Column Judith Witte: Outlook on the future

Sometimes, when I read my newspaper in the morning, I get desperate. The problems are SO big. The reports on climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss give me a stomach ache. It makes me glum that the energy transition is stalled by 'energy congestion'. I think of the rising costs: of groceries, commodities, insurance. Meanwhile, as consumer-citizens, we are flooded daily with temptations. 'Want me,' scream the products in the shops and in the pop-ups during that video on your (new) mobile. 'Buy me!' scream the adverts. 'Consume me!' How can that be reconciled with being more sustainable and consuming less?

My children are 16, 19 and almost 21. In 30 years, my firstborn will be as old as I am now. I ask myself the highly relevant question: 'What kind of world are we creating now; for our children, and their offspring?' What can and should I do, or rather, not do, to turn the tide? Taking cold showers in the morning, cycling as often as possible, eating meat only a few days a week and only a fair cut; it is not enough. To really make more sustainable choices, we all need to look a little further than the obvious. Further into the future, and not just to tomorrow (a deadline!) or next year. No, further ahead: 30, 50 or 100 years... It turns out to be difficult not to be led by the issues of the day.

Looking into the future is science fiction. So I look back to get a feel for the time span. What did the world look like 30 years ago? Bill Clinton succeeded George H.W. Bush as the 42nd president of the United States, the first browser for the 'World Wide Web' came out, Miguel Indurain won the 80th edition of the Tour de France. Vakblad Voedingsindustrie (then Vakblad 'Vleesindustrie') and OSV Network were born. 

So much has changed! But fortunately not everything. We all still have the same need for contact as then; contact with friends and family. With business associates. We still want, maybe even more, to acquire knowledge. Meet each other. Networking. 

Last month, for this edition, I threw myself into the theme of 'sustainable production' and discovered, fortunately, how much energy there is in our industry: how great the will is to improve, to change and to share knowledge. That you 'just' have to start somewhere and take the first step. And then the next. And the next. Before you know it, we'll be 60.

Judith Witte
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