Duurzaamheid baadt in belangstelling

Toespraak | 10-03-2009

Toespraak (Engelstalig) van de minister van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) bij de SEAMLESS conferentie op 10 maart 2009 in Egmond aan Zee.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Kropff,
I am delighted that you have chosen sustainable development as the theme of this conference. It is a very topical issue. Not only here in this seaside resort, but also in The Hague, Washington, Brussels, Nairobi and New York. And with the general public.

Only two weeks ago I chaired the intergovernmental preparatory meeting of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in New York. In my opening statement, I referred to the extraordinary times we are living in. We face a combination of crises: the food crisis, the energy crisis and the financial crisis. And I stated then that the effects of the food crisis could become more devastating, especially in developing countries.

But this was not a warning. It was meant to encourage the international community to face future challenges with self confidence. I also referred to what the UN stands for: 'swords into ploughshares, words into actions.' For this is my mission.

If we are to move beyond these crises, it is essential for the international community to take action. Now more than ever. For the many changes coincide: on top of the food crisis, the world population continues to grow and our climate is still changing.

Although these processes have a global dimension, their impact on the individual is great. Each nation, each individual, each entrepreneur is linked and interlinked to them. And so are you.

Which is why I would like the consequences of these issues to be considered continuously and seriously. Everywhere and by everyone. How do such huge challenges shape our future? How must we act internationally and nationally, individually and together? And how can we do so with collective optimism and perseverance? This is what appeals to me in the SEAMLESS project: your involvement at all levels. And your talent of course to persevere.

When I focus on our national position in agriculture, I see that it goes from strength to strength. We are a world leader in this field. Our country may be small but it excels in innovation and sustainability. Our strength lies in what I refer to as the 'golden triangle': education and research, with a direct link to policy and practice. People often admire this. We owe it to our Wageningen Universiteit.Here, more than a hundred nationalities work together.

We also export our knowledge and tailor 'home-grown solutions'. By which we can combine local farmers' knowledge and experience. This great strength in agriculture places us at the very heart of sustainable development.

Let's take a closer look at the food crisis in this context. The silent crisis behind the financial crisis. The crisis that is given little attention by the press. The humanitarian crisis behind the moral one.

The impact of the food crisis for people in vulnerable regions like Africa is devastating. With an increase of 110 million people living below the poverty line. In addition, the number of hungry people has increased by a further 44 million,to 963 million. While food prices are expected to stay relatively high.

Just think: Over the next forty years the demand for food will rise by over 50 per cent. Because the world population will grow by a further 2.7 billion to over 9 billion. And because, as countries become more affluent, the demand for meat grows, whereas meat production has remained stable.

In spite of this we want to achieve them, the Millennium Goals. In 2050 we aim to produce enough food to feed these 9 billion. And today this goal seems further away than ever. Making the issue actual and acute.

It is a demand we must face together. By helping African regions to start a green revolution. By organising government around problems, instead of problems around governments. By working towards home-grown solutions. These are characteristics of my policy for agricultural development in developing countries. It has a five-track approach and it aims to help countries to:

1. invest more in productivity and sustainable agriculture again;
2. create an enabling environment. Governments can and must set conditions and frameworks, farmers cannot do it on their own;
3. develop sustainable production chains. For example by establishing staple crop processing zones and by lowering taxes on the import of agro-processing equipment;
4. improve market access, especially for African countries;
5. create food and safety nets to ensure food security and emergency food aid.

In concrete terms, you might think of halting the depletion of resources. You might think of wise use of water and energy (like anaerobic digestion of waste, manure processing, wind and solar power). And you might think of farmers revitalising the soil and stopping deforestation. With financial resources, with the right input and with sustainable farming practices, farmers would be able to safeguard and even increase their production. Farmers in Africa also need to be protected from the risk of unreliable rainfall.

Let me make it clear that this is not about decreasing meat consumption worldwide. It is about making production more efficient and, by doing so, preventing environmental losses. This is also what 'Livestock's long shadow' is about, the FAO report - which is regrettably much maligned by some. The point is, how we can make production as efficient as possible on the land that is farmed today?

