New divide in the agricultural sector?

Circular agriculture has been a much-discussed topic in recent years. Some see circular agriculture as a new theme and others see it as yet another theme that we need to work on. But, is this subject really that new and should we get started, or have the first steps already been taken?

Recently I was asked to give an introduction to the theme of 'circular agriculture' at a study club. I was also asked to cite practical examples, in which the economic benefits were also clear. What strikes me about these kinds of subjects is that there is always a certain resistance among some farmers. Although I can somewhat imagine this attitude, because in recent years there have been a lot of uncertainty was, for example, on the regulations regarding phosphate and soil-boundness.

The world is changing
Still, I regret that this is the attitude of many farmers. The world is constantly changing and as a result, society and the wishes and requirements they place on the agricultural sector, for example, are changing. Because of these changes, you as an entrepreneur must also change; if you still want to be an entrepreneur in the future.

In my view, however, this is nothing more than looking for new opportunities and challenges and tackling them. This allows you to change along with the demands and wishes of the consumer, so that you can secure the future of your company. More importantly, this can yield significant financial benefits: think of themes such as the longevity of dairy cows, the use of crop protection products, antibiotic use, energy saving and fertilizer use. These are subjects in which society often looks at agriculture with critical eyes.

Do you have anything to do with this as a farmer? I think so. By actively working on this, you show that you know what is going on in the world and that you take this into account. But, more importantly, as a company you can earn and/or save a lot of money with this. In all of the above subjects, technically good farming is the most important precondition for earning or saving money.

Circular agriculture
In my opinion it also works with circular agriculture† If you farm well technically, this can yield many benefits. For example, good roughage can ensure that you need less concentrate. And what you need, you could then have it grown yourself or in the region. This is something that you as a livestock farmer can start with today.

This also applies to arable farming: by setting the soil fertility at 1 and acting accordingly with your fertilizers and treatments, this will ensure higher yields and lower costs. It almost sounds obvious, but the reality is different. For example, receiving a higher price for pig manure is often considered more important than receiving the right fertilizer; it yields less money for the supply, but is better for the soil and the crop.

every farmer
I therefore see circular agriculture as a topic that every farmer should tackle. That the vision of Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) has not yet been fully completed, therefore mainly offers opportunities. After all, there are certainly still some hurdles to overcome before a good start can be made with circular agriculture: think of the manure legislation, which can hinder cooperation between arable farming and livestock farming.

I am concerned that some do not consider circular agriculture to be self-evident; I don't think agriculture is possible without a cycle, but we sometimes seem to forget that. Filling in a tool, such as the Circular Guide, is sometimes seen as applying circular agriculture. I hope that these farmers will actively work on this theme in the near future and convert their resistance into energy to achieve profit for their company. Only then can we prevent a new gap from developing next to the infamous 'farmer-citizen' gap: the 'farmer-cycle' gap.

Ramon Klaassens

Ramon Klaassens is the owner of Klaassens Advies in Winschoten. By providing guest lectures, presentations and columns, Ramon hopes to stimulate farmers to look critically at their own company.

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