News manure fraud
KeurMest must change the way manure is handled
The KeurMest code of conduct is intended to initiate a culture change. The parties involved (LTO Nederland, the Pig Farming Producers Organization, Cumela, Transport and Logistics Netherlands and Rabobank) hope that this will ensure that manure will be handled differently in the future.
The KeurMest code of conduct was launched at AgroTechniek Holland. It is the next step in the action plan 'Working Together in a Fair Chain', in order to manure fraud to deal with. By signing the code, the livestock farmers, end users, transporters and contractors indicate that they produce, transport, use or process manure in accordance with the rules of the code. "Signing is voluntary, but not without obligation in the future."
What went wrong?
Several things went wrong with regard to the manure fraud. For example, the manure was only transported on paper and eventually spread on private land. In addition, more manure was processed than was permitted under the permit. The levels in the manure were also adjusted in creative ways. The latter also generated extra money, because more replacement processing agreements (VVOs) were concluded.
"The fertilizer sector strives for a transparent chain, in which all links take their own responsibility and work on a positive image," says Claude van Dongen, portfolio holder Soil and Water Quality at LTO Nederland in a press release. "Ultimately, it's about how manure is handled."
Regain trust
You can participate in the code by signing it on KeurMest.nl. "The advantage of this is that it offers more certainty, because the companies that sign the code say they are reliable." cumela has already published an overview of common levels in the manure, in order to give more guidance to those involved in the manure trade.
Having the manure sampled by an external party is also part of combating manure fraud, but it is precisely this part that is a cause for discussion. For example, there are still differences in the results when different companies take the samples.
Herman van den Pol
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