Organic Farming in the Netherlands: Country Report

Orginal text by Francesco Melita of Biologica, updated by Marian Blom, Biologica, and Helga Willer, FiBL

Table of contents

Agriculture in The Netherlands History and development of organic agriculture Statistical development Regional distribution of organic farms 2008 Land use Organic farming organisations Biologica Biologica/LTO Technical working group on organic agriculture SKAL Control Union (formerly SKAL International) Dutch trading and processing association VBP Bioconnect Wageningen UR Louis Bolk Institute LBI and Agro Eco Avalon Foundation Good Food Foundation Legislation Policy Aims for Organic Farming: 10 % Organic by 2010 ? The market Training Advice Research

Agriculture in The Netherlands

With a total surface area of about 4.15 million hectares the Netherlands ranks among the smaller countries in western Europe; it is slightly smaller than Denmark, but bigger than Belgium. As the population of the Netherlands is 16.5 million in the year 2009, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

The limited land area puts an almost permanent pressure on rural areas. They have to provide opportunities for economic production and transportation. At the same time valuable nature areas and unique landscapes must be safeguarded for future generations. The agricultural area amounts to 1.9 million hectares, and there are 75'000 farms (2008).

History and development of organic agriculture

In the Netherlands two types of organic agriculture can be distinguished: bio-dynamic and ecological farming. The history of organic agriculture starts in 1926 with the first bio-dynamic farm in Zeeland, Loverendale.

In 1947 the Warmonderhof in Warmond establishes the first bio-dynamic agriculture school, and it offers training in organic agriculture until today. In 1964 the first bio-dynamic advisor starts working. In the course of the sixties the ecological movement comes into being. In contrast to bio-dynamic agriculture with its philosophical background ecological agriculture has social and environmental roots. Protection of the environment, being careful with natural resources, energy and a changing society are the most important objectives of ecological agriculture. The organic sector is slowly growing: in 1972 the Netherlands numbers 85 organic farms, at the end of the 1980s 359. In the 1990s, organic agriculture receives more and more recognition and the organic sector becomes more and more professional. In 1992, a new organisation for the entire sector is founded in 1992: Platform Biologica, today Biologica. Also in 1992 the conversion regulation comes into effect: farmers who wish to convert are subsidised by the state. Food surpluses, manure problems, the swine-fever, various food scandals (BSE, dioxine etc.) and falling prices in conventional agriculture result in more and more conventional farmers becoming interested in organic farming and in consumers demanding safe products. The organic sector slowly out-grows its "do-gooders" image. Research shows that organic farmers have a comparable - if not better - income than their conventional colleagues. Most farmers converting now opt for ecological farming. After some years of ecological management a number of farms choose for bio-dynamic agriculture. In the Netherlands there is a growing consensus regarding the necessity for a more sustainable form of agriculture. In a country as densely populated and as intensively cultivated as the Netherlands an increase in organic agriculture is urgently needed to safeguard the environment for future generations and provide for healthy food-products. Biologica, the umbrella organisation for the organic sector, advocates the realisation of ten percent organic agriculture by 2010. In 1996 the Ministry of Agriculture developed an action plan for organic agriculture. From 2001 to 2004 a first action plan called Policy document on organic agriculture, an organic market conquer was implemented. An evaluation of that plan is available at the homepage of the European project 'Development of criteria and procedures for the evaluation of the European Action Plan for Organic Agriculture' ORGAP . 2005: Second action plan comes into force, lasting until 2007 (Dutch Policy Document on Organic Agriculture 2005-2007 - Beleidsnota Biologische Landbouw 2005-2007).

In December 2007 a third action plan is launched for the period 2008-2011 (Policy Document on Organic Agriculture 2008-2011 - Organic connections, perspectives for growth)

Statistical development
The organic share in the total agricultural surface in the Netherlands is relatively small. In 2008, 2.6 percent of the total agricultural area were organically managed. In the 1990s, the growth increased considerably. Between 1993 and 1997 an average of 60 farms per year converted. In 1998 and 1999 more than 200 farms converted per year which is the equivalent in growth of more than 25 percent per year. In recent years the number of farms has remained constant, but the organic area has doubled since the end of the 1990s.

Table: Organic Agriculture in the Netherlands 2008: Key figures

Land under organic management Share of total agricultural land Growth 2007/2008 Number of farms Share of all farms Growth 2007/2008 50'435 hectares 2.6 percent 7.3 percent 1473 1.9 percent 0.5 percent

Source: Bio Monitor Jaarapport 2008

Development of organic agriculture in the Netherlands since 1993. Source. Biologica/Platform Biologica and Eurostat. Graph: FiBL, Frick

Regional distribution of organic farms 2008

The Netherlands has twelve provinces. The province of Gelderland has the most organic land, followed by Flevoland (each approximately 7'000 hectares). The last figure is remarkable as Flevoland is one of the smallest provinces in the Netherlands. It is a polder consisting completely of reclaimed land.

Not surprisingly therefore Flevoland has the highest share of organic land (7.8 percent), followed by Noord Holland (4.1 percent) and Drenthe (3.7 percent). Source: Bio Monitor Jaarapport 2008

Land use

Most of the organic land is grassland, constituting almost three quarters of the organic land. It is followed by land for horticulture, potatoes and orchards. Whereas the sales of potatoes decreased during 2008 (-2.1 percent; 27,2 million Euros), the sales of vegetables (+5 percent, 87.9 million Euros) and fruit +7.4 percent, 25 million Euros) went up. Source: Bio Monitor Jaarapport 2008

Organic farming organisations Biologica

Logo of Biologica Various issues of Smaakmakend Bio-Monitor 2009 Until 1992 there were two organisations: Biologica being mainly active in the fields of consumer information and marketing and Platform Biologische Landbouw & Voeding being mainly active in the field of agricultural policy. Platform Biologica was founded in 1992. It is the umbrella organisation for organic farming and nutrition. Organic farmers, traders, manufacturers and retail-traders are cooperating to build up the reputation and the market of organic products. After 10 years the name changed to Biologica.

Biologica has set up two large consumer actions: 'adopt a chicken' and 'adopt an apple tree' and also publishes magazines, newsletters, reports and trade and address guides on organic agriculture, such as

the consumer bi-monthly magazine Smaakmakend , the Bio-guide with all the addresses of selling-points of organic products as well as the Bio-Monitor , which reports regularly on developments in Dutch organic agriculture.

Biologica/LTO Technical working group on organic agriculture

The working group on organic agriculture (Vakgroup biologische Landbouw ) deals with all aspects that are particularly relevant for organic farmers. It is affiliated both to the sector organisation Biologica and the general Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture , the LTO . It continues the work of the former Federation of Organic Farmers NVEL (Nederlandse Vereniging voor de Ekologische Landbouw), and organisation for ecological farmers, founded in 1983 as well as of the VB-DB (Vereniging van Biologisch-Dynamische Boeren), the organisation for bio-dynamic farmers, which was founded in 1976. In 1995 these two organisations had joined forces to form the Federation of Organic Farmers (Federatie van Biologische Boeren). The Federation safeguarded the interests of the organic farmers in the Netherlands.

Skal is the inspection and certification body for organic production in the Netherlands. The use of the EKO Quality Mark is restricted to organic companies certified by Skal. The EKO Quality Mark is only allowed on products containing more than 95% organic ingredients. It cannot be used on agricultural products under conversion to organic production.

Control Union (formerly SKAL International)

The former SKAL International has now become part of the Control Union , a major international certifier.

Dutch trading and processing association VBP

The Dutch trading and processing association VBP (Vereniging Biologische Productie- en Handelsbedrijven) is the organisation of processors and traders of organic products. It was founded in 1995, uniting three smaller associations of processors. The main aim of the VBP is to defend the common interests of their members and to stimulate the trade and processing of organic products. On many issues Biologica and the VBP work closely together.

Bioconnect

Since 2006 the key body in organic farming research is the recently instituted Knowledge Network Organic Agriculture (Kennisnetwerk Biologische Landbouw) Bioconnect . All relevant stakeholders from the organic sector are represented in this network. On a yearly basis, Bioconnect makes recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV on the subjects and priorities to be set for research in organic agriculture. The stakeholders in the network also play an important role in monitoring the research progress and the output. The Bioconnect system is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV for a large part, because of its instrumental role in defining research priorities. Research output in the form of reports, presentations and small newsflashes are published on a website: www.biokennis.nl (Dutch). The database behind this site has an English interface.

Wageningen UR

Wageningen UR is a collaboration between Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein School of Higher Professional Education and the specialised former research institutes (DLO) from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. This combination of knowledge and experience enables Wageningen UR with its 5'600 staff and more than 8'500 students to contribute actively to solving scientific, social and commercial problems in the field of life sciences and natural resources. WUR is the largest research organization that participates in the Bioconnect Network.

Louis Bolk Institute LBI and Agro Eco

Since 1976, the Louis Bolk Institute has been a pioneer in scientific research and innovation in organic farming, food and medicine. Due to the merger with Agro Eco , on December 1, 2008, the Louis Bolk Institute can provide not only research, but also mainstream gained knowledge into practical knowledge and application. The Agro EcoLouis Bolk Institute operates globally, but has particularly strong connections with Africa. There are two regional offices, in Ghana and in Uganda (see brochure ). The website representing the merged organisation is currently under construction.

Avalon Foundation

Avalon is an international, non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands. Since its establishment in July 1991, Avalon has been committed to the support of sustainable rural development in the transitional economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Much of its work focuses on harnessing market development and agro-environmental policy to create a favourable economic climate for organic agriculture to become established and to prosper to the benefit of local communities throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Good Food Foundation

The Good Food Foundation was established in 1986 with the aim to encourage, initiate, subsidise, manage and supervise projects in the field of organic agriculture. Members of the foundation are mainly European firms. Certified organic products originating from the projects are: Sultana raisins and paste, dried figs and figpaste, dried unsulphured apricots and other fruits as well as herbs, pulses, grain and seeds.

Legislation

As in all European Union countries, in the Netherlands Council Regulation (EEC) No. 834/2007 is in force. The Dutch government has appointed Skal as the only certification and inspection body in the Netherlands to check compliance with the EU regulation. Certified organic products can be identified by the EKO trademark. For bio-dynamic products there is also the Demeter trademark.

Policy Aims for Organic Farming: 10 % Organic by 2010 ?

In 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV produced its policy on organic agriculture, aiming at a market oriented organic production. The main objective presented in this policy document is that 10 % of the total cultivated agricultural area will be under organic farming in the Netherlands by the year 2010. One of the policy instruments to be applied to reach this objective is research on organic production. This policy resulted in an increase in organic farming research funding by the Ministry from 3 million Euro in 1999 to over 10 million Euro in 2003. In 2004, this policy on organic agriculture was evaluated. The evaluation included results of research and knowledge efforts and a new policy document for the period 2005 to 2007 was approved by the Parliament with the following policy ambitions:

10 % of the total cultivated area will be under organic farming by 2010 market share of organic products will be 5 % of total consumer spending by 2007 the innovative strength of the organic production sector concerning sustainability will be enlarged by 2007.

By the end of 2007 it was clear that these ambitions could not be realized. For some product categories, like eggs, it was achieved. But for instance market share of fresh organic meat ant meat products stays far below 5%. Also the increase in cultivated area under organic farming did not increase much. Although there was no decrease, the fast growth in organic land area at the beginning of the century could not be continued. In the latest policy document for the period 2008-2011 the Ministry formulated the following ambitions for the development of the organic sector:

Annual growth of 10% in consumer spending on organic products Annual growth of 5% in acreage of organic agriculture Standard allocation to the organic sector of 10% of the budget for policy support research and statutory research tasks

The market

The market grew by 12.4% from 518.9 million Euros in 2007 to 583.41 million Euros in 2008 (including catering). The the share of the total market is 2.1 percent (2007: 2 percent). The most important marketing channel is the general retail trade but the specialized trade has an almost equal share of the organic market and is thus much more important than in most other European countries.

A fast grower is the catering sector. The aim of the government to provide 100% sustainable catering in public canteens by 2010 gave a positive stimulus to the achievement of this goal. Source: Bio-Monitor Jaarrapport 2008

Training
The only school for bio-dynamic farming in the Netherlands is the Warmonderhof in Dronten. The Warmonderhof is a part of Groenhorst College. Students between 15 and 27 years of age can take a fouryear course to become a bio-dynamic farm manager. An organic diploma for organic farmership is being developed at the moment. The apprenticeship system also exists in Northern Germany now. In the secondary and higher agricultural education in the Netherlands more and more attention is being paid to organic farming, although it goes slowly. Several projects helped to increase interest from schooldirectors and teachers. At academic level students can take subjects concerning organic farming at the Faculty of organic farming systems of the Wageningen University and Research Centre WUR in Wageningen. It is also possible to obtain a Masters degree in organic farming or to do a PhD in organic farming. Finally, the Study Centre Kraaybeekerhof in Driebergen provides retraining courses for organic farmers. And the Centre for Organic Farming in Lelystad provides an orientation course in organic farming for conventional farmers in co-operation with the Warmonderhof Education.

Advice
In the Netherlands a farmer who wants to convert to organic farming may receive technical advice and training from several private consultancies. DLV used to be a government institute (Dienst Landbouwvoorlichting) but has now been privatised. It is the largest consultancy and employs specialist advisers for all sectors in organic farming. Since privatisation it is called DLV Adviesgroep NV. On top of that a a smaller private consultancy firm specialised in organic farming is available: Agro-Eco (now merged with the Louis Bolk Institute) and DLV also provide training courses for conventional farmers wishing to convert or training courses for organic farmers. Freelance advisors provide specialist knowledge on organic fruit growing, soil quality and flowers.

Research
The development, dissemination, distribution, extension, demonstration and implementation of knowledge remains an important instrument to fulfil the government's policy ambitions to strengthen organic farming. In the early years of this century, publicly funded research mainly focused on primary production, as most problems were related to technical challenges. This effort had a positive effect on organic production, but had no effect on consumer behaviour and thus did not help increase the sales of organic products.

In the past years the governmental policy aiming at a market oriented organic production however, resulted in a (gentle) shift towards more knowledge on food supply chain and product related issues like consumer awareness, food safety and food quality and appropriate production costs. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV provides most of the necessary funds for research in Organic Food and Farming. Research is carried out by the various institutes of the Wageningen University Research Centre WUR and the Louis Bolk Institute.

Further reading
Meijs, J. Teenstra, E.D. und Regouin, E.J.M. Dutch stakeholders set the organic research agenda . Joint Organic Congress, May 29-30, 2006, Odense, Denmark Teenstra, Eddie und Regouin, Eric (2006) Research in Organic Food and Farming in The Netherlands , in Lange, Stefan; Williges, Ute; Saxena, Shilpi und Willer, Helga, (Hrsg.). European Research in Organic Food and Farming. Reports on organisation and conduction of research programmes in 11 European countries, Kapitel 8, Seite(n) pp. 165-184. Bundesanstalt fr Landwirtschaft und Ernhrung (BLE) / Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food BLE, Bonn, Germany.