Marianne Thieme juggles agricultural figures

The abolition of intensive livestock farming, the most important agenda item of the Party for the Animals, will indeed cost jobs. Even though party leader of the PvdD Marianne Thieme says not.

Thieme consistently argues in the House of Representatives and beyond that he wants to put an end to the intensive livestock industry. She wants farmers to switch to sustainable and organic farming. "We won't lose jobs that way." she said in Nieuwsuur.

Thieme believes that it is not only intensive livestock farming that has to leave the Netherlands. She also believes that livestock should be reduced by more than 70 percent. 'Only then will environmental gains arise and animal welfare will improve,' says Thieme in the 538 radio show by Edwin Evers on March 9th.

Agricultural export unnecessary
A drastic shrinkage of the livestock population means that a lion's share of agricultural exports will also fall. That is no problem for Thieme, however. 'The Germans can do that themselves', she responded at Evers† With this statement, Thieme completely ignores the export value of Dutch agriculture.

In 2016, the Netherlands exported 85 billion euros worth of agricultural products, 4,4 percent more than in 2015. Agricultural exports make up more than 18 percent of total Dutch exports. After the United States, our country is the largest agricultural exporter in the world. After the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and France follow. A leading position that turns out to be of no value to Thieme.

223.000 jobs in the livestock chain
This also applies to the employment offered by livestock farming. Looking at the job figures from Statistics Netherlands, it is impossible that the abolition of intensive livestock farming and a shrinkage of almost two-thirds of the livestock herd will not cost jobs. 

The Central Bureau of Statistics calculated the employment in the intensive livestock chain† In 2014 this chain had more than 68.000 full-time jobs, the primary companies are responsible for 20 percent of this. The entire livestock chain accounts for 223.000 full-time jobs.

Only organic
Thieme only wants organic livestock farms. According to her, organic livestock farming is much more labour-intensive and compensates for the job losses. However, her party program has not been calculated.

It is true that organic farming is much more labour-intensive. This work is often done by foreign employees. However, Thieme seems to forget that the volume from organic farming is many times smaller than that from today's livestock sector. Thieme's idea will never be able to provide 223.000 jobs.

Juggling with numbers
Thieme juggles with numbers based on an ideology that has nothing to do with reality. A very bad form of emotion politics that does nothing but damage the farmers. 

Esther de Snoo

Chief editor Boerenbusiness. Nl

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