Additionally, a recent update of a Rabobank study highlights the situation in the Netherlands, where the restoration of natural values still suffers from significant CO2 emissions caused by the large agricultural sector. Because a new coalition government has recently taken office in the Netherlands, the influential Rabobank has updated its advice regarding agriculture and food in the country.
The shift towards more sustainable farming does not automatically result in higher income for farmers, as concluded in all three studies. At the same time, there is growing demand for agricultural policies that better integrate environmental, climate, and fair compensation considerations, which is the essence of the studies by the European Environmental Bureau and the Agrifood Policy Conference.
More Uncertainties
European farmers who switch to more sustainable or climate-resilient methods do not receive immediate financial benefits. Multiple studies indicate that this transition is accompanied by additional costs and uncertainties during the initial years.
Promotion
Therefore, these studies argue for a different agricultural policy. It should no longer focus solely on production and income, but also on climate, nature, and biodiversity. Economic and environmental objectives must explicitly be considered together, the studies advocate on the eve of a revision of the European Common Agricultural Policy.
Differences
At the same time, farmers’ incomes have been under pressure for some time. Rising costs for, among other things, energy, fertilizer, and feed make it difficult to earn a sufficient living. This further complicates the transition to a more sustainable system.
Researchers emphasize that existing support measures need to be better targeted. According to them, general aid is less effective than targeted support for farmers who are most vulnerable or who invest in change.
They also point out significant differences between farmers and regions. Not every farmer is affected in the same way by climate change or new regulations. This calls for customized policies and support.
More Resilient
An important part of the transition is reducing dependence on external (business) inputs. Less use of, for example, fertilizers and energy can make agricultural food businesses more resilient to price increases and fluctuations.
Furthermore, greater cooperation within the food chain is of great importance. Various sources state that changes should not only take place at the farm level but throughout the entire chain, from producer to consumer. This endorses and emphasizes the earlier EU food strategy ‘from farm to fork’ (F2F).
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Rabobank points out that the food system must be reorganized. More consideration needs to be given to the true value of food, including its effects on nature and climate.
According to Rabobank, this also means that Dutch farmers must receive better and more stable compensation—not only for what they produce but also for their contribution to the environment and sustainability. The new Dutch (minority) cabinet will soon present proposals for new agricultural policies, in which encouraged (and if necessary, forced) reduction of livestock numbers and pesticide use will have a larger role.