Shades of Green - Pim van der Horst

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Agricultural sustainability A multiply connected maze? PUSH BUTTON FOR SUSTAINABILITY Pim van der Horst - Feb. 17 th 2016

Transcript of Shades of Green - Pim van der Horst

Agricultural sustainability A multiply connected maze?

PUSH BUTTON FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Pim van der Horst - Feb. 17th 2016

Hello!

• Crop protection consultant at Fruitconsult (junior) • Applied research (Proeftuin Randwijk)

• Monitoring and analysis (NL and BE)

• BSc Forest- and Nature Conservation • Agricultural nature conservation policy

• Organic Agriculture (student) • Agro-ecology

Balance is the key

Parasitic ‘balance’ • One benefits over others, but overall there is a balance in the system

Commensalistic ‘balance’ • One benefits, but does not harm others

Mutualistic ‘balance’ • both benefit from each other

But finding the right balance is...

DIFFICULT AND DIFFERENT For each grower

• Disasters, discoveries, discussions • Trial and error • Experience (gut feeling)

But also dependent on • Farm ideology • Investment opportunities • Presence of a successor • you name it...

Rob Jan

Example: 2 fruit growers Age: 50-55

From Flevoland (polder) Both took over the family business

Both 20ha apple and pear with comparable pests and diseases Both have two children

• Organic • Successor present • Wants to increase to 35 ha, focus on 60+ tons/ha • Quality and quantity = important • Awaits good pricing and stores most fruit for the Dutch market • Does everything (within legal limits) to prevent pests and diseases

• Conventional • No successor present • Wants to scale down to 14 ha, allowing a yield of 45 tons/ha • Fruit quality is key • Sells fruit immediately for export and sells a small part at home • Awaits severity of pests and diseases, then acts

Rob Jan

Example: 2 fruit growers Age: 50-55

From Flevoland (polder) Both took over the family business

Both 20ha apple and pear with comparable pests and diseases Both have two children

• Organic • Successor present • Wants to increase to 35 ha, focus on 60+ tons/ha • Quality and quantity = important • Awaits good pricing and stores most fruit for the Dutch market • Does everything (within legal limits) to prevent pests and diseases

• Conventional • No successor present • Wants to scale down to 14 ha, allowing a yield of 45 tons/ha • Fruit quality is key • Sells fruit immediately for export and sells a small part at home • Awaits severity of pests and diseases, then acts

Both growers can be seen as sustainable!

Sustainability is diverse

Sustainability is diverse