The list of approximately forty partners in the AgroAgenda Northern Netherlands is impressive. Agricultural organizations, agricultural (marketing) cooperatives, the three northern provinces, environmental federations, site managers, education and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. They all find each other in the platform for agricultural resilience and innovation in the Northern Netherlands.
It is important that the choices farmers make in the coming years remain free choices
Jan Klink, program leader AgroAgenda Northern Netherlands
The AgroAgenda should show farmers and gardeners in the region the route to valuable agriculture and horticulture, where top food from a rich landscape is central, Klink summarizes the mission. ‘We are the oil man for the sector in the Northern Netherlands.’
What does the AgroAgenda do for farmers and gardeners in these uncertain times?
‘Farmers are increasingly confronted with dilemmas and challenges. Whether it concerns their role in the chain, their place in society or the relationship with their environment. This often concerns restrictions imposed, for example by regulations. The new situation they find themselves in creates uncertainty. I think every farmer knows examples.
‘Based on the broad partnership that we are, we want to see what farmers need to continue. Developing new revenue models is possible, but it helps much more to think about solutions with entrepreneurs themselves. We act as a think tank and sounding board.’
Does the AgroAgenda have the people for that?
‘We are a network organization and therefore make use of the manpower of our partners. Farmers and gardeners can contact us if they want to experiment in the field of technical innovations and collaboration. We look at what could be useful and are committed to obtaining an exemption, granting an experimental subsidy or bringing initiators to the right partner.
‘Take agroforestry, which farmers want to get started with. The government would like to take steps in this regard. This is more difficult for municipalities, because it often does not fit in with applicable zoning plans. We are committed to ensuring that the three provinces develop a framework as a guideline for municipalities. So we don’t implement it, but submit it to the right counter.’
Some of the partners come from the nature corner. How is their cooperation with agriculture?
‘The parties are becoming increasingly better at finding each other. For example, there are experiments in which manure from agricultural companies goes to lands of nature management organizations.
‘For example in the Midwolder Bouwten where, in the context of the Regional Deal for Nature-Inclusive Agriculture, the Groninger Landschap site manager and farmers are jointly trying to improve soil biodiversity. These are new forms of collaboration that we want to make structural.
‘We are also looking for alternatives to glyphosate and rotational tillage. Because the AgroAgenda Northern Netherlands is one of the five national experimental areas, we can apply for the necessary exemptions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.’
What is your ideal picture for northern agriculture and horticulture?
‘The goal is a vital countryside and a vital nature, where agricultural companies will still be there for generations to come. That also includes a good income.
‘We have several unique production chains here that have value for the entire region and beyond. We must cherish that. Consider seed potato cultivation in the northern clay shell, the starch cluster in the Peat Colonies or the added value of dairy in Friesland and beyond. We are a superpower in that regard.’
The position of the sector is increasingly being questioned. Many farmers suffer from this. What is your answer to that?
‘Indeed, the position of the agricultural sector is quite challenging. But that applies to the whole of the Netherlands. Yet we should not be too gloomy: we can really say with dry eyes that it is not hell on earth here.
‘It is even better here in the North. But here too there are certainly enough issues to reduce emissions and earn a living. The AgroAgenda is there to provide a faster response to these challenges. Such a broad partnership across provincial borders only exists in the Northern Netherlands.’
There are plenty of area processes in the pipeline that will probably require painful choices to be made: what can still be done and where. How do you see that?
‘Choices will certainly have to be made, by governments and interest groups, but especially by farmers and gardeners themselves. Take the peat meadow areas for example. With a future higher groundwater level, can you only be a farmer there or should you see yourself as an entrepreneur who focuses on expanding activities? There must also remain a beckoning prospect for farming for them.
‘All in all, the agricultural landscape will certainly change in the coming years. It is important that the choices farmers make remain free choices. You must cherish a rich landscape and a vital countryside.’
What role can the AgroAgenda play in those processes?
‘Despite the dilemmas and contradictions that arise, you will still have to determine what is still possible and where. It helps if you talk about it with each other, for example via our platform. Nothing can be too crazy, but there must be something for every farmer to build a life on.
‘We see that farmers and gardeners want to take steps. We want to help in that process.’
Agricultural economist and former politician
Jan Klink (39) is a former dairy farmer in Boven Pekela, born on a farm in Wittewierum in Groningen and studied agricultural economics in Wageningen. From June 2021 to December 2023, Klink was a member of the House of Representatives on behalf of the VVD. Previously, he was alderman of the municipality of Wijdemeren in the province of North Holland for three years. He previously worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. He was also a policy advisor to then VVD Member of Parliament Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff. As a Member of Parliament, Klink was mainly concerned with foreign trade and development cooperation. In 2023 he was chairman of the standing committee for Economic Affairs and Climate. He recently became program leader at the AgroAgenda Northern Netherlands.
