Millenniums of forced land management efficiency has curated a Dutch powerhouse agricultural economy thriving at global scale.  What they lack in natural resources and footprint in the Netherlands, they make up for with ingenuity and trade.  Recently flexing their mighty muscles to resolve negative outcomes associated to particularly susceptible agricultural practice that had put their citizens in harms way, the Dutch continue to find innovation in what others regard as peril.

With premise of thwarting mounting risk and improving the health of their people, over the past 15 years the Dutch have re-built a food system of safer meats, cleaner crops, and healthy food product from grass-fed bovine.  Through systematically servicing evolving consumer demand with quantifiable results, the Dutch used their best sustainable practice defined as Circular Agriculture not only to source food for their own, but as economic stimulus in attracting greater global market demand. During this transition, the unintended consequences of their production models proved not negative, but positive.  Farming operations became more cost-effective while bearing less of a footprint on environment & soil. The Dutch approach to Circular, and not linear, has now proven to be a strong long-horizon investment for public and private stakeholders alike.  For us, evaluating how others who’ve already lived through similar concerns that now fester below the surface of food and production systems in the United States may provide further perspective to our inevitable future, and better, define a resolution through evidence-based practice.  As I heard from a few of my new Dutch friends – to understand and take beneficial part of the system you’re in, to embrace natural order good and bad, that’s just commonsense.

My primary objective when heading to the Netherlands as part of an EISENHOWER FELLOWSHIP was to evaluate alternative methods that produce cleaner and safer animal proteins (meat).  Our current methods of raising food animals in the United States has established an epic public health risk thanks to resulting antibiotic resistance (fka Superbugs) traced from on-farm drug application to hospital care.  During my program, I witnessed the solution to this problem comes not from another drug nor discovery of a superpower antibiotic strain.  Instead, as the Dutch have proven in the last decade with addressing this same looming public health concern of a world of medicine without bacterial defense – the true solution requires a fix to the system at its weakest points. The resulting outputs from implementation of a Circular Agricultural production model also mediates many modern plagues directly associated to the poor food quality we eat. Reducing chance of obesity, heart disease, neurological disorders & cancers – higher quality food of value has become a first line of defense in human healthcare. The same sustainable practices of Circular Agriculture also cleans-up the environment, salvages vitality of waters, and saves all important topsoils – affording ubiquitous planetary benefit to regenerative systems. What’s so intriguing by these discoveries, and that of the innovation and proven economic growth, the ecological system nuance that’s taken 3 Billion years refining how flora & fauna thrive through efficient nutrient cycling are today being re-discovered as the lifeline to human and planetary health by reconnecting to being part of the system.

Food as primary healthcare:

A collection of essays presenting agriculture’s role in funding human and environmental healthcare, atWhatCost evaluates a Dutch approach as successful precedent in alternative to conventional agricultural practice.  More candid – this concept is potential RISK MITIGATION to our US domestic portfolio in dire need of food production diversification.  Markets in and around the US, and now farther reaching-globally, will lay witness to the impact of diminishing ecological capacity & environmental instability on polluted or sterilized lands.  With this as reality, it’s nearly impossible to call the current agricultural model in the United States a sound long-term economic play. Effectively, how we sustain ourselves on a shrinking planet needs a few perspectives, especially if we can gain insight from those with experience in dealing with past tipping points bound for our horizon.   Experts in water and land management, and now repeatable systems for clean & safe food outputs – the Dutch have proven that raising market entrance thresholds to resolve known food and agricultural concerns via properly orchestrated incentive & support instigates free market innovation and growth in form of preventative human and planetary healthcare.

What has become abundantly clear in each of these discussions with insightful and versed connections throughout the world of Circular Agriculture – most countries don’t have the embarrassment of natural riches we’ve enjoyed Stateside. Our practices of haphazardly mining topsoil, and contaminating & overusing water without conscience clearly reflects an entitled and wasteful linear practice brought mainstream over the past 65 years through not having to worrying about impact.  Truth is, by not accounting for true costs of food production currently being externalized in the United States – we’re bending the resilience of ecological and planetary boundaries keeping the whole system afloat.

Under the tutelage of global thought leaders in alternative agriculture, in the six (6) part essay series atWhatCost – I evaluate the the true costs of cheap food through a domestic and international lens. Through this vehicle I hope to layout the implications, promote pragmatic solutions and amplify the broad-reaching imprint current food production is having on resources of increased demand.  Through risk of exposure, loss of nutrients, and menacing results from too much extended blind-faith credulity – we should have no scruples into evaluating and testing alternatives to current linear conventional agricultural practice employed nearly singularly throughout the United States.  We’re learning that despite our bounty of riches – we’re no longer an island, and practice of sacrificing food values for product price alone is increasingly detrimental.   Of equal if not greater concern