Showing resilience remains necessary in 2021

The corona pandemic demands resilience. The ability to adapt and recover is a kind of second nature for entrepreneurs in the agricultural and horticultural sector. This is mainly due to their unconditional passion for the animals and the land. 

The agricultural sector is constantly changing and developments follow each other very quickly. For example, we have been working on combining greening goals and food security for some time now. Through trial and error and under the rule of a faltering government with ever new vistas and the accompanying changing Brussels bureaucracy. At the same time, the agricultural entrepreneur remains the largest polluter in terms of methane and nitrogen emissions. At least according to the own Dutch government. But the measure was full and many farmers have literally made their voices heard in The Hague.

Challenges
I think the average citizen shows little interest in the origin of food, because the average citizen knows that it is in good hands. Food production is currently outsourced to full satisfaction to farmers who work 24/7 with heart and soul to provide us with high-quality and affordable food. However, raising and caring for livestock, plants or animals is no mean feat. Especially if quality, yield and low environmental impact have to be guaranteed. In the field of animal and plant health, for example, new (green) insights are constantly emerging from the periphery and/or scientific research.

And then the farmers also had to deal with the third extremely dry summer in a row. All sails had to be set for a good harvest. Last but not least, the corona crisis makes 2020 all the more special, but in a disastrous way. Everyone has to deal with it. The sale of agricultural products and the profitability of the company are under pressure. On the other hand, the short chain (or direct purchase from the farmer) has benefited from the food-conscious 'home sitters'. What the ultimate damage of the corona crisis will be, remains to be seen. 

And we will conclude this challenging year with a Brexit trade agreement that should limit the economic damage that is irrevocable for many Dutch ex- and importing (agricultural) companies.

Resilience
In my view, farmers and horticulturists are essential to a society. They provide a well-founded basis for our needs and with that they provide stability and peace of mind. Farmers and horticulturists also provide a varied range of healthy food that is necessary to show physical resilience against, among other things, viral invaders. After all, preventive health is resilience to disease and other physical discomfort.

The word 'resilience' has also taken on meaning for me through some new insights I've had this year about internal, natural resistance. Every living organism has an anti-stress mechanism. This ensures natural resilience against various sources of stress; in plants this is done through collaboration with the rich underground soil food web and in animals this is through collaboration with useful single-celled gut/rumen inhabitants.

I am therefore convinced that if we stimulate this natural resilience even more, we can increase the resilience of our food production system. In any case, it is not the fault of the agricultural entrepreneur. The entire chain (including consumers) can certainly contribute. I wish you all a happy new year and a resilient 2021!

Pascal Phillips

Pascal Philipsen is regional manager for the South of the Netherlands and fertilization specialist at Timac Agro Nederland.

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