Agroecology: Friends of the Earth Netherlands/ Milieudefensie
01 January, 2001
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01 January, 2001
Consumers, farmers and citizens in the Netherlands are demanding a move away from intensive factory farming and towards agro-ecological systems. This means the number of livestock in the Netherlands needs to shrink to a scale and scope that fits the country and the local environment through , regionally-oriented farming. This also means producing animal feed and food locally which the Friends of the Earth Netherlands/ Milieudefensie project 'Kleine Hoefprint' (Little Hoofprint) has successfully achieved. At the moment, factory farmed animals all over Europe are fed soy imported from South America, where it is responsible for widespread deforestation, pesticide poisoining and a host of other destructive social and environmental impacts.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands/ Milieudefensie organised 8,000 consumers who ordered and paid for fictional 'rainforest free' cheese. Aurora, a Dutch organic cheese maker, signed for the order and produced the first six thousand pounds of Little Hoofprint cheese. After this one-time action they kept on selling this cheese in their webshop because of consumer demand for ecologically conscious products. Milieudefensie also supports local resistance to factory farms and ensures this resistance is visible and audible by working with local civilian initiatives and farmer’s organisations. This resistance has blocked the further expansion of the factory farmed pig and poultry sector.
Ten pilot projects across the Netherlands are working to connect consumers directly to farmers and support consumer access to affordable local produce. Arable farmers, dairy and poultry farmers, dairy producers and grocery stores make agreements to buy and sell directly from each other promoting local healthy food and the local economy thriving. Local producers make dairy products from the milk of local dairy cows and other products like eggs are packaged so consumers can easily recognise that they are local products.
We are producing and consuming increasing quantities of factory farmed meat and dairy. This is taking its toll on the planet and on our health. Moderating our meat consumption – whether red, white or processed meats – while also choosing ‘better’ meat that is naturally-fed, has a known provenance and is produced to high animal welfare, environmental and quality standards can help support farmers without being more expensive for consumers.
Read more (in Dutch)
Milieudefensie's section on the topic of food
The Facebook page of the project "Kleine Hoefprint"
Aurora, a Dutch organic cheese maker, sells the "Kleine Hoefprint kaas"
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