how to bridge the chasm between farmers and ngos jan buurma
TRANSCRIPT
How to bridge the chasm between farmers and NGOs
Jan Buurma
Content
Impression EU seminar Reflection on congruent interests Perspectives on “soil quality”
Farmers NGOs Policymakers
Soil quality as congruent interest Linking soil quality and CAP
Impression EU seminar
System \ Level Strategic Tactic Operational
IntegratedPest Control System
Thierry Mercier(natural pesticides)
Luc Peeters(farmers problems)
Jack Masse(decision support)
IntegratedCropping System
IntegratedFarming System
IntegratedFood System
Hans Muilerman(system re-design)
Clash!
Reflection on congruent interests
Prof. John Grin, University of Amsterdam:
A system innovation to be successful requires congruent interests of the partners involved.
After World War II → No more famine
Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → farmers
Interviews with arable farmers, 2006 Views on people, planet and profit
People → villagers and citizens Planet → soil quality and soil health Profit → continuity of the farm
Experience from Indonesia
Soilstructure
Land preparation
Pestincidence
Physicalyield
Good 1.250 hr/ha Low 13,0 ton/ha
Poor 1.500 hr/ha High 6,5 ton/ha
Shallot growers in Central Java, 1991
Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → NGOs
Interview with Hans Muilerman, 2008 Controversy on emission of pesticides
Policy → volumes escaped from agriculture
NGOs → volumes applied in agriculture
NGOs: what happens inside the cage?
Experience from orchard experiment, 2003
Apple scab survives winter on old leaves More decomposition → less spores in spring
Specific fungicides harmful for earth worms More decomposition in biological systems
Pesticides may promote infection pressure
Perspectives on ‘soil quality’ → policymakers
Basis for food production and food security
Important source of biodiversity
Soil quality as congruent interest
Farmers → crucial production factor
NGOs → basis of global ecosystem
Policymakers → crucial for food security
Soil quality → our common future
Linking soil quality and CAP
Recent study in The Netherlands, 2008
Strengthening organic agriculture through the coming European Agricultural Policy
Rewarding environmental achievements>> drinking water and greenhouse gas>> €200 per hectare
Summary
Chasm between farmers and NGOs Focusing at different system levels Addressing soil quality Bridge to our common future
Tools for measuring soil quality Rewarding achievements
