Draft certificate KeurMest published

The Manure Control Foundation has published a concept for the KeurMest chain certificate. This is an important step in increasing the transparency of the fertilizer chain. In addition, Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) has given the green light for an action plan for a sustainable manure chain.

The initiators of the plan for a sustainable fertilizer chain are LTO Nederland, the Producers Organization Pig Farming (POV), Cumela, Rabobank and Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN). LTO Nederland also reports that a reconsideration of the policy is important, because the current manure policy is reaching its limits. Examples of this are the high implementation and enforcement costs for the government and the complexity for the entrepreneurs.

Certification
Part of the plan is certification of chain parties in the sector. This is necessary to create a transparent and fair chain, according to the foundation. Farmers, distributors and other parties can get certified through the KeurMest certification program. The program will start in the course of 2020 and is different from the code of conduct KeurMest. After all, the certification program also includes checks, the parties report. 

The assurance and transparency of the manure chain is done through a certification system that is guaranteed by the Manure Control Foundation. "As a manure sector, we are going to build a transparent and fair manure chain together. The past has proven that our agricultural chains are one of the most innovative chains in the world. We are now going to do that again, with manure," said Ruud Huirne, chairman of Manure Control Foundation.

Shaking off negative image
"We are going to show that we have our affairs in order and we are going to shake off the negative image surrounding manure and manure use. This will benefit social and political support for livestock farming," says Huirne. In the long run, certification is expected to give chain parties more room in legislation, regulations and financing.

As a first step for introducing the certification program, a concept for the KeurMest chain certificate has been published. It will be possible for stakeholders from this week (until July 15) to respond to the documents that Manure Control Foundation has published. 

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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