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The Schippers Group Innovative family business steadily conquers the world To a more sustainable future Substitutes are on the rise, but meat is here to stay
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Introduction In 2020, Dutch agricultural exports totalled EUR 95.6 billion, of which over EUR 68 billion came from domestic soil. When you include all agriculture-related goods, this even amounted to EUR 105.4 billion in export value and EUR 46.1 billion in export services. Dutch agricultural exports were thus able to hold firm in a year that saw the export of goods drop by 7 percent.
‘sustainable farming’ and ‘closed-loop agriculture’. These are crucial developments in an era when the consequences of climate change are playing an ever-more prominent role. To a large extent, Dutch companies are setting the tone in these areas. Open innovation, cooperation in ‘field labs’, strategic cooperation to bring high-quality knowledge to export markets: these are just a few examples of the pioneering role the Netherlands plays within the agricultural industry.
The secret lies largely in a surplus of knowledge development and innovation. The Netherlands is a country known for its ‘golden triangle’, a model that leans on a close cooperation between the government, knowledge institutes and business. Just as this cooperation in high-tech has for years served as the foundation for the strong export position, the same applies to the agricultural sector. The Netherlands uses this model to take on the role of ‘guiding country’ for spearheads such as
The combination of these developments is what has led the Insights editorial team to bring the sector under the spotlight. The result can be found on the following pages, in what is an informative issue that offers an insight into a rapidly evolving market.
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insights Insights is published by Goo Media T +31 (0)71 - 70 70 161 E redactie@goomedia.nl I www.goomedia.nl Coordination Peter Molenaar
Design Iris de Boer Rachelle de Boer Editing BAK & BAKKER c.s. Journalisten
Production Ellen van Vliet © Goo Media BV 2021 No part of this publication may be reproduced or publicised in any form by print, photocopy, microfilm or any other means without written permission from the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication to ensure the accuracy of the content, the publisher and authors cannot be held responsible for the consequences of any errors or omissions ISSN:1570-9876 This publication is produced CO2 neutral
This publication was realized with the cooperation of: 3M • AG World InternationaI Corp • AGRICOW srl • EASYFIX • Ebbers Metalworks • Friedr. Dick GmbH & Co KG • Gallagher Europe • Impex • Kaycee Veterinary Products Ltd • Killgerm • Master Trading • Moldex Metric AG & Co KG • The Schippers Group • Topcalf • VITALstyle • VUXXX GmbH • Willy Naessens
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Contents 4
I nnovative family business steadily conquers the world
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Do the Gallagher check
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To a more sustainable future
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aster Trading: components for modern M pig production
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There are no easy solutions
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Coronavirus hits the agricultural sector
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Friedr. Dick: a German success story
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Path to European market leadership
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rogress in pig farming offers P opportunities
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T opcalf Calf Hutches: essential for the modern dairy farmer
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illy Naessens: customer-centred W approach leads to best end result
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S ubstitutes are on the rise, but meat is here to stay
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He refuses to be thrown off the land
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Brexit simply hurts
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The Schippers Group: animal welfare as a weapon
Innovative family business steadily conquers the world Constantly looking for new solutions for farming businesses, with a constant focus on animal welfare. It is a condensed version of what The Schippers Group in Hapert, Brabant, stands for. Driven by ‘Let’s beat AMR with HyCare’, the family-run business is steadily conquering the world with products and services that help farmers to farm better. Anyone who regularly drives on the A67 Motorway near Hapert and passes the Kempisch Bedrijvenpark, can’t have failed to notice the 40,000-square-metre new head office of The Schippers Group being built. More than 850 tonnes of steel have been used in the complex, which comprises 400 workstations, a warehouse with fully automated order processing, a car park and a knowledge and information centre. The eye-catching building immediately makes it clear that The Schippers Group has serious ambitions for the future. It’s goal is to play an even bigger role on the national and international agricultural stage than it already does, with the ban on antibiotics in livestock farming as a major spearhead.
then that this move would be the cornerstone for building a multinational company years later. The focus was initially on the tobacco products. He had his shop and, to increase sales, also took his wares outside the town to the many farms. He wasn’t the only one. Grocers and other traders often visited the local farmers because they couldn’t leave the premises unattended during the week. That only happened on Sundays to go to church. And on Sundays the shops were closed. Sympathetic Martien Schippers was soon a welcome guest on the farms. This wasn’t merely because of his sympathetic way of doing business, but also because of his background and his knowledge of life in agriculture. As time went by, he started receiving other requests than just delivering cigars. It is how, without consciously making plans, he became the supplier of the first ear tags in the world when a cattle farmer told him he couldn’t tell his cows apart anymore after the expansion of his farm. Martien Schippers provided him with yellow plastic tags with a string and a number, so that he could earmark the animals. Today, The Schippers Group supplies 300 million ear tags every year to customers around the world.
It took the company just 50 years to reach this point, from where it can co-direct the course for the further progress of intensive livestock farming. The story of The Schippers Group began back in 1966, when founder Martien Schippers – with roots on the farm – lost his job at the artificial insemination station in Hilvarenbeek. His boss came up with a solution: he had a cigar shop in Bladel and offere Martien Schippers to take over the business. Schippers seized the chance and became business owner, supported by and together with his soon-to-be wife.
His curiosity and genuine interest in farming life did the rest. Customers would ask him questions that he could sometimes answer, and other times not. And if he didn’t know the answer, he did research on the subject. Martien Schippers increasingly showed himself to be a visionary. He foresaw that more entrepreneurship would be expected from farmers in the future and responded by looking for new ways to introduce more efficiency into farming businesses. Around 1970, Martien and his
As an enterprising and resourceful man in his twenties, he couldn’t have imagined
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wife hired their first employee and, not long after, the company began offering its services in Belgium. MS Schippers moved to larger premises in Bladel in 1973.
built an impressive network of agents and distributors and laid the foundation for the company’s international activities.
Bleak MS Schippers continued to grow steadily. The couple’s three sons Harrie, Guus and Mark joined the company in the 1980s, each with their own district of customers. Business was running very smoothly until Martien, at the age of 50, started having serious problems with his health. The outlook was bleak and the company’s future, with ten people on the payroll at the time, was uncertain. But the brothers banded together and, as the successive generation, took over the reins.
