Column Pieter Vos: Time for action and subtain­able choices

Parkinson’s. I’m witnessing firsthand how devastating this disease can be through my father-in-law. In France, it’s officially recognised as an occupational illness for agricultural workers. In the Netherlands, it’s increasingly being linked – along with potential ties to leukaemia and ALS – to the cultivation of lilies. More specifically: to the agricultural chemicals used in that process.

Lilies have long symbolised love and purity. In the past, they were placed in graves so the deceased could appear pure before God. That’s how they became associated with funerals. It’s all the more unsettling that today, growing these same flowers often involves radical forms of impurity.

We want a lot. High yields, strong crops – which is understandable, especially from the perspective of the farmer. They need to support their families, and that includes financial security. But the cost to our planet is mounting.

Easter is behind us. The hobby-farmed eggs with PFAS have been pushed aside. Or did you eat them anyway? “It won’t kill you on the spot, so... it’ll be fine.” That’s how many people seem to look at it, judging from reactions on various online forums. We already know plastics are harmful and that microplastics are creeping into our food systems. But since we don’t fully understand the long-term effects yet, it becomes: “So... it’ll be fine.”

It’s a different story when a food safety issue poses an immediate threat to public health. Think metal fragments in chocolate, Salmonella in poultry, or Listeria monocytogenes in cold cuts. Suddenly the public response is urgent – and rightly so. Systems are activated immediately. No hesitation.

But food safety doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s directly connected to the broader sustainability challenges facing our planet. It’s time to act – and to innovate. That includes, and perhaps most importantly, rethinking the crop protection products we use. Because the foundation of safe and uncontaminated food lies in sustainable farming.

Food safety is not a separate goal. It’s a shared responsibility that spans the entire chain – from farmer to consumer – and it deserves our full attention.

Pieter Vos
Consultancy & Interim Management