The answer is not fewer farmers – it’s more sustainable farming

My country of origin, the Netherlands, has a rich tradition of farming. We’re the world’s second-biggest exporter of agricultural products and the biggest meat exporter in Europe (not bad for a country roughly a quarter the size of Florida). In 2017, National Geographic magazine called us “the tiny country that feeds the world.”

But recently, Dutch farming has been hitting the headlines for less positive reasons. Last year, the government announced a €25bn multi-year plan to significantly reduce domestic livestock farming, supporting its goal to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia in the Netherlands by 50% by 2030. Nitrogen and ammonia are used by many farmers as fertilizer, but they can have harmful effects on natural habitats and local biodiversity.

The reality of this is that – without support – many Dutch farms will be forced to close over the coming years. This has led to extensive protests by farmers up and down the country in the past few weeks, with one recent demonstration drawing an estimated 40,000 protesters.

Changing times

It’s a subject that feels very close to home. As I’ve mentioned before, my own grandfather was a lifelong dairy farmer. His community looked up to him, and I felt proud to be his grandson. People saw farming as not only essential but prestigious, much like how a doctor or a climate scientist might be regarded today.

Today, the situation is a bit different. In an increasingly urbanized age, when more people live in big cities far away from nature and farms, it’s too easy to forget the important work farmers do – not just in terms of feeding society but in caring for the environment and our planet.

Sure, animal farming must become more sustainable. There’s no doubt about that. But on the other hand, forcing farmers out of the industry is not necessarily the right way to go. Aside from the devastation it will cause to farming families and their livelihoods, there are concerns that food production in the Netherlands could be irreparably damaged by a mass buyout like the one the government is planning.

Making progress on sustainability

Contrary to what we might hear in some media, animal farmers are not the villains of the climate crisis. While these producers have historically contributed to the nitrogen problem in the Netherlands, they’ve proven themselves to be generally in favor of more sustainable animal production. Farmers in the Netherlands have worked hard in recent decades to make progress, with Dutch dairy farms among the most efficient in the world in terms of productivity and emissions.

And they recognize that nitrogen emissions need to be addressed. So far, the government and farmers are on the same page. But farmers feel they’re being singled out unfairly in comparison to other industries, like aviation and automotive, which also contribute heavily to global emission levels. These sectors are being given time and help to make the transition to more sustainable ways of working, thanks to new technologies and incentives.

Like in many other countries, farmers in the Netherlands are asking for the same kind of support: more time and more tools to lower their emissions through sustainable innovation and initiatives. Mandatory reductions in the number of livestock in the country might seem like a simple, if drastic, fix – but will it lead to truly sustainable farming? A more likely scenario is that forcing animal protein production away from the Netherlands to other – less advanced – markets will ultimately drive global emissions upwards!

Let’s make headway, not headlines

At DSM Animal Nutrition & Health, we believe there’s another way. Science-based tools and techniques lie at the heart of our We Make It Possible strategic initiative – helping to lower the impact of animal protein production across the world. I’m proud of our broad range of forward-thinking, practical solutions …

For instance, CRINA? Ruminants is a ready-to-use performance solution for cattle farmers, proven to increase nitrogen utilization efficiency by 7%, reducing nitrogen flows to the environment and enabling less land use. Then, of course, there’s Bovaer?, our methane-reducing feed additive. It lowers methane emissions from dairy cows by ~30%, equivalent to 12–16% less CO2 per liter of milk. These are just two examples of how innovative, science-based solutions can make a big difference, without destroying farms and livelihoods.?

What’s more, with our intelligent sustainability service, Sustell?, we enable farmers and animal protein producers to accurately measure their environmental impact, and begin improving their operations where needed. These are just a few examples of how innovative, science-based solutions can make a big difference, without destroying farms and livelihoods.

Farmers are certainly making their voices heard here in the Netherlands, but the message I want to share is one of collaboration, not condemnation. Let’s work together to transform our global food systems for the better. And let’s recognize – and reward – those hardworking farmers who are standing up and taking action to make animal farming more sustainable. We need them more than ever.