Download - 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!