Offer farmers a vision for the future, not just policies

The position of farmers in the agri-food sector is coming under increasing pressure. Farmers are facing stricter regulations, rising costs, and a market that revolves primarily around low prices and high production. At the same time, there is a lack of a clear long-term vision for the future of agriculture, forcing farmers to operate in uncertainty and constantly adapt to changing policies. As a result, current policy often focuses on short-term solutions and generic measures, while the complex reality of agriculture demands much more than uniform rules. This perpetuates the negative consequences of the current food system, such as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and dependence on chemical inputs.

Short-Sighted Policies with Long-Term Consequences

Many policy measures are primarily focused on achieving quick results, for example by imposing additional regulations or production targets. In doing so, insufficient attention is paid to regional differences, soil capacity, and the long-term impact on farms. It is precisely this approach that hinders the transition to a more sustainable agri-food sector. Farmers who want to invest in sustainable agriculture often get bogged down in complex rules, limited financial resources, and a market that does not adequately reward sustainable products.

This lack of forward-looking policy has major consequences for farmers on ecological, social, and economic levels. Ecologically, the current system leads to soil depletion and a high dependence on synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Socially, the constant pressure creates uncertainty and a growing sense of distrust toward the government and society. Economically, many farmers remain trapped in a model where scaling up seems necessary for financial survival.

Call to Action: Make Sustainable Agriculture the Focus of the Long-Term Vision

To truly offer farmers prospects for the future, a long-term vision is needed that prioritizes sustainable agriculture. Policy must support farmers in proper soil management, preventing soil erosion, and reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. This includes incentive programs for crop rotation, natural soil improvement using organic matter, and biodiversity on the farm. In addition, the market transition must be structured more fairly, so that sustainable products command a fair price.

The government can play a key role in this by making sustainable investments financially attractive, providing long-term certainty, and encouraging collaboration between farmers, buyers, and consumers. When policy is guided not only by rules but also by trust and a vision for the future, it creates space for an agricultural system that is ecologically stronger, socially more stable, and economically healthier.

ReGeNL as a Catalyst for the Transition

Through the ReGeNL Growth Fund Program, which was launched at the end of 2024, the government is promoting the prospects for such an agricultural system. As a scientific partner within ReGeNL, the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Transition (CDLT) helps bring together practical experience, data, and research so that sustainable agricultural transitions can be designed in a more evidence-based and future-proof manner. In the coming period, we will actively collaborate with various ministries to identify which policy levers we can adjust and what concrete steps need to be taken toward sustainable market transitions.

A sustainable agri-food sector therefore requires not only new policies, but above all a vision. By supporting farmers in the transition to sustainable agriculture, we create a sector that is better for nature, society, and farmers’ incomes.

Ingrid van Huizen, ReGeNL Manager for the Future of Farming