Het maatschappelijk debat omtrent duurzame landbouw in Nederland

Abstract

There is a scientific and public consensus that the current Dutch agricultural system is not tenable at the long term. What a more sustainable agricultural system should look like, is however a topic of large debate. This study explores the diversity of perspectives on what is meant by sustainable agriculture by stakeholders of the sector, in the public debate. The two main perspectives on sustainable agriculture are an ecological and intensification perspective. Different technologies can serve as a means to support either of these visions. Three important topics of discussion within the public debate are 1) whether or not Dutch farmers should take responsibility to produce food for the rest of the world even if that has a negative impact on the local environment, 2) the land sparing versus land sharing debate and 3) the belief in a highly technological future for food production versus a growing desire for an authentic, local food production. The topic of sustainable food production as a whole is becoming more noticeable in the Dutch society. This holds out a prospect that different barriers to a fruitful discussion can be overcome to have a constructive debate on sustainable agriculture in the future.