Let's 'burp' wisely

The government and farmers' organizations have made efforts in recent decades to present the importance of the agricultural sector as much as possible and have shouted this loudly from the rooftops. After all, the Netherlands is a champion exporter of agricultural products and that is something to be proud of. A rewarding move for environmental organizations to point out abuses in the agricultural sector and to portray farmers as a scourge for the bourgeoisie.

Rising food prices and the impending shortage of wheat and oils as a result of the war that Russia is waging has not yet caused a change in our thinking. The Netherlands is a rich country and the vast majority of Dutch people are not affected by this. The shelves in the supermarkets are filled, the terraces are full and we consume a lot. The economically fresh autumn and the gas-poor winter are still far away now that the sun is shining. After all, there is enough food and energy, is the general feeling. The car-free Sunday is history, just like the empty shelves that we only know from the GDR archive images.

The Netherlands is a master at polishing its agricultural image, but the Dutch don't actually know that this is pure embellishment to make our small country a little bigger in the world. Wageningen Economic Research and Statistics Netherlands publish an annual report on the development of the Dutch trade in agricultural goods. Invariably, reports appear in the media in which we are impressed that the Netherlands is the second agricultural exporter in the world after the US!

If you dig a little deeper into the figures, you will soon see that this picture is not correct. We are not even self-sufficient!

Almost 30% of our agricultural exports enter Rotterdam and go directly to the surrounding countries. Without this re-export of ornamental horticultural products, machines and the like, half of the export value remains, or €49 billion. However, we import much more agro products, namely for more than €67 billion. That is not surprising when someone takes a good look at their own shopping list. More than 60% of the food we consume every day comes from abroad. Rice, spaghetti, avocado, oranges, coffee, tea, spices and many other products that our climate is not suitable for to grow in the volumes that are needed every day.

Responsibility in Global Food System
Looking at this, one cannot help but conclude that we are part of a global food system in which we also have a broader responsibility. Not only for our own benefit, but also for the fellow inhabitants of this planet. Due to our unique location at the end of the Rhine delta, we simply have excellent conditions for farming. Over the centuries, this has resulted in some of the highest production levels in the world and farms run by the best-skilled farmers.

The organic development of the agricultural sector is threatened by interventions with a short-term goal, namely nitrogen reduction to prevent other economic sectors from becoming bogged down. The political spectacles force a purely national view, while the agreements in the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Green Deal have a cross-border character. Nobody will be able to deny that there is a climate problem and that we have to reduce CO2 emissions, just like the amount of nitrogen and particulate matter. However, there are more problems that require a solution, such as the rapidly increasing food shortages.

Zero Hunger target at stake
In its recent report, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) points out that global agricultural production has declined over the past decade, putting the Zero Hunger Goal (SDG2) at serious risk. Serious shortages for large groups of people can only be prevented if that production grows by 28% in the coming decade. According to the OECD, production of vegetable and animal proteins must increase by 24% and 31% respectively to reach the Zero Hunger target. This is three times as much compared to the past decade. According to the OECD, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 6%. In November, the agriculture ministers of the OECD member states will discuss how this should be done. The Netherlands can – and is obliged to itself – make a contribution.

If we take our own politics and interests beyond borders, then we must achieve multiple goals at a level that really matters. For us Dutch, that is on a European level. The optimum at European level will always far exceed the maximum on the Dutch scale. Politicians will have to be honest about this and show their colors.

Deploy innovation funds
In that light, there are plenty of opportunities for the Netherlands, and certainly for the best farmers who are able to work on multiple goals at the same time. Who are able to improve their business operations and at the same time make a significant contribution to achieving the climate goals. This requires that politicians, government, knowledge and interest organizations gather the knowledge to think ahead and deploy resources (innovation funds) in a timely manner to facilitate the agricultural sector. With that, the cover can be made. The starting point should be to involve as many people as possible in the transition and to make the sector a qualitative leader in the world. Farmers who cannot keep up have to rethink and monetize their knowledge in a different way. Citizens should also be aware that an organic transformation offers a firmer foundation for the future than an intervention via the legislator. Let's 'farm' wisely!

Ton Otten is director international at the Jaarbeurs

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