The Netherlands has been considered one of the largest exporters of agricultural products worldwide for years. This image is frequently used in social and political debates about the future of agriculture. Therefore, the researchers wanted to determine the actual contribution of the Netherlands to global food supply when all food flows are included.
Land use
It appears that the Netherlands is much more dependent on foreign countries for its agriculture than is often assumed. In addition to the 1.6 million hectares of arable and agricultural land in its own country, approximately 4.7 million hectares of land outside the Netherlands are needed. This land is mainly used for the production of crops that serve as animal feed (Brazilian maize as cow feed for the meat industry).
Head offices
The size of the Dutch agricultural exports also requires nuance according to the researchers. Expressed in dollars or euros, the Netherlands is among the largest exporters, but this is mainly because some large global food companies have their headquarters—mostly for tax reasons—registered with Dutch law firms.
Promotion
Global players
Furthermore, some large originally Dutch food companies (Nestlé, Campina, Unilever, Heineken, DSM, Mars, etc.) have in recent years acquired many foreign (read: African, Asian) companies worldwide in their market segments. These involve added markets and revenues with no direct connection to the Netherlands other than that their profits are credited to the bank accounts of Dutch shareholders. Afterwards, these earnings count towards Dutch export figures expressed in money.
Rotterdam
Moreover, the researchers point to the effect of the port of Rotterdam, where all incoming kilos are counted as imports, even if they are immediately transported to other countries (read: export). About one third of the agricultural products exported consist of goods first imported from other countries, then packaged or processed in the Netherlands, and subsequently exported. Because of this, export value does not give a complete picture of the Dutch contribution to food supply.
Self-sufficient
The researchers also calculated what would happen if the Netherlands relied entirely on its own food production. Their calculations show that, in principle, the population could be fed (continuously), but only if all available agricultural land is used for this purpose. That leaves no room for food export.
Healthier
The picture changes if the Dutch were to eat healthier (according to the Food Wheel). That diet (more natural, less meat) requires significantly less agricultural land according to the calculations. Moreover, ammonia emissions would decrease sharply. If all freed land is used for food production, the Netherlands could supply food not only to its own population but also to millions of people beyond its borders.
More realistic
The researchers hope their calculations contribute to a broader discussion about the future of Dutch agriculture. According to them, judging based only on export figures provides an incomplete picture. Only when the dependence on imported animal feed, food, and foreign agricultural land is also included does a more realistic view of the role the Netherlands plays in global food supply emerge.