Lots of enthusiasm for scaling up proteins in the Netherlands
On Thursday 14 July 2022, 56 organizations signed the national Green Deal Protein-rich Crops. The aim is to scale up the cultivation, processing and consumption of homegrown protein crops.
Upscaling makes the cultivation of yields economically attractive for farmers again, shapes the degree of self-sufficiency and leads to more sustainable agriculture. This Green Deal is part of the National Protein Strategy in 2020. The organizations that have signed, commit to the goals for a period of ten years with the plans to continue afterwards.
Agriculture Minister Henk Staghouwer also signed the Green Deal on Thursday at the Floriade in Almere. The governor is enthusiastic. With this deal, we are shouldering a major challenge. It is now our signatures of interests. Together with all parties, we can create a good revenue model and useful crop for soil and biodiversity.
‘Bean deal’
The deal was preceded by a broad stakeholder consultation, Foodvalley NL reports. It contains to focus on leguminous crops such as field beans, lupines, soybeans and chickpeas for human food. The ‘Bean Deal’ is the collective name to give the food chain its in the face. Foodvalley is an organization that accelerates the transition to sustainable food systems and has therefore been involved in the protein transition for some time.
Foodvalley NL director Marjolein Brasz is also chairman of the Green Deal Protein Crops steering committee. She states that working on the deal has already initiated changes in the chain. It ensures that farmers unite, farmers work with caterers and processors with retailers. This includes the establishment of the Production Organization Dutch Protein Farmers and the launch of the Dutch Fababurger.’
Eager to grow crops
According to chairman Henk Janknegt of Producers’ Organization Protein Farmers of the Netherlands, many Dutch farmers are eager to grow nitrogen-fixing protein crops. ‘They know the value of these rotational crops for the soil, biodiversity and yield increase. However, the cultivation is not financially viable yet. Bringing about change in this deal in collaboration with the government and the chain.
Breeders such as KeyGene and Limagrain are also participating in the deal. Together with research and educational institutions, such as the Louis Bolk Institute, Wageningen University & Research, HAS University of Applied Sciences and Aeres, we are working on the development of new varieties that grow well under Dutch conditions. In addition, it is necessary to realize a processing infrastructure to properly coordinate cultivation, processing and consumption.
Protein Campaigns
Valuation is central to the Green Deal, writes Foodvalley NL. This applies not only to arable farmers who are intended for a still risky crop, but also to consumers. started starting projects such as Rabobank, Compass Group, Hutten, Ude/Ekoplaza and the World Wildlife Fund campaigns. These should be made attractive and easy for all Dutch people to put homegrown products on the menu.
Source: ZLTO