His efforts created enormous opportunities, which his sons have capitalized on in the past two decades. MS Schippers steadily grew into a leading supplier for the intensive stock-farming sector. Today, The Schippers Group has fourteen sales offices across Europe and operates worldwide with representative agents in seventy countries and a global staff of more than 350 people. Within the group, the MS Schippers label works as a total supplier for the livestock industry, offering farmers an extensive, but also deep and easy-to-order online product range. Next to it is the MS Gold brand, where experts develop new and
Looking back, this development was of pivotal influence on the company’s further expansion. Martien Schippers fully recovered and, with his wife, decided to explore new opportunities at agricultural fairs: first domestically, then in neighbouring countries and the rest of Europe, and later around the globe. So it’s safe to say that the founder of MS Schippers single-handedly
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innovative products that lead to improved work conditions, time savings and better results. Perhaps the most important brand within The Schippers Group is HyCare, which specializes on improving hygiene in the farming industry through active coaching and support.
(further) reducing antibiotic resistance and keeping zoonoses under control. This forms the basis of a healthy animal production chain and isn’t just vital for the health of our animals, but also for public health”, says The Schippers Group. There has never been a greater social relevance than at the current moment. The majority of experts around the world believe that COVID-19 is of animal origin (albeit not from intensive livestock farming). Furthermore, the European stock-farming sector is already struggling with advancing diseases, such as African swine fever.
“The Schippers Group wants to offer accommodation to start-ups in order to further accelerate innovations”
Pioneer By bringing in more (high-quality) knowledge over the course of the years, by seeking collaborations with leading (inter)national knowledge institutes and by entering into strategic partnerships, The Schippers Group has steadily developed into a pioneer of sorts,playing a major role in turning the dials towards further improving the circumstances and conditions in livestock farming, with a constant focus on animal welfare. Both the demand and the necessity for preventive animal health management are growing on a global scale. In addition to these needs, closed-loop agriculture and sustainable farming are becoming more prominent. And although the fight against the use of antibiotics is still encountering quite some resistance, particularly due to existing patterns and methods, The Schippers Group is steadily continuing to grow.
Antibiotics The Schippers Group has positioned itself, particularly in the past decade, as guardian of international intensive livestock farming. In that role, it has an equally outspoken and forward-thinking vision on current themes such as sustainability and responsible entrepreneurship. With let’s beat AMR with HyCare as its ‘battle cry’ and by employing the guiding principles of hygiene and good care of livestock in its market approach, the company consciously sets its apart, with the ultimate goal of a livestock farming industry without antibiotics.
This growth resulted in the company deciding in 2016 to establish a new head office, where the innovation and knowledge centre for livestock farming is destined to play a key role. The Schippers Group also wants to offer accommodation to start-ups in order to further accelerate innovations. It fits seamlessly into the evolution over the past decades and the company’s evolution towards being the knowledge-intensive company it is today. The company itself says: “We are more ambitious than ever. The growth in recent years has made us realize that the possibilities are unprecedented.”
The Schippers Group opts for a total approach that provides for continuous improvement. “In our vision, having an integrated approach to preventive animal health management contributes to
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RENCO, Ag World Int’l and the Cluver family would like to take this opportunity to recognize MS Schippers for 50 years as a family business. As a family business ourselves we recognize the hard work and commitment this takes and we commend you for this achievement. RENCO, founded in 1961, has been sold by MS Schippers for many years. RENCO is a leading manufacturer of veterinary ultrasonic instruments that fill many needs in the livestock industry. Ag World Int’l purchased RENCO from the Gainsley family in 2019 to continue its tradition of high-quality durable products at reasonable prices. Over the years RENCO has broadened their product line to include early pregnancy detection in swine, measurement of backfat and loin thickness. RENCO offers instruments that are effective for use in cattle, sheep, goats, and alpacas. RENCO instruments have also been used by researchers to measure blubber in seals, pregnancy testing in porpoises, and breast measurement in poultry. All these devices help the end user maximize time, resources, and profits. Today RENCO products are in use in over 120 countries and have become the industry standard. They are designed for farm use and are simple enough for anyone to operate. Ag World Int’l was organized in 1977 with the mission to provide the highest quality livestock at the most competitive prices to the global agriculture community. Following through on their commitment, Ag World has worked to improve the volume and quality of agricultural products in 107 countries. An integral part of striving for high quality genetics is providing the ability to quantify the product. To that end Ag World has been the international distributor of RENCO for more than 35 year. Ag World also maintains the Bio-Genics brand in the USA as a producer of Goat Semen and AI equipment for goats. Ag World is expanding opportunities for international customers interested in the goat market to source superior quality goat genetics from the USA.
Ag World, RENCO, and the Cluver family look forward to working with MS Schippers and their customers around the world over the next 50 years.
www.biogenicsllc.com | www.rencocorp.com | www.agworld.international
Avoid problems with electric fencing
Do the Gallagher check Is my fencing still up to the job? With the grazing season just around the corner, it’s wise to ask yourself this question. Identify a problem now and you could end up saving yourself a whole load of problems. Gallagher, the global market leader in electric fencing, has a tool that you’ll find very useful when checking your fencing. It’s vital to keep an eye on your electric fencing. “You might think that once it’s been put up there’s nothing else you need to do, but that’s not the case”, says Leon Blom, an account manager at Gallagher Europe. “We recommend that customers regularly take time out to check their fencing. Nine times out of ten they’ll find something that needs improving.” Grazing season The perfect time to check your fencing is just before the grazing season starts and animals return to the fields. “This is good advice if you have grazing stock”, Blom confirms. “However, our fencing is also used to keep animals out, like wolves and boars. In this situation, it’s worth doing the Gallagher check at regular intervals throughout the year.”
anywhere (due to the extra resistance created by vegetation, for example). Finally, it’s good to check your power source – a battery, mains electricity or solar panels. In the case of solar panels: check that they are able to generate the power you need throughout the year.”
“The safety of animals and people is key”
Solutions Because there are a number of reasons why your fencing might not be working (properly), Gallagher has put together a number of steps for you to run through in the Gallagher Check. “We have a video on our website that shows how to do the Gallagher Check”, says Blom. “After downloading a handy PDF file, customers will find it easy to do the check themselves. In many cases, they’ll find that this solves any problems they might be experiencing. If not, they can contact one of our dealers or our Customer Services team for help.”
Blom summarises a number of things that are important to look out for when doing a check. “Firstly, the earthing. This turns out to be the cause of problems in many cases. The substrate is an important factor here. For example, how easily the earthing resistance required is achieved will depend a lot on whether you have sandy or clay soil. It’s also important to check that all of your connectors are still intact and that there are no short-circuits
Blom says that ruling out possible causes is often the best way to get to the root of a problem. “Sometimes it will be something simple and you’ll be able to pinpoint it very quickly. Other times, it will be more difficult, usually because of local factors.” Problems are always resolved in the end, which is important. “Everyone wants to be sure that their animals are going to stay safely in their fields. If a horse finds its way out onto a road, the consequences could be disastrous. The safety of animals and people is key. So, don’t forget to check your fencing.”
