Advisory Programme 2001
Preface
This Work Scheme was developed in a meeting between the Council, the State Secretary and the minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, Mr. L.J. Brinkhorst, on 27th June, 2000. The subjects are ordered according to the time at which the approval of the recommendations concerned are planned. In view of the expected time needed for the current work scheme in the year 2001 - particularly for the subject 'The Future of Animal Farming in the Netherlands' - as well as for the scope of the intended work scheme for the year 2001, it was suggested that the planning should continue up to the year 2002. This means that, eventually, only a limited addition will be attached to the 2002 work scheme.
Realising Water Storage in Agricultural, Nature and Recreation Areas
Within the framework of a new approach to water management, which had been advocated earlier by the Council, the temporary or more permanent water storage must be made possible, whereby the combination of functions with agriculture, nature and recreation should be borne in mind. It particularly deals with extra capacity for peak discharges of the big rivers, with temporary retention of extreme precipitation surpluses and later also with buffer capacity for dry periods. The total space needed is an estimated 400,000 hectares The Committee of Water Management in the Twenty-first Century will present a report on this subject in autumn 2000, and also promoted by this report the Council was asked to give attention to the feasibility and to the conditions of the practical realisation of wash-over, retention and buffer capacity in combination with agriculture, nature and recreation. An initial impetus by the Council for formulating the considerations and prerequisites when realising the intended water storage capacity - together with a value judgement, when necessary - can contribute to develop the concept of 'space for water' into a more mature and practically applicable policy the way it must be formulated in the Green Space Masterplan 2 ('Structuurschema Groene Ruimte 2).
Planning: 2nd quarter of 2001
Council member responsible for the preparation: Rie de Boois
Staff contact: Bert Denneman
Policy on Species
The policy on species is an integral part of the policy on nature. In the years to come, the policy on areas must lead to an adequate protection of the majority of species. In addition, on the basis of plans for species protection, temporary or species-specific measures will be taken to reverse these negative trends. Though the areas policy has been effective for some species, the demand for attention to specific species is on the increase. The question is whether the Netherlands satisfies international obligations, whether protective measures are in reasonable proportion to the social, economic and cultural interests, and whether the area-oriented policy will offer adequate protection in the long term. The question what criteria must be adopted is also important in this context. The Council was asked to advise on the above questions, starting from the prevailing international framework and the policy that has been implemented.
Planning: 3rd quarter of 2001
Council member responsible for the preparation: Peter Nijhoff
Staff contacts: Bas van LeeuwenThe Possible Importance of Socio-cultural Developments to the Rural Area
In the Netherlands, changes are recognised and expected in terms of opinions, values and standards, behavioural patterns and the need for space. At the same time, demographic changes have become visible, among other things, related to extent, age composition and the cultural background of the population. In the short term, this complex of socio-cultural developments will or should have its repercussions on the functions of, and/or the lack of space in, the rural area. This might lead to big shifts in, e.g. the continued existence of the primary agricultural production in our country. The Council was asked to outline, also based on the contribution of the Socio-cultural Planning Bureau - preferably in the form of some scenarios - what effect the developments could and/or must have on the kind, the place and the extent of nature, recreation, agriculture, life and business, with keeping in mind the requirements regarding water, infrastructure, safety and mobility. The year 2003 could be taken as perspective in this respect. What policy efforts will be needed in the shorter or longer term to balance the new demands, needs and possibilities on the one hand, and on the other the values of the rural area that should be maintained.
Planning: end of 2001
Council member responsible for the preparation: Jan Douwe van der Ploeg
Staff contacts: Gerrit WeernekersPositioning of Primary Agriculture in the Chain
Under the influence of the expected liberalisation of the world market and the resultant adaptations of the Common Agricultural Policy, the need and/or the necessity will be felt within (a part of) the primary agriculture to realise a higher added value per product unit, e.g. through shortening the chain. Such repositioning in the chain will fit in better with one market segment than with the other. Enterprises that still emphasise a cost price strategy must try to maintain and strengthen their position within the chain. The question is in what way and how the primary sector can strengthen its position in the chains, and to what degree initiatives like product-subscribers and sale via internet are likely options in this field. And before this, the question must be put whether this form of repositioning as such has sufficient prospects. If so, what requirements are made to the policy, the enterprises and the environment of the enterprises?
Planning: 1st - 2nd quarter of 2002
Council member responsible for the preparation: Koos Koolen
Staff contacts: Jaap van DrielDevelopment Directions for the Management of the Ecological Main Structure and the Landscape
Development and management of nature and landscape takes place more and more often by, or with the help of, others than only the traditional area-supervising organisations, estate owners and farmers. It also appears that, regionally and locally, the administrative interest is growing. How far can and must this tendency be continued? In what way and to what degree must the present policy constructions and instruments regarding the development and management of nature and landscape be adjusted? And how can the co-responsibility of parties as to goals and implementation - intrinsically, financially and/or administratively - be shaped in such a way that a lasting basis for the desired quality is created?
