ABSTRACT
For the past six decades, European agricultural policy has prioritised large-scale food production at the lowest cost. After the Second World War, this was music to everyone’s ears. Farming in the Netherlands developed to deliver on this vision with Dutch farmers succeeding in farm cost-efficiency like no others. Their way of doing things spread around the world. This chapter explains how Dutch farming has gone too far beyond its goal and highlights the painful consequences of industrial agriculture. The author proposes a new Food Agreement between government, society and farmers. The Agreement would lead to a radical transition of the food systems towards provision of healthy and sustainable diets, leaving no one behind. Dutch farmers could become leaders in producing food as ecologically as possible in balance with animals, nature, the environment and climate. Positive developments towards this are already underway amongst some pioneering stakeholders including farmers, veterinarians and doctors.