More information: www.gallagher.eu/check
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Field labs bring entrepreneurs and researchers together
To a more sustainable future The Netherlands has always played a pioneering role in livestock and arable farming innovations. There is currently a lot of interest in our country for ‘climate-smart’ solutions, with closed-loop agriculture being an excellent example. “Closed-loop agriculture is an answer to the challenges facing the farming industry, such as greenhouse gas emissions and restoring biodiversity,” says Rik Eweg. In January he set up a new research group at the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Velp, called ‘Area-based transitions to closed-loop agriculture’. He asserts that closed-loop agriculture, which explicitly includes livestock farming, requires new business and earning models, organisational structures and rules. “It’s about a system change throughout the chain, from farmer to consumer. Based on practiceoriented research, we develop, use and monitor processes and methods that can contribute towards realizing this goal.”
“Innovations are only successful if we develop them together” The exact meaning of closed-loop agriculture is something that is still proving difficult to define internationally. “There is no univocal definition,” Eweg explains. “The term is interpreted differently in various parts of the world.” He distinguishes three important aspects that underlie what is meant by closed-loop agriculture in the Netherlands. “The first is that it must increase biodiversity. Not just in the soil, but in the entire ecosystem. Secondly, it needs to have a positive environmental impact, for example through lower greenhouse gas emissions and less use of pesticides. Thirdly, it should close as many flows as possible.” This means that the residual flows from one chain become the raw materials for another chain. For example, food leftovers can be used as animal feed and the artificial fertilizer can be replaced by animal manure.
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Fair “Closed-loop farming must lead to a fair earning model, for both people and animals,” Eweg goes on. “In other words, a good income for farmers and enough attention to animal welfare.” A change is needed in various areas to ensure successful implementation. “It’s crucial that, in terms of policy, the focus should be much more on objectives instead of on measures. If we look at the methods and techniques, innovations to the business systems are also needed, such as separated livestock housing systems. New efforts need to be made to increase specialist knowledge and awareness in relation to competences and skills. And economically, too, an organizational change is needed to create a better earning model.” The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries recognizes the importance of closed-loop agriculture. Three green universities will be working closely with the government with research and knowledge on closed-loop farming. The research group of Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, commissioned for four years, is linked to experimentation regions designated by
the Ministry in the Achterhoek, Twente and Northern Netherlands. Projects are being initiated in so-called living labs, where students, researchers, (agricultural) entrepreneurs and other stakeholders work closely together in an area-specific way to give shape to closed-loop agriculture. The research also involves students from a number of green vocational schools. The purpose of the field labs is to learn and innovate together towards an economically, ecologically and socially responsible food system. The living labs are in continuous development. All knowledge that is gained is immediately linked to experiments. Transition “In our research group, we focus on the transition to circular agriculture,” Eweg explains. “How do you change the existing system into a new, functioning and better system? There is already a great deal of knowledge in the Netherlands about soil quality, nutrients and the like. We are now investigating how we can apply all this knowledge to facilitate a system change that will benefit both the regions and the businesses that are involved. It is actionoriented research. The idea behind it is that innovations are only successful if we develop them together.” The starting point is to build up long-term relationships with business owners in order to understand what challenges they are up against. “Because of the four-year term, we are trying to link up with existing initiatives wherever possible. That way we hope to achieve the best results.”
Rik Eweg
Over time, we believe it’s possible to export the developments and experiments relating to closed-loop agriculture. The national government wants Dutch agriculture to play a key role in the global transition towards a circular bio-based society, with the ultimate goal of achieving all climate and biodiversity targets. “The Dutch findings cannot be translated one-to-one to situations in other countries,” says Eweg. “But we can use the knowledge and innovations we have developed here elsewhere.” The university of applied sciences is part of a European project with green universities in Bulgaria, Finland, Greece and Slovakia, and cooperates with a college in India and has been involved in a number of agricultural missions. “We are seeing that our views on climate resilience and more sustainable farming are also appreciated at an international level.” Switch It’s difficult to predict what agriculture in the Netherlands will look like in the future. “Closed-loop farming is by no means a blueprint for the future, but a type of agriculture and an economic model that we want to move towards,” says Eweg. “It has earned the explicit attention of many institutes and organizations. The switch is a process of many small steps. We need to appreciate every step in the right direction. The idea is that changes within the government and businesses take place based on the vision that closed-loop agriculture is essential for a sustainable future and, in time, will lead to a better and sustainable system.”
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The biggest challenges for the agricultural sector in the Netherlands: nitrogen and climate
There are no easy solutions The climate objectives are having a major impact on Dutch agriculture and livestock farming. Is there a way to reach all the planned objectives and keep offering the agricultural sector perspective for the future? The new cabinet is facing a challenge.
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections in March, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving - abbr. PBL) investigated a series of possible measures with a view to future agricultural and food policy. The Institute for Strategic Policy Analyses came to a clear conclusion. There are no measures that score well on all the goals for the environment, economy and social aspects that, at the same time, are easy to achieve. This basically means there isn't any ‘low-hanging fruit’ to be harvested in terms of promising agricultural and food policy, according to the PBL. The current challenges – climate change, the nitrogen problem and the coronavirus crisis – are colossal and complex. An evident need exists to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although this should not be at the expense of food production for the still growing world population.
“It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work” The PBL assessed 27 possible measures for future policy on effectiveness, feasibility and legal legitimacy, such as handling raw materials more efficiently. One possible scenario is to stimulate replacing artificial fertilizers by high-quality manure processing products. In this context, the PBL touched on the option of introducing a levy on artificial fertilizers. It also pointed
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out the disadvantages this poses regarding the competitiveness of Dutch agriculture if this is not a Europe-wide levy. Uncertainty The Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Organization (LTO Nederland) acknowledges the challenges the industry is facing. “It's fantastic to see so much entrepreneurship in our sector, but these are difficult times for our farmers and market gardeners,” said chairman Sjaak van der Tak when he took office at the start of this year. “The margins are thin, the regulatory burden is high and the political-social debate is getting fiercer. There is great uncertainty in various policies, from nitrogen to crop protection. And this brings with it uncertainty about the future, about the space we have to do business, for the company, for the next generation. That makes it all the more important to work together on financially healthy companies, on responsible entrepreneurship and on public support.”