Planning: 2nd quarter of 2002
Council member responsible for the preparation: Frits Prillevitz
Staff contacts: Agneta Andersson
Advisory Programme 2000
The Importance of Interconnection
Within this project two interim advisory reports have been produced. The first one called "Steered by Quality" (May 1999) was used as input for the preparation of the 5th National Report on Spatial Planning. A local integrated quality approach is asked for on the basis of "everything is permitted as long as the quality of the landscape is strengthened". A second interim advice "The Rural Areas in 2010, a review" states that its not possible to explore future developments. However it is possible to in time be firm on what is not possible (on a given location). A plea has been held to close dead ends and at the same time give space for developments that have a future. In the final report the council concludes that to much energy has been given to sector policy and the allocation of space. Because of this the real policy priorities and the development of a integrated strategy for the future of the rural areas is threatened. Integral policy is necessary to solve problems and conflicts and to open new possibilities.
Ready: August 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation: Prof. Jan Douwe van der Ploeg
Staff contact: Bas van Leeuwen (b.h.van.leeuwen@rlg.agro.nl)The Competitiveness of Dutch Agriculture
As a result of the globalization of the economy the competitiveness of Dutch agriculture is becoming more and more dependent on specialization, high quality and production methods that make use of sophisticated scientific and technological developments. The council is asked to advice on the extent of the (stimulating/supporting) role of the central government on this point. How can the position of the Netherlands as a location for (international) agro-business be strengthened within the objective of a sustainable and competitive agriculture, within which environmental-friendly production methods and risk-management are central. Infrastructure, logistic institutional arrangements and information technology, as well as the influence of Agenda 2000 and the WTO-negotiations, are looked at within the scope of this project.
Ready: autumn 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation: ir. Koos Koolen
Staff contact: Bas van Leeuwen (b.h.van.leeuwen@rlg.agro.nl)The Political and Social Basis for Nature Policy
Nature Policy is not a kind of policy that can be pursued without discussion about necessity, responsibilities or costs. Apart from governmental care Nature and Nature Policy also is depending on social confirmation and participation. The question is how to maintain and to strengthen the political commitment and social involvement for Nature and Nature Policy. How can be prevented that Nature and Nature Policy comes at the bottom of the list of social and politic priorities, what will endanger the necessary continuity and continuation?
Ready: end of 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation: Rie de Boois
Staff contact: Bert Denneman (a.k.denneman@rlg.agro.nl)The Future of Animal Production in the Netherlands
Animal production nowadays is facing a multitude of problems and crises. Policies are typically of a crisis management nature. Given the overall policy objectives of sustainable and safe production (chain) systems, which animal production systems will in the future e viable and socially acceptable. The advisory report will both address intensive and area-extensive production systems as part and parcel of agribusiness complexes in our country.
Ready: end of 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation:
Staff contact: Jaap van Driel (j.a.van.driel@rlg.agro.nl)The Opportunities of Organic Farming
Organic farming plays as yet a minor role within the Dutch agriculture. Just well over 1 % of the total agricultural area is in organic use. However it is a growth sector stimulated by the EU and national policy instruments. The advisory report will focus on the long term perspective of organic farming in the Netherlands, not just the future of the primary sector but the whole chain of production and distribution, as well as environmental, spatial and consumer aspects.
Ready: end of 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation: Peter Nijhoff
Staff contact: Wim Brandenburg (w.h.brandenburg@rlg.agro.nl)Housing in Rural Areas
The government has produced a draft report on residential policy for the coming decade. Before finalizing this policy report different bodies are asked for their advice. The Council for the Rural Areas is asked to advice on two issues: the need for housing in the rural areas and the cultural identity of villages. In the draft report different alternatives for combining housing in the rural areas with strengthening the landscape quality are given to assure that the need for living in green areas is honored considering the landscape and the cultural identity of the villages.
Ready: summer 2000
Council member responsible for the preparation: Council as a whole
Staff contact: Gerrit Weernekers (g.c.weernekers@rlg.agro.nl)Model of European Agriculture
As chair of the EEAC Working Group on Agriculture the Council for the Rural Areas has organized a conference on 3 and 4 April on the Model of European Agriculture in areas under environmental stress. The conference brought together a selective group of policy makers and representatives from European and international bodies and NGOs with experts on agriculture, environment and landscape from advisory bodies on the national level. The importance to foster regional and cultural diversity within Europe, also within densely populated areas under high environmental and land use pressure, was emphasized.
Ready: autumn 2000
Council members responsible for the preparation: Professor Guus Borger and Professor Jan Douwe van der Ploeg
Staff contact: Agneta Andersson (e.a.andersson@rlg.agro.nl)Evaluation Council for the Rural Area
The Council for the Rural Area has to be evaluated after four years of existence which means before the end of this year. An independent evaluation commission chaired by the Governor of the province of Noord-Brabant, Mr. F. J. M. Houben, is evaluating the council's work by a widely spread questionnaire and by interviews with representative user groups and distinguished experts.
Ready: summer 2000
Responsible for the preparation: External evaluation commission chaired by Mr. F. J. M. Houben
Staff contact: Teun Klumpers (t.klumpers@rlg.agro.nl)
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