Netherlands lags behind EU organic farming ambitions

A coalition of sustainable businesses and interest groups, called the Robin Food Coalition, is joining forces to force a breakthrough for healthy, social, nature-inclusive agriculture in the Netherlands. 

How will the Netherlands get from 4% to 25% organic farming in seven years? In the European ranking of organic farming, the Netherlands has been dangling somewhere at the bottom of the list of 27 EU countries for years. The Netherlands recently set a meagre 15% as a target, but even that is unrealistic without a tilt in market and policy.

The complete green vanguard

That the need for concerted action is felt was clear on Tuesday 18 April 2023 at the launch of the Robin Food Coalition; the entire green vanguard was present. The focus of the coalition will be on two areas of concern: sustainable impact reporting and communication.

Pioneers stifled by reporting requirements

Pioneers in the sustainable sector do not have the resources to compete with wealthy greenwashers. The danger is that true sustainable pioneers will be smothered in reporting requirements designed for mainstream polluters. Moreover, the frontrunners are already taking on plenty of social costs while the polluter still gets away with a competitive advantage.

Impact measurement and communication: new approach

Former Unilever CEO Paul Polman argues that the food sector has so far been able to operate in the lee of all the focus on energy and fossil fuel, but this could change at any moment. This means opportunities for green agriculture. The sector wants to bet on the idea of vitality and health, in a disruptive way that touches people emotionally. The sector will brainstorm in two working groups on the desired breakthrough for healthy, social, nature-inclusive food and agriculture. On sustainable impact measurement, it was concluded that joint data collection is a must..

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