carbon, methane and nitrous oxide emissions. It is imperative that this is done on a global scale. One option he believes will work is regulating emission rights at European level and compensating farmers who switch to more extensive agriculture and livestock farming. The Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Organization also agrees that Europewide measures are needed and that all countries should work within the same frameworks. “The requirements in the Netherlands are among the strictest in Europe, and therefore in the world,” according to LTO vice-chairman Wim Bens. “We want to retain our leading trade position and continuously improve the quality of our production. But to do so, it is absolutely vital to be on a competitive playing field.” He pointed out the need for a proactive stance from the government through investments to facilitate and reward innovations. “Encourage and reward farmers and horticulturists, either with a fair price or some other kind of compensation for their products and the efforts they undertake for societal demands on climate, biodiversity and nature.” In the run-up to the elections, the entrepreneurs' organisation stressed the importance of a better and more robust earning capacity of farmers and horticulturists. In short: a fair price for the farmer's product, with an additional payment for efforts made in the area of landscape, animals and nature. The Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Organization believes the proceeds from legislation promoting sustainability (such as the above example of a levy on artificial fertilizer) should flow back into the agricultural sector. The organization does not want to be confronted with even more visions and policy documents. The focus should be on a comprehensive and coherent policy, instead of a change of direction every four years. “The message is short but very clear: there is already enough information available, now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work and connect,” says LTO Nederland.
“Regulating everything down to the last detail isn't the solution” Yearning Bens used the example of soil management and the need to be less dependent on external factors, such as artificial fertilizers and plant protection products. “By making optimal use of the possibilities that the soil offers, farmers and horticulturists can help the agricultural system to be more robust with regard to weather conditions, plagues and diseases. The current incoherent policy is insufficiently geared to this.” His message to politicians is clear: is what the entire agricultural sector is yearning for a policy that is coherent and conclusive. “This would allow various social policy issues to be efficiently combined and offer farmers a clear perspective on how to act. Regulating everything down to the last detail isn't the solution.”
Unavoidable But not everyone has the same view on this topic. There is another school of thought saying that extra regulations are unavoidable. “Politicians should use legislation to guide the agricultural sector in the right direction, otherwise we will never reach the climate targets,” asserts Jonathan Verschuuren in the Tilburg University Magazine. The professor at Tilburg University specializes in agricultural and climate law and emphasizes the need for a smaller livestock population and a reduction in intensive agriculture. He sees this as the only way to reduce
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Substantial drop in beer and chips consumption
Coronavirus hits the agricultural sector Hospitality and food service businesses are major customers of the agricultural sector. It is precisely these two sectors that were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic last year. What are the consequences and is there any prospect of recovery?
The sale of chips - or fries for some - was on the rise for years. That was until COVID-19 broke out last year. Because almost all (major) events were cancelled and restaurants had to close their doors, the impact in the Netherlands, where 80 percent of all chips are eaten outside the home, was enormous. This filtered through to the prices that potato growers received for their harvests. Aviko Potato paid an average of between €33.10 and €38.10 per tonne of potatoes. By comparison, in 2019 the prices were still somewhere between €125.75 and €135.75. simply say we need much less acreage. There is a need for raw material, we just don’t know how much and when.”
“The world of potatoes is being confronted with unprecedented falls in demand”
Decline in turnover Farmers who supply wheat and other raw materials to breweries also suffered a significant drop in sales and turnover due to the coronavirus crisis. In 2020, total beer sales fell by 14 percent compared to the previous year. In the catering and event sector, the decline was even greater: 89 percent. Home consumption increased by 5 percent, nowhere near enough to avoid sales dropping by nearly two million hectolitres compared to 2019.
“Unfortunately a historical low,” as André Broeze, chairman of Aviko’s potato growers’ committee, puts it. He was reluctant to say too much about the current situation, but spoke out earlier on Aviko’s website: “The world of potatoes is being confronted with unprecedented falls in demand.” The sector now has to perform a difficult balancing act, especially since it is yet unclear how the situation will develop in the coming period. “This uncertainty puts all those involved in a precarious position, both growers and industry. It goes too far to
The Dutch Brewers Association expects the decline to extend well into 2021. This was already apparent in the first month of the new year. Total beer sales fell by more than 30 percent in January compared to the same month a year earlier. It was even harsher for the hospitality industry, where sales plummeted by 92 percent. “The enormous drop in beer sales in the hotel and catering industry shows once again the severity of the COVID measures on the sector as a whole”, says Lucie Wigboldus, director of the Dutch Brewers Association. She pleaded early this year for the quick reopening of restaurants and cafés, etc. But for beer brewers, sellers and consumers there are some glimmers of light. Despite the pandemic, the Netherlands saw 71 new breweries emerge in 2020.
In 2020, the Central Bureau of Statistics calculated that the turnover in the agricultural sector fell by 6 per cent compared to 2019. The sector received a total of 340 million euros in COVID-19 subsidies. Without those subsidies, the drop in income would have been around 11 percent.
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FRIEDR. DICK
A German success story The company was founded in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany in 1778 and has now been family-owned for over 230 years. Not a matter of course. Starting with a file cutter’s workshop, the company has continuously developped into a globally operating enterprise. The company accepts the challenges of the new times with its traditional experience, advanced technologies and, above all, the highest level of quality for the benefit of every single customer. We are proud of this and strive every day to offer our customers optimal and comprehensive service. Due to the highest quality and the optimal use in accordance with ergonomic requirements, Friedr. Dick is a leading brand worldwide in the professional sector. The broad product range includes cutting tools for a wide variety of industries (hoof and claw sector, cooking and meat industry, tool industry, handicraft , automotive, etc.) and is constantly being expanded with a view to market requirements. In close cooperation with professionals, veterinarians and powerful partners, such as MS Schippers, we continuously develop tools that meet the highest demands of professionals, with the best possible comfort. Precise, sharp cutting edges; ergonomic execution and modern design - made in Germany. Made by Friedr. Dick.
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Sustainable vision of The Schippers Group a crucial growth accelerator
Path to European market leadership With hygiene and health as its main drivers, The Schippers Group is steadily gaining ground globally. The company's philosophy is increasingly being heard worldwide. Meanwhile, European market leadership - a key ambition - comes ever closer. The secret: investing in knowledge development and innovation.
