Tailored approaches and company-specific goals form the starting point for an agricultural policy that structurally values ​​organic and extensive farming

By introducing tailored zoning, establishing a mathematical lower threshold, and promising that farmers will "not be held to unachievable goals," Minister of Agriculture Jaimi van Essen is addressing the demand for a more customized approach to nitrogen policy. Furthermore, he is opting for farm-specific targets. This presents an excellent opportunity to secure a meaningful role for organic and extensive farming within Dutch agricultural policy provided, however, that we look beyond nitrogen alone and have the courage to reform the underlying policy framework.

Organic and extensive farming contribute to broader societal objectives, including the reduction of nitrogen emissions. Generic nitrogen policies, however, often overlook holistic sustainability and systemic solutions. A tailored approach can help refine the implementation of these generic policies on a regional level for instance, by setting nitrogen targets for specific zones or adjusting the buffer distances around nature reserves based on the intended outcomes.

Farm-specific targets also allow for a customized approach for organic and extensive farmers. Provisions such as an exemption for practices involving high levels of pasture grazing, or the use of adjusted, low-protein feed rations, serve to reward the expertise of the extensive farmer. By focusing on targets, farmers are empowered to determine for themselves how best to achieve them. This places professional skill and entrepreneurship at the heart of the process, ensuring that those who lead the way in sustainability are duly recognized and valued.

One might assume that this settles the matter and that organic and extensive farming are now firmly embedded in policy. That would be premature. The policy framework remains rooted in the post-World War II European agricultural model, which prioritizes scaling up, mechanization, and price guarantees to ensure food security. Tailored approaches within an existing system do not constitute systemic change. As long as data flows and policy decisions fail to fully account for holistic sustainability, organic and extensive farming will remain an exception rather than a core, foundational principle. Furthermore, we must be wary of new, one-size-fits-all policies that could undermine these tailored efforts. While generic policies offer uniformity, clarity, and ease of oversight, they fail to account for the inherent differences between farms and their varying contributions to societal goals. Consequently, farm-specific objectives should not only accommodate these differences but also make the sustainable performance of individual farms visible and valued.

A changing climate leads to lower yields, production losses, and food insecurity. Organic and extensive farming offer a business model characterized by more stable yields and a smaller environmental footprint, as demonstrated by Peter Oosterhof’s farm in Foxwolde. This helps prevent the challenges facing the sector from escalating further. The relationship works both ways: by adopting farm-specific goals and tailored approaches, this positive contribution can be given the necessary policy space, a welcome step forward. However, the true opportunity lies not in creating exceptions for organic and extensive farmers, but in developing an agricultural policy where their expertise and sustainable achievements are naturally and inherently valued.

This opinion piece was written by Ingrid van Huizen, Operational Director of CDLT and manager of the ‘Transition Pathways’ programme line at ReGeNL.