Dutch farmers. Protest

The proposal includes nitrogen emissions from animal farming, and officials have made clear that the Dutch animal farming industry will have to comply with new ...

The authors added that in some parts of the world, a reduction in the production of animal products may be needed to keep global nitrogen emissions within planetary boundaries. A majority in the Dutch House of Representatives recently passed a motion requiring big agribusinesses to contribute. To help pave the way for this much-needed transition, governments and media outlets need to better understand and address the reasons for food crises, the positions of farmers and, maybe most importantly, the role of Big Ag companies. Reports of a threatened food crisis miss the point that the countries importing Dutch meat and milk consume far more than is recommended to draw down emissions. Rabobank, the largest financier of farmers in the Netherlands, also has high stakes in the conflict. During a workshop hosted by food advocacy organizations IPES-Food and A Growing Culture in June, food researcher Raj Patel explained that the current food crisis is more accurately defined as a price crisis. For years, the government and big meat producers encouraged farmers to invest in techno-fixes to bring down emissions, such as installing air scrubbers in pig and poultry barns. Regardless of the efficiency of the Dutch animal farming system, the Netherlands has an ongoing pollution problem. In the village of Moerdijk, striking farmers formed a constellation of 400 tractors to spell out the words “no farmers, no food.” Several more media outlets sparked fears of a food crisis, reporting that the regulations could set off a global shortage. The coverage continues to leave out key players—Dutch agribusiness interests who back these protests in hopes of maintaining the status quo. Close to 40,000 Dutch livestock farmers have launched protests in response to a new government climate proposal.