Export is a prominent lifeline for The Schippers Group, as it is for the entire Dutch agricultural sector. The Dutch Central Statistical Office (CBS) reported earlier this year that in 2020, which we will all remember as the year of COVID-19, the sector broke all records and exported EUR 95.6 billion, of which more than EUR 68 billion of domestic origin. The so-called re-export, i.e. the resale of imported products, amounted to more than EUR 27 billion. Exports generated an estimated EUR 41.9 billion
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in export earnings for the Dutch economy. Including agriculture-related goods, the export value amounted to EUR 105.4 billion and EUR 46.1 billion in export earnings. In a year that saw total goods exports decline by about 7 percent, agricultural exports stood firm. Europe is by far the largest market for Dutch agriculture. In 2020, 26 percent of agricultural exports, EUR 24.6 billion, went to Germany. That's a 4 percent increase compared to 2019 (EUR 23.6 billion or 25 percent). Belgium, the United Kingdom and France are other key export destinations. Exports to all these markets dropped by 2 percent (Belgium, France) to 3 percent (United Kingdom). Overall, 67 percent is sold on the EU market
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(excluding the United Kingdom). A major buyer of pork and other products is China. Exports to this country climbed from sixth to fifth place in the ranking of largest agricultural export destinations with a share of 4 percent (to EUR 3.8 billion). Target Europe continues to be a major target for The Schippers Group in 2021. For the company, 1996 (then still called MS Schippers) can go into the books as the year it actually started operating outside the Netherlands and Belgium. The prognoses were good at the time: Having a greater sales market resulted directly in cost price reduction, which is crucial to remain a strong player in terms of knowledge and quality, as well as price. New subsidiaries were set up, sales offices opened their doors well beyond European shores, and the newly established export department very soon needed more workplaces and office space.
“We want to eliminate the use of antibiotics in livestock farming worldwide” A crucial growth accelerator was the new vision that the company developed in the first years of this century, partly influenced by the issues in the domestic market concerning intensive livestock farming. No longer was the starting point to fight the symptoms, it was now to prevent disease. Improving health and hygiene in livestock housing became the main spearhead. This principle would serve as the basis for the development of new services and products. The company focused more and more on acquiring high-quality knowledge, seeking collaboration with knowledge institutes and entering into strategic partnerships. Together with partners, new paths were paved on experimental farms. Open innovation models began emerging as the gateway to developing more and more high-quality knowledge - a key to gaining an even stronger foothold in domestic as well as foreign markets. Unravel With the new vision, The Schippers Group was able to steadily unravel itself from the ropes of the competitive price-fighter
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For over 25 years our FOCUS on cow welfare dairy housing products resulted in increased milk production & whilst improving labour efficiency.
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market for products, enabling the company to profile itself as a supplier of high added value. The message comes across well in the Netherlands, but also abroad. Activities began expanding rapidly on a global scale – and still are today. Outside the Netherlands, there are now sales offices in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Russia, England, Canada, the Philippines and Brazil. In addition, The Schippers Group works with agents, distributors, sellers and has various joint ventures set up. Today the company boasts twelve offices worldwide, is represented in seventy countries and has a catalogue containing more than 14,000 products. This is not including the integral concepts such as sustainable livestock housing (HyCare), which is achieving remarkably good results in pig farming as well as with dairy cattle and broilers. The method can be applied in existing regular pig houses
and is based on five main pillars: pore-free floors and walls, optimum cleaning and disinfection, preventive pest control, clean and germ-free drinking water, and optimum care. HyCare places health and animal welfare first and provides substantial improvements in efficiency. By making sure the pigs are permanently kept in a germ-free environment, farmers can attain a consistently high level of animal health and technical results. HyCare farms are guided and supported in this by specialist HyCare coaches. Ambition In a way, the programme serves as a model for the ambition that The Schippers Group has developed over the years and is implementing in steps: first in the home market, then abroad. “We want to eliminate the use of antibiotics in livestock farming worldwide”, director Mark Schippers said confidently to a regional Brabant newspaper in 2016. It is an ambitious goal, which is aptly reflected in the new head office – including information and innovation centre. With ‘the world’ as its ultimate destination, The Schippers Group has set its sights more emphatically than ever on Europe in the coming period, with the aim of becoming European market leader in a few years. So farmers and first farm the land better here, on a sustainable foundation. And with ‘Let’s beat AMR with HyCare!’.
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Dutch companies on a mission in Argentina
Progress in pig farming offers opportunities The Argentinian pig industry has been on the rise for years, presenting interesting possibilities for Dutch businesses. To harness these, a business cluster supported by the government is showing a strong presence in the South American country.
The Rabobank calculated a few years ago that pig production in Argentina had increased by more than 70 percent between 2011 and 2016. In 2017, the bank forecast that the average annual consumption of pork in that country would grow from 11 kg per person in 2015 to 18 kg in 2025. On top of the higher domestic consumption, Argentina has been increasing its market presence on the international stage, not least because the Chinese market opened up to Argentinian pork in 2019.
© Nooyen Pig Flooring, lid van het bedrijvencluster
Within this fast-growing Argentinian market, there is a need for more knowledge and new technology in areas such as animal feed, animal housing, agro-logistics and feeding systems. Other areas of interest are closed-loop agriculture and environmental and animal welfare aspects. Our country has an abundance of expertise in all these fields. So it’s no surprise that Dutch companies want to gain a foothold on Argentinian pig farming soil. “Several companies had already shown interest in entering this market together for some time,” says Marcel Knoors of the National Office for Entrepreneurial Netherlands (RVO). “In fact, a few agricultural trade missions have already been organized in
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recent years. The demand from the Dutch business community then led to a concrete programme.” Ambitions That programme is called Partners for International Business (PIB), which enables companies to realize their international aspirations through a public-private partnership. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency is responsible for implementing PIB on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Knoors is one of the programme managers at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. “With PIB, we offer the frameworks and possibilities for the participating companies. Being a government agency, our role is mainly organisational and supportive and we ensure that companies and institutions are able to find each other.” On 1 September 2020, the parties involved met via Microsoft Teams and signed a cooperation agreement in the form of a covenant. The public-private partnership focuses on knowledge exchange, network building and positioning the Dutch business community in Argentina. Through the provision of knowledge, skills and technology, they can optimize the
Argentinian sector and respond to the demand for more sustainably produced pig products. “The aim of the programme is to take expertise and technology to the next level, whereby Dutch companies can also stay involved for the longer term,” says Knoors. “By working together as government and businesses, we have a much stronger starting position. The cluster is composed in such a way that it creates synergy and allows participants to strengthen each other. Each company brings its own expertise. It is a diverse, complementary group.” Results The programme has been running now for over six months. “For us it’s important to have everything properly in place right from the start,” explains Knoors. “In concrete terms, this means we need to engage in the right activities in the right order, so that they become interested in Argentina and stay there.” Because of coronavirus, our communication is still mainly digital. “Doing business in person is better, especially since you have a chance to look one another in the eye. This is proving difficult at the moment, but there will certainly be a meeting very soon between the local stakeholders and the Dutch parties.” The main focus in the next three years will be on exchanging knowledge between the Dutch and Argentinian governments, knowledge institutes and companies, on participating collectively in important sectoral trade fairs, organizing trade missions and other gatherings, and developing a joint communication strategy. “After those three years, the programme can possibly be extended for another year,” Knoors says.
