Target management without a vision on agriculture, is that possible?

The outline agreement is now a few weeks old. After the first optimistic sounds, we are now seeing more and more thorough analyzes that also pay attention to the weaker aspects of the main lines agreement. What I find particularly unfortunate is that there is no picture of what the entire food and agri sector should look like in 2040, but more about that later.

The outline agreement certainly contains a number of good things, from prescribing measures to goal management, from national general goals to more area-specific goals. Focusing on innovation, where innovation is not synonymous with technology, but also focuses on innovative management measures. These are all things that I don't think anyone is against. Personally, I am of course also happy with a structural commitment to agricultural nature management. That €500 million may not be exactly what is needed, but it is a serious step. Now we have to ensure that the contracts are long-term and that the fees can compete with the balance that the entrepreneur normally achieves on the same land.

I always have to laugh a little at the phrase that I think I have seen in all coalition agreements of the last decades: we will reduce the administrative burden. My experience is that no government has succeeded in this yet, but we will see.

Not new
The commitment that the government wants to make to Brussels to amend the nitrate legislation and yet again advocate a derogation is very understandable. Although this can also be substantiated scientifically, experience shows that in Brussels it is often not about the correct substantiation but about finding sufficient supporters who share your interests. I am not yet convinced of the latter. In addition, the new cabinet wants to amend national legislation for nitrogen. They want to remove the critical deposition value (KDW) from the law and introduce a threshold value of 1 mol. This should make permitting smooth again and provide Pas reporters with a valid permit. While these are good ideas, they are not new. The current government has also worked hard on this. Unfortunately, so far without results.

Disappearance of transition fund
All in all, there are actually no issues for agriculture in the outline agreement that you could really be against, except perhaps the disappearance of the transition fund. The targets for climate and nitrogen remain unchanged, which will in any case require a major effort from the entire food and agricultural sector. Financial support from a transition fund would have been very welcome. But what I really miss is an image of how this cabinet sees the future of agriculture and horticulture. No picture is given of what the sector should look like in fifteen to twenty years. How do we grow and produce our food? What does our diet look like and what consequences does it have for primary agriculture and horticulture?

In short: I mainly miss a vision of the future. The danger is that without that vision we focus entirely on the unsolved problems of yesterday and today, but that we do not look at the challenges of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. A problem always arises in the here and now, but a real solution offers perspective for the next ten or fifteen years. In order to offer that perspective, you must have the courage to describe what you want the future to look like based on developments we are already seeing.

No vision presented
Now I say that this cabinet has not presented a vision, but I should actually say that the four forming parties have not presented a vision. The cabinet has yet to be formed. Moreover, everything that is not mentioned in the main lines agreement is a free matter. The incoming cabinet may itself seek support in the House of Representatives for everything that has not been mentioned.

This is of course a wonderful opportunity for the new Minister of LVVN - I don't know whether I will get used to this new name, but that's besides the point - to leave his or her mark on the future of agriculture and horticulture. I would therefore advise the new minister to work with the House to create a vision that links agriculture, nature, food and public health. Only from a vision can you arrive at long-term policy that offers the individual entrepreneur direction, frameworks and certainty on which to invest in the future.

Alex Datema

Alex Datema is Director of Food & Agri at Rabobank and also a dairy farmer in Briltil (Groningen). In his opinion articles he outlines his vision on the agricultural sector and the food system.

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.