How to bridge the chasm between farmers and NGOs Jan Buurma.

How to bridge the chasm between farmers and NGOs

Jan Buurma

Content

Impression EU seminar Reflection on congruent interests Perspectives on “soil quality”

Farmers NGOs Policymakers

Soil quality as congruent interest Linking soil quality and CAP

Impression EU seminar

System \ Level Strategic Tactic Operational

IntegratedPest Control System

Thierry Mercier(natural pesticides)

Luc Peeters(farmers problems)

Jack Masse(decision support)

IntegratedCropping System

IntegratedFarming System

IntegratedFood System

Hans Muilerman(system re-design)

Clash!

Reflection on congruent interests

Prof. John Grin, University of Amsterdam:

A system innovation to be successful requires congruent interests of the partners involved.

After World War II → No more famine

Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → farmers

Interviews with arable farmers, 2006 Views on people, planet and profit

People → villagers and citizens Planet → soil quality and soil health Profit → continuity of the farm

Experience from Indonesia

Soilstructure

Land preparation

Pestincidence

Physicalyield

Good 1.250 hr/ha Low 13,0 ton/ha

Poor 1.500 hr/ha High 6,5 ton/ha

Shallot growers in Central Java, 1991

Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → NGOs

Interview with Hans Muilerman, 2008 Controversy on emission of pesticides

Policy → volumes escaped from agriculture

NGOs → volumes applied in agriculture

NGOs: what happens inside the cage?

Experience from orchard experiment, 2003

Apple scab survives winter on old leaves More decomposition → less spores in spring

Specific fungicides harmful for earth worms More decomposition in biological systems

Pesticides may promote infection pressure

Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → policymakers

Basis for food production and food security

Important source of biodiversity

Soil quality as congruent interest

Farmers → crucial production factor

NGOs → basis of global ecosystem

Policymakers → crucial for food security

Soil quality → our common future

Linking soil quality and CAP

Recent study in The Netherlands, 2008

Strengthening organic agriculture through the coming European Agricultural Policy

Rewarding environmental achievements>> drinking water and greenhouse gas>> €200 per hectare

Summary

Chasm between farmers and NGOs Focusing at different system levels Addressing soil quality Bridge to our common future

Tools for measuring soil quality Rewarding achievements

For your inspiration ….

© Wageningen UR

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