Stimulus He emphasises that it concerns a programme and not a subsidy. “Subsidies are mainly granted to individual companies. The aim of this programme is to represent the interests of the entire cluster and, in fact, the entire sector. This has been documented in the covenant and an accompanying action plan. It is also explicitly not the intention to train competitors within our own pig farming sector, but rather to stimulate international trade and the role of Dutch companies.” There needs to be some sort of tangible result at the end of the programme that the Dutch companies can build on further. “The government provides a budget, but in return we expect private participants to also contribute their fair share. This can be an equivalent in man hours, but it should be clear that taking part is by no means a free ride. An impact assessment is carried out both during and after the programme. We say the programme is a success if Dutch companies receive orders worth at least ten times the amount we invested.” https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-regelingen/partners-international-business-pib
The Dutch cluster operates under the name Grupo de Intercambio Tecnológico Argentino Holandés ‘GITAH Porcino’. One of the first activities in the PIB programme was setting up the website gitahporcino.com. The following companies have committed to the programme: Topigs Norsvin, Nooyen Pig Flooring, Nedap, VDZ Trading, Roodbont Publishers, Agrifirm, MS Schippers, Agrovision, Hotraco Group and LeeO. Wageningen University & Research participates as a partner. JV-events is coordinator of the cluster. The cluster works very closely with the Dutch Embassy in Buenos Aires, the Embassy's Agriculture Council and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Companies are still able to join in consultation with the existing participants. Marcel Knoors
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Topcalf
Topcalf Calf Hutches: essential for the modern dairy farmer For several years now, it has been impossible to imagine a modern dairy farmer without Topcalf calf pens. Topcalf is an authority in the field of calf housing in Western Europe. Known for its single pens, Topcalf is increasingly being chosen for its successful outdoor calf housing concept with mobile calf hutches. Topcalf offers the possibility of mobile calf housing to allow calves to grow up in a healthy outdoor climate. Well-insulated, so not too hot in summer. Sufficient fresh air and self-regulation with air vents at the rear. All the calf pens are easy to move and clean. Ease of work is the key and for this reason LED lighting, power supply and a generous working height are standard. Available in a model with 3, 4 or 5 calves and standard a spacious surface of 100 x 162 cm. For the farmer who wants a larger lying surface Topcalf also has the XXL version 120 x 180 cm.
The partition walls are removable, so calves quickly learn to grow up in a group and stimulate each other in eating and drinking. Topcalf offers a solution for every dairy farmer.
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Willy Naessens: industrial accommodation in precast concrete
Customer-centred approach leads to best end result
From car parks, distribution centres and manure storage facilities to the brand-new head office of The Schippers Group. Willy Naessens’ precast concrete finds its way into countless construction projects throughout the Netherlands. “Our unique working method allows us to unburden the customer,” says project manager Edwin van Boxtel. planning and execution ,” Van Boxtel goes on. “This is necessary, too, because the shell is prefabricated. By already thinking about this carefully in the preliminary process, we optimise the building and ensure that every detail is aligned with the client’s wishes. We really do carry out the project together with the customer.”
Industrial construction is the main focus of Willy Naessens. The precast concrete, which is produced in-house in fourteen plants, is the foundation for all projects. “We offer a huge range of options,” explains Van Boxtel. “We can deliver a building in shell-state or as a shell with a wind- and waterproof outer membrane. The third option is turnkey. We are seeing an increase in popularity for this last option.”
“We really do carry out the project together with the customer”
From design to finished product Turnkey means that one company takes on the project management and ensures that every element is ready to use on completion. “We are quite unique in that way of working,” Van Boxtel says. “Thanks to our vertical integration, we manage and supervise the entire construction process ourselves.” It already starts with the design of the first construction drawings. Willy Naessens stays in control of the project all the way through to the finishing touches and laying the site paving. “This way, we can unburden the client. We have everything in house and work closely with a number of preferred partners, making us much more efficient and structured.” “From the start, the customer is involved in every aspect of the coordination,
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Diverse projects Commissioned by The Schippers Group, Willy Naessens built the new head office, distribution centre and parking deck in Hapert. Measuring a total surface area of 47,523 square metres, this is one of Willy Naessens’ bigger projects to date. “All the diversity in one building made this a very exciting project to carry out,” says Van Boxtel. “Besides halls constructed entirely out of concrete, other halls feature a hybrid construction. In fact, basically every form of construction are found in one industrial building. Another interesting fact worth mentioning is that the origin of our company lies in the agricultural sector. Founder Willy Naessens started out as a chicken farmer and built his first poultry house himself.” Van Boxtel speaks enthusiastically about all kinds of ongoing projects, such as the construction of multi-company buildings in the Randstad region that uses a high-quality concrete concept. “And we’ll soon be starting a major project in the Westland area. We have no shortage of work and are always on the lookout for enthusiastic people. So for those who are interested: check out our website.” More information: www.willynaessens.nl
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Consumption and production changes present new opportunities
Substitutes are on the rise, but meat is here to stay The demand for meat substitutes is growing. More and more consumers are buying soy, legumes and other alternatives to meat. Technological developments are ongoing, with new food products that can compete with meat both in terms of taste and texture. Is there still a future for livestock farming? Parallel to the growing demand for substitutes, research studies by the Voedingscentrum, the Dutch nutrition centre that keeps track of all developments related to nutrition, show that meat consumption has fallen in recent years. “We are seeing a declining trend since 2010,” says expert in nutrition and sustainability Corné van Dooren. He does stress, however, that we should put this development in the proper perspective. “The demand for alternatives is increasing, but at the same time we need to realize that it is tsill a proportionally small market share.” Meat substitutes come in all shapes and sizes. “The first foods we should think of are mainly vegetable products,” Van Dooren explains. “These include eggs, nuts, legumes and soya, such as tofu and tempeh, plus their derivatives like humus. Then we also have the industrial products, which
include imitation meat with structured protein. All these foodstuffs, along with meat, are listed in the various nutritional guides, as long as they contain sufficient protein, iron and B vitamins and not too much saturated fat and salt.” Health risks In recent years, meat has regularly come under fire in the news because of the health risks that are possibly associated with eating it. “Lean meat still fits perfectly well into a healthy diet,” assures Van Dooren. “We advise to eat no more than 500 grams of meat a week and to avoid processed and red meat as much as possible. Meat substitutes can be a healthy alternative, but it’s important to look carefully at the ingredients beforehand. Many meat substitutes contain too much salt.”
