of reasons. Those who stay must meet the highest requirements in terms of sustainability. How do you make sure they are well?
"We believe that there should not only be room for the large-scale companies that manage with cost advantages. At a certain point there will be no more. Small and medium-sized enterprises must also be able to earn well, with part of the income coming from nature, water and other services. We have to develop revenue models for these social services. We also see opportunities through short-chain projects. farms – shopping boxes directly from the farmer. Or MyMilk, where fresh milk is packed in the yard and sent straight to the store. We really want to keep the smaller and medium-sized farmers, because of the economic activity and liveability in the countryside and because of the connection with the citizen."
The policy framework has also coined a new concept: Community Inclusive. What do you mean?
"The farmer has a very important role in the community. We really shouldn't lose that. We have to keep a broad view when we look at our farmers. They are not only there for the food, but also for the energy, care, nature and community life."
You sound very positive and in good spirits, but haven't farmers been too discouraged in recent years?
"The Brabants Agrarisch Jonge Kontakt always makes me very happy. They are so optimistic and passionate there. There is an enormous drive to make something of it. It is true that we live in a complex society in which everything is in flux. such a transition moves everything, says professor Jan Rot. We have to learn to deal with that. After all, negative things don't just happen. Covid, for example, has, in addition to all the problems, also led to a much more favorable image of food and the farmer, a kind of revaluation."
And all the negative noises from, among other things, action groups?
"There's also a lot of framing that doesn't do justice to what's really happening in the countryside."
Klaas van der Horst
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