"Faster change really needed for sustainable cultivation"
The congress was attended by delegates from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, environmental NGOs, growers, academics, food production and retail companies. They participated in interactive debates on three themes: 'How can we significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and horticulture', 'How can we accelerate the registration of new biological resources for use in this sector', and 'How do we find commercial opportunities for growers who use sustainable cultivation methods'.
More dialogue on all levels
At the opening of the conference, Dick Veerman, editor-in-chief of Foodlog, said that it is time for a new plan for Dutch agriculture and horticulture: 'We have to reinvent our leading role by further developing the promising field of biological solutions. Everyone thinks everything is fine, but in this crucial area we are losing our lead. Faster change for sustainable cultivation is really needed. 'Peter Maes, marketing director at Koppert, added: 'We urgently need more dialogue on all levels, citizens who have a better understanding of food safety and also a responsible food chain with the least amount of impact on the environment and society.'
Cooperation is essential
Ornamental grower Henric van der Krogt thinks that companies in agriculture, horticulture and retail need to work together more: 'Sustainable products have added value, but growers receive nothing extra for their efforts. Retailers rarely ask us which chemicals we use. The price remains the most important negotiating factor.' He added that in the debate about sustainable cultivation often very little attention is paid to the concerns of consumers: 'We should not wait until the NGOs discuss whether consumers will protest. We need to tell consumers our story so they also get involved.
'A big part of the debate was about the need for an integrated approach by growers, retailers, NGOs, consumers and governments. 'We don’t communicate enough,' one of the growers remarked.
Registration restrictions
Some of the most heated discussions concerned the ‘slow’, ‘sluggish’ and ‘overly complex’ registration procedures for organic agriculture and horticulture solutions. Delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the board for the authorization of crop protection solutions and biocides received a barrage of questions. Attendees pointed out that the Netherlands has one of the longest product evaluation and registration procedures in the world. 'It is frustrating when I have to tell a grower that we have a biological solution to his problem, but that it will probably be 2023 before it is registered. I really hope that we have opened more effective communication channels with the ministry,' says Evert Hamblok, Manager of Regulatory Affairs at Koppert. 'Another problem is that although consumers ask for ecological solutions for their food safety, many are skeptical about biological solutions with bacteria and viruses. There is still a lot of work to do with communication.'
New open source network
Other participants pointed out that the authorities in charge of admitting biological solutions continue to apply the same assessment criteria used for chemicals and that there is a lack of expertise to assess the biological constituents of new products. 'Low-risk biological solutions must be given priority, so that their registration procedure is faster', says Prof. Michel Haring, Professor of Plant Physiology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
At the conference, more than twelve experts spoke about the future of sustainable agriculture and horticulture. With the help of Prof. Haring and the support of many others, Foodlog will set up an open source network. Foodlog now hopes to make the conference an annual event and a permanent channel for accelerating changes in this sector.
For more information:
Koppert Biological Systems
Veilingweg 14
2651 BE Berkel en Rodenrijs
Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)10-5140444
Fax: +31(0)10-5115203
www.koppert.com