“Less than 5 percent of the population is currently vegetarian or vegan”
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Every five years, the RIVM (Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment) measures the food trends among consumers. This was last done was in 2016. “That survey showed that the meat consumption had fallen by 8 percent compared to the previous poll,” says Van Dooren. “With meat substitutes, we saw consumption grow by around 20 percent. That’s still only a small segment in absolute numbers (see table, ed.).”
“In time we will eat less meat, but it will be of better quality” The growth in popularity of meat substitutes can be explained by people’s increased awareness of healthy nutrition, animal welfare and climate issues. This awareness is partly the reason that the development of meat substitutes is in full swing. “The technology for structuring protein and imitating the fibrous nature of meat has improved. Moreover, lupin is used more often as a protein source. We are also seeing more research in and marketing of all kinds of alternatives, including duckweed, insects, algae and cultured meat.”
Corné van Dooren
protein closer to home and producing more soy and other protein crops in the Netherlands. The government subsidises all kinds of initiatives in the field of innovation. This is where there are opportunities. You could cultivate algae or farm fish in large basins using high-quality methods, just to give a few examples. As far as legumes are concerned, the Dutch already have a long tradition with brown beans. New varieties such as kidney beans will be added over time.”
Investing These developments are also finding support from seemingly unexpected quarters. “Major meat companies like VION are investing heavily in meat substitutes,” says Van Dooren. “The market sees it as an opportunity. This is also apparent from the fact that Unilever recently acquired De Vegetarische Slager [The Vegetarian Butcher].” In that sense, Van Dooren also sees ample scope for the agricultural sector. “The Ministry of Agriculture recently launched a protein strategy, which is aimed at sourcing more
The consumption of meat in the Netherlands doubled in the period from the Second World War to 2010. “You might think that the downward trend since then will be an economic blow, but that doesn’t need to be the case,” Van Dooren expects. “There will always be demand for meat. I do expect cattle farming to become more extensive, though. This means that production and consumption will decline, but that the meat will have more value, both for the consumer and the producer. In time we will eat less meat, but it will be of better quality. It obviously has to be economically viable. A ban on slashing the meat prices in supermarkets is one of the developments that might help make this happen.” Van Dooren observes that this trend has been going on for some time. “More and more sustainable concepts are emerging. One example is Kipster, where the focus is on animal welfare and on a closed loop.” Van Dooren is clear about the future of meat. “We’ve seen meat consumption double in half a century. So you can safely assume that halving that consumption will take another half century. Van Dooren points towards the still relatively small share of vegans and vegetarians in Dutch society. “Less than 5 percent of the population is currently vegetarian or vegan. Although that number is growing, it will remain a marginal group. The number of flexitarians, i.e. people who no longer eat meat every day out of habit, is increasing strongly.” If we look at technological advances, Van Dooren sees a challenge for producers of meat substitutes. “The trick is to create products that are innovative in terms of taste and structure. That makes the meat replacement no longer an imitation, but just better than the original.”
Food consumption survey (2016) The Dutch population eats on average per day: 347 grams of dairy products 104 grams of meat products 17 grams of fish & shellfish 13 grams of eggs 5.7 grams of nuts 5 grams of legumes 1.5 grams of meat substitutes
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Dairy farmer Robert Maas (28) sees a future for commercial farming
He refuses to be thrown off the land
Although reports in the media often suggest otherwise, there is still a bright future ahead for many farming businesses. A new generation of farmers has stood up and is paving the way to answer the changes in our society. Robert Maas is one of these ambitious ‘young farmers’.
Robert Maas
Robert Maas runs a dairy farm together with his parents in Moerstraten, West Brabant. Seven years ago, at just 21 years of age, he joined the business as partner. “We have 150 dairy cows, 90 heifers and 90 hectares of land,” says Maas. “I’m the fourth generation to run the farm, but our family was already farming long before that. So it’s pretty much in our blood. We weren’t born to work from nine to five.” He is the second of three children. “It was clear from a very early stage that I would one day take over the business. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and to be honest it’s all I know: this is what I’ve always worked towards.”
“Super-sustainable and super-cheap don’t go hand in hand” Maas is given more and more freedom to set the course of the company. “My father is still involved, but he believes it’s time the new generation stands up to make the decisions. But I obviously still consult him on everything.” Adapting to new circumstances
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are often the basis for a directional change. “It’s what we’ve really always done,” says Maas. “We are among the farmers who won’t allow themselves to be thrown off the land. We adapt in line with the political demands and public opinion. Two things are important in this respect: time and money. Time, because we simply cannot adapt to new regulations overnight. People often don’t understand this. Money, because we should be able to get a fair price for our efforts and our products.” Super-cheap When it comes to better prices, people often point the finger towards supermarkets. In Maas’ view, this isn’t always justified. “Supermarkets also have their margins. I don’t think that’s where the problem lies. Consumers must be
a wind turbine. Our long-term vision is to be more extensive, but that’s an ongoing game of cost price versus yield. If we really want to make progress, the milk price has to go up.” Maas hasn’t been affected much by the nitrogen emissions problem. “We are fortunate to have a comprehensive permit, so we have enough options within that framework. But I know plenty of farmers who have been hit hard. The government has really dropped the ball on this one. I expect there may very well be some kind of public inquiry about it in a few years’ time, like there is now with the botched childcare allowances. Sadly, the required knowledge isn’t available in those places where things need to be organized.” The coronavirus crisis isn’t causing too many problems for dairy farmers. “We can quite comfortably keep the business running. I have noticed that feed is expensive at the moment because China is buying up a lot of raw materials. That could be a consequence of coronavirus.”