This implies looking at unnecessary losses in the chain, both on the input and on the output side. In use of feed or water on the one hand, and in post-harvest losses, the loss of quality in the production chain on the other hand. As well as losses caused by the inefficient use of by-products or waste, which could be re-used or used more efficiently.

The Dutch agrisector and the Dutch knowledge system have a great deal of experience in these areas. Which could be used elsewhere, in east Africa, for instance. In east Africa we make use of our trump card: the golden triangle. The Dutch Government and Wageningen University are working with African organisations towards making farming climate-proof. By capacity building, and by boosting experience, knowledge and capital.

But that's not all what this is about. If we, being a strong and leading country in agriculture, only invested in weaker or vulnerable regions, we would never be able to cope with the changes here.

That is why I also invest in Dutch agriculture and specifically in our strengths. In activities in support of the green revolution: innovation and sustainable agriculture. That is a very distinctive theme of my policy. All our investments must meet the conditions of sustainability. Whenever possible we implement golden triangles of research, practice and extension. For the benefit of our sector, for the pioneering and guiding role we have as a country, and for the benefit of the global community.

Our efforts will not be deterred by the financial crisis.

When in a recession there are two things one can do. One can batten down the hatches and put initiatives on hold. And one can actively seek out opportunities. Agriculture, and particularly food production, provides opportunities in abundance. Agriculture is to some extent immune to the economic situation. People may postpone buying a flat screen television or a new car but they will always have to eat. Add to this our pioneering role and the conclusion is easily drawn: these times offer a unique window of opportunity. If we put emphasis on opportunities, we will emerge from the crisis stronger.

But a green revolution does not arise from the policies I advocate. And safeguarding the future of SEAMLESS neither.

It will only really come about through a paradigm shift. This means that it must be driven by the right mentality. I am glad to say this mentality exists. Here and also in other countries like Namibia. Ms Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah,Minister of Agriculture in Namibia, said to me: 'if we do what we always did, we get what we always got.' Her words recall those of Albert Einstein, with whom you are certainly more familiair than I am. He said: 'We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.'

So science is no stranger to paradigm shifts. Still, I do hope you are willing to look beyond the theories and models. Your task carries with it a responsibility. See what contribution you can make. Why not draw up an agenda for science and policy? But first and foremost: ask yourselves and your colleagues questions that also exist in society.

What I find interesting, for instance, is addressing a question such as processing organic manure into a product that can be labelled as fertiliser. That would solve a whole range of gigantic problems. At home and in the global context. I can think of soil fertility, irrigation projects and drip irrigation.

There are no taboos in our discussion. A free and healthy exchange of ideas is vital here. We must also seek the truth on issues that are politically sensitive. I will soon be organising an international seminar on the approval of GM crops. And their economic value.

The same applies to the issue of food or fuel production. Should food production compete with fuel production? 'No', people say.'No', I say. But I would like to see scientists continue to take an active role in the debate. As Wageningen UR, the OECD and IFPRI have done last year explicitly. Sometimes issuing serious warnings, including to me. I welcome this very much. Please continue to do so. Your well considered contributions and insights, based on facts, knowledge, models and systems are very welcome to the debate. And they are sorely needed. I notice this each time - and there are many occasions- when these issues are brought to the table.

Finally, I still take a keen interest in how international food prices will develop in the long term. In the forecasts made last year, every self respecting international organisation envisaged substantial price rises over the coming decade. So did our own Agricultural Economics Research Institute in its often quoted publication by the advice: 'the best cure for high prices are high prices'.

But how does science view this a year on, after a steep fall in prices? Were these high prices a temporary phenomenon or are current prices temporary as a result of the current economic crisis?

I am looking forward to sound, new analyses of the issue.

'Science is people's business'. These are your words Mr. Kropff, and I fully agree. Knowledge should be shared, linked and multiplied by as many people as possible. This is what gives value and what makes it grow. I hope there will be a lot of occasions where we can share our views. And I hope you stay willing to share your honest opinion with me. There is no magical formula, but if there is a silver bullet to be found, it often comes through the clash of minds. It is never found in ignorance.

I wish you all a very inspiring conference.

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