Dutch minister calls for sustainable farming

In the coming 15 years, animal production should be more climate and
energy neutral; meaning that the sector needs to cut down the ammonia and dust
emission, said Verburg. This can be done by introducing new type of housing for
example. The Minster also wants a stronger focus on animal health, access to
light and improved living and transport conditions.

The bulk of materials for animal
feeds should come from Europe to minimize feed products imports and to help
ensure sustainability standards, the ministry said. Henk Flipsen, Director of
animal feed organisation Nevedi agrees with this, but stresses that he is
worried about who will pay for the extra costs
associated with this. He said that Verburg also needs to say that the
consumers are in the end paying for
this.

Crossroads
According to Verburg, the Dutch
livestock sector is on an important crossroads. The period after the Second World War
was focused on increased production, resulting in environmental problems
and animal diseases in the 80’s and 90’s. Now is the time, Verburg said, to focus on
quality instead of quantity.

The Minster will discuss her visions this year with farmers,
suppliers, processing industry, the supermarkets and social organisations. To
make the changes happen, she wants to use different tools such as subsidies,
taxes and education.

“No real measures”
The Dutch
green party “GroenLinks” is disappointed in the vision of Verburg. The party
says that Verburg can not make substantiate claims regarding her mission for
livestock improvement. GroenLinks calls for ‘real’ measures to make the
livestock production more sustainable, including stricter rules for manure and
environment; a tax on meat and cheaper ecological products.

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