Meiny Prins and Rob Baan have the solution:
"The sky is the limit with metropolitan farming"
The Netherlands, the greenest city in the world
Worldwide, 180,000 people move from the countryside to the city every day. It is estimated that within 15 years over 60% of the world's population will be living in metropolitan areas. Many of these areas are located in a delta. The presence of water in the delta makes food production, trade and transportation possible.
Where so many people live and work in close proximity, more and more food will also be produced. Because of the 'mouths' that need to be fed and the available workforce, but also on account of the ability to recycle water and to create new energy flows. Efficient energy and water flows, sustainable food production, green and clean neighbourhoods, decentralised, short supply chains, will all transform these cities into drivers of sustainability and radical innovation: Sustainable Urban Deltas. Quality of life will become more important than economic growth in these metropolitan areas. Urban consumers want to be rid of air pollution and stinking sewers. The 21st century will be the century of cities! The Netherlands itself is like a city in a river delta: with a single area of conurbation from north of Alkmaar to south of Eindhoven. With that image in mind, the 'Green Heart' of the Netherlands is just a 'park' and the Westland is a region of 'metropolitan farming'. Today, the Netherlands is the greenest city in the world, Meiny Prins tells us.
Rob Baan: In explaining how the Netherlands can set an example for the rest of the world, it is important to think about the definition of sustainability, an often misused word. To me, a thing is only truly sustainable when you not only consider the environment, energy use and pollution, but also the long-term health of the human population. Many a manufacturer of ultra-processed food claims sustainability. But, as we know, even sustainably produced sugars are very unhealthy. Let alone all the other additives that are produced in a sustainable manner. Processed foods should never be called sustainable unless human health is factored in. Sustainable sugar, fat and salt are just as much to blame for obesity, type-2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer as conventionally produced sugar, fat or salt.
So what makes the Dutch delta so unique? It has already been overpopulated for over 400 years and we have learned to live with and anticipate the environment and the impact on our surroundings. Clearly we still have a long way to go. But compared to the rest of the world we are doing a good job, especially when it comes to the food supply. So what does the Netherlands have to offer the world? Integration of the entire chain with all the bells and whistles!
Many of the world's deltas have forgotten their food supply. In times of economic growth, horticultural land has become worth much less than lots for new homes. So every market gardener has been bought out. As a result, a city like Shanghai must now bring in its food from more than 100 km away. And this will certainly be true for the next 500 years. Feeding the city with fresh products is put at jeopardy and becomes nearly unaffordable.
Be good and let the world know it
The horticultural suppliers can take advantage of this need, with market gardeners and logistics service providers riding on their coattails. In places around the world that are not so logistically attractive for the Netherlands a copy of our Dutch system is the ideal solution. By operating under the banner of Urban Sustainable Delta, Dutch trade and industry can give a huge boost to their own economy and those of their customers. Fortunately, the Government recognises this export opportunity, too, and a joint effort is under way.
We do not need Silicon Valley. We should go back to the original human diet: plants, plants, plants. And indeed, the sky is the limit; We can feed 45 billion mouths without felling one tree in Brazil. One way or another, the large multinationals find a way to completely change the story. As vegetable producers, it would behove us to say: 'Guys, it's over. From now on we are in charge. Authorities, listen to us. We are the good guys!'
Meiny Prins: Yes, the Netherlands can make an international statement, but to do that we have to develop a new vision together. Together we must create a new future outlook for our country. A green city full of outstanding examples in the areas of water, food, energy and knowledge. In that way, we can be an example to all the world's large metropolises.
As technology providers, it is our duty to ensure that everything truly becomes more integrated. That the Netherlands once again has a shared ambition. A theme that inspires and truly unites the top sectors! It is only in this way that we can make an international statement, that we can excel in a single area: the creation of a future-oriented and socially responsible way of life in a Sustainable Urban Delta. Green carbon, no carbon, and circular economy in the cities of the future. Only the sky is the limit!
During the GreenTech exhibition, which will be held 14 - 16 June, 2016 in RAI Amsterdam, Meiny and Rob are keynote speakers at the session program.
For more information:
www.sustainableurbandelta.com
www.robbaan.com