“Our long-term vision is to be more extensive, but that’s an ongoing game of cost price versus yield”
prepared to pay more for good and healthy food. That’s what I believe is the real issue. On average, Dutch households spend 15 to 20 percent of their expenditure on food. There are some countries where this is even as much as 80 percent. It seems that people here just don’t care that much. The tendency today is that food should be super-sustainable and, at the same time, super-cheap. But those two views don’t go hand in hand, it just doesn’t work that way. If that viewpoint changes, we can get a fairer price for our products.” Maas believes that the greatest challenge for the future is making the company more sustainable. “In our company, we have mainly been able to make progress in that area through sustainable energy, for instance by installing solar panels and
Cooperation Maas speaks passionately about his company and the agricultural sector. So it’s not surprising that he is formerchairman of the agricultural youth contact association in Brabant (BAJK). “I wouldn’t call myself a ‘protest farmer’ who drives his tractor over the motorway to The Hague. I try to find different ways to do my bit for the future of our industry. At BAJK, we organize all kinds of activities for our members. A project we’ll be working on very soon, for example, focuses on learning how we can improve soil fertility. Furthermore, as the representative of farmers’ interests, we are in regular dialogue with the province and act as a sounding board group.” He is positive about the opportunities for his company and the agricultural sector as a whole. “It’s logical that some farmers will stop, but that also creates more room for those who go on. Both the government and society want to see more smaller-scale businesses. The sad thing about that is that the current regulations are actually making those farmers disappear, resulting in the industry scaling up further.” Maas expects that cooperation will be the key word for the future. “I can imagine that, as a dairy farmer, I will soon be able to get rid of my surplus animal manure at a neighbour’s farm, who will give me wheat in return. A closed loop, which also allows you to reduce the use of artificial fertilizer. That’s the direction we’re heading. Cooperation has always been the norm. I see it only increasing further.”
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Impact not as dramatic as feared, but still many disruptions
Brexit simply hurts The effects after six months of Brexit aren’t as dramatic as feared, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Change (EZK) and Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Organization LTO Nederland. Still, there is little reason to rejoice. Import levies have been avoided, but the paper mill is growing and with it the delays. And that’s costing a lot of money. “In the run-up to the Brexit, all of us business and government alike - were preparing for the worst. Fortunately, we can conclude that the gloomiest scenarios haven’t come true”, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated when asked.
“This is largely due to the thorough preparations made by our business community. But we do continue to reiterate: Brexit isn’t finished with us yet.” The Border Operating Model, for instance, will be phased in over the coming period, with the UK government introducing additional checks on certain goods from the EU from October
The Brexit has dealt a hefty blow to both Dutch and British businesses: 40 percent said they were making less turnover at the beginning of April, according to research by the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). The NBCC interviewed 125 companies from both sides of the channel. A large majority of 63 percent are experiencing more hindrance from rules and formalities since Brexit. In the goods sector this is 80 percent. Entrepreneurs mainly mention bureaucracy, higher costs and delays in shipping. The latter is felt particularly when transporting fresh products, which cannot wait too long.
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The British government announced in March that it was postponing the introduction of stricter requirements for the import of animal and plant products. Mandatory health documents for animal products (veterinary certificates) will now be required from 1 October instead of 1 April. A so-called pre-notification is also mandatory as of 1 October. For plant products, the certification requirement applies from 1 January 2022 (plant material and livestock were already subject to mandatory certification). Full inspections at border posts will commence from 1 January 2022 instead of 1 July this year. Physical checks will only be made from March 2022 onwards. British companies in particular insisted on more preparation time.
this year and January next year (see box). “New control measures can create new disruptions. We therefore call on all business owners: stay up to date on the regulations. That way Brexit - also in the future - won’t get in your way later on”, said the spokesperson. Afloat The Ministry’s findings are broadly in line with those of LTO Nederland. “There were no major problems and the trade with Great Britain is continuing for the most part”, is the trade group’s conclusion. According to LTO, exports are under pressure, although provisional estimates show that 80 per cent of EU exports have survived. In contrast, British exports to the EU have certainly halved, much to the discontent of the government in London. All the drawbacks and pain: it’s the price that both sides have to pay for Brexit, EU negotiator Michel Barnier declared earlier. The provisional agreement, which he managed to pull off at the very last moment last year, actually crossed the finish line of the political review process with the approval of the European Parliament in late April. It was a moment that was welcomed by the European employers’ organisation Business Europe, among others, which stressed once again that the UK is now the EU’s third largest trading partner. The European Parliament itself remains actively involved in verifying that Boris Johnson’s government continues to abide by all agreements. There have been allegations in recent months by the EU towards the UK regarding the promises made, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland deal. That issue is an ongoing and major source of concern because of the possible consequences, not least in the Dutch agricultural sector. In 2020, the Netherlands exported a gross value of over EUR 8 billion of agricultural and horticultural products to the UK. This mainly concerned fruit and vegetables (fresh and processed), meat and ornamental horticulture, but also dairy products, eggs, sugar, potatoes and seeds. At the time, Britain was still part of the EU. But since Brexit, criticism is growing that the Johnson government constantly wants to show that it is ‘master of its own country’ and has no intention of allowing ‘Brussels’ to determine its course.
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Balancing “This raises questions in the Netherlands about the export of agricultural and horticultural products, such as potato seedlings and other planting material. Are we prepared to accept that on the whole the UK will follow EU legislation, but then deviates on occasion? That means carefully balancing the call for a ‘level playing field’ with our actual export interests”, according to LTO. This issue is not addressed in the recently presented revised EU export strategy, the agricultural and horticultural interest group notes. The topic, which is important for the agricultural sector, also barely played a role in the recent parliamentary elections, much to the disappointment of LTO. The organisation is closely following all developments, just as the Ministry of Economic Affairs continues to monitor potential obstacles to mutual trade. “Doing business is easier within the internal market than outside it”, the spokesperson explains. “The British departure has made it harder for entrepreneurs to do business with the United Kingdom. But every entrepreneur is affected by Brexit in a different way. The effects vary from company to company and range from waiting times for transport, customs procedures to the more difficult provision of services.” Therefore, the ministry says, it remains important for everyone to keep their finger on the pulse.
After a dip in January, the value of UK pork exports to the EU dropped by 80 percent in February compared to a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the UK has estimated. This was mainly due to new Brexit regulations and inspections. Nevertheless, total pork exports from the UK stood at GBP 48 million in February compared to GBP 45 million in the same period last year, caused by a significant boost in exports to countries outside the EU. Pork imports from the EU fell by 37 percent from GBP 163 million in February 2020 to GBP 103 million in February this year. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) noted that overall imports of pork, chicken and beef from the EU fell by more than 30 percent compared to February 2020. Exports of milk and cream even dropped by 96 percent. These worrying figures have prompted the FDF to ask the UK government to restart negotiations with the EU. According to the organisation, the impact of Brexit is permanent. Because the balance of the market has been disturbed, the organisation expects constant fluctuations in the figures in the future.
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