Those who follow the news may get the impression that the process has only just begun, yet the transition to a greener and more vital agricultural sector began quite some time ago. In the North, with the 'Agro Agenda North Netherlands', a platform was already formed in 2018 in which farmers, suppliers, buyers, knowledge institutions, environmental federations and government work together, with the goal of supplying top food from a rich landscape from the North Netherlands. NOM welcomes that process and sought cooperation. Business developer Joep de Vries explains.
Without a revenue model, you have no innovation
Everyone, especially farmers, knows that things have to change,' says De Vries. 'And not because things weren't good before, but because times are changing and because our thinking is also changing; about health, food, what that food should contain, but also how to produce it all in a limited space. What is very good about Agro Agenda North Netherlands is that it puts the agricultural entrepreneur at the center. The farmer and farmer's wife are pivotal in the transition and that's how it should be.'
Now the farmyard is not normally the domain of the NOM, yet De Vries sees a role for "his" organization. De Vries: 'We are enthusiastic about the process of delivering top food in the North from a rich landscape. Our contribution to this could be that from our network and our portfolio of investments, we know numerous smart companies that could add value with their knowledge. This raises all kinds of questions: how can you reduce CO2 and save water in agriculture? How can you increase nutritional value, how can you make the production process more sustainable, how do we organize farmland, what do we do with recreation? We focus on all those companies that enter the farmyard and see the farmer as a customer, who may be helped with his business with smart innovations.'
Agro Agenda North Netherlands, as mentioned, began in 2018. A key moment took place in March 2019. Agricultural entrepreneurs, industry associations, knowledge institutions and government from the North met in the Martini Church in Groningen, where Rob van Brouwershaven, program director at the Ministry of LNV, declared that as far as he was concerned, the Northern Netherlands could be considered a testing ground for the entire country, for a renewed agricultural sector. By now, four years have gone by, enormous strides have already been made and the "Agro Agenda North Netherlands" is running at full speed.
A quick glance through the website of Agro Agenda Northern Netherlands reveals all that has already been set up in recent years. It is a broad partnership, led by a Steering Committee and a 'Catalyst Team' (boosters from the field) working on an impressive number of objectives, such as vital agricultural businesses, vital chains, a vital countryside with lots of diversity, clean air, clean water, biodiversity and also a rich cultural landscape. 'Sub-agenda's' cover topics such as 'The Dairy Agenda', 'Smart Farming', 'The Potato Valley', the Veenkoloniën, 'Nature Inclusive Agriculture' and a program that bears the tantalizing name 'Fascinating' (an abbreviation of Food Agro Sustainable Circular Nature Technology in Groningen, ed.). This is an open innovation program where (agricultural) companies, knowledge institutions and other parties from society work on circular agriculture with room for nature and with healthy food and healthy yields as a result.
We in the North are a pilot region for a renewed agricultural sector, but I would rather call it a pilot region for a 'healthier world.
Joep de Vries, NOM
Health
'I think you can really emphasize the latter,' says De Vries. 'We in the North are a pilot region for a renewed agricultural sector, but I would prefer to call it a pilot region for a 'healthier world'. Because ultimately almost everything in the world revolves around health, and the agricultural sector is an enormously important pillar in this. Connecting the knowledge that the farmer has with the knowledge of smart entrepreneurs who, with their knowledge and innovative strength, help to make this world a little healthier. As NOM, we see that as the biggest challenge of Agro Agenda North Netherlands. And as I said, we would like to play an active role in it.'
And the biggest hurdle in achieving those ideals? 'That is that we have to start making choices in an enormously divided society,' De Vries said. 'Politics is clearly having a hard time with this, and frankly I can understand that. There are various interests that you can only bring together with a long-term vision, because shorter-term interests seem to clash. The fragmentation of the political landscape doesn't make it any easier either. And then in that
umfeld with all these forces you have the agricultural sector that has to do everything and often doesn't feel heard.'
Views
Within that whole context, that raises the question of whether the average agricultural entrepreneur is then waiting for the visions of administrators and others? 'I am convinced that everyone does feel the need to develop a common vision. Because with a common dot on the horizon it becomes much easier to set out together. With the Agro Agenda North Netherlands process, we can help politicians develop that vision from within society. As NOM, we then look primarily at value creation. And I'm not just talking about money.
You can also create value in the agricultural sector with food that is even richer than before. You can create value for the earth, for people's health, for the farmer's business and also when it comes to fighting hunger in the world. On all these points there must also be something to be gained for the agricultural entrepreneur, because without a revenue model there is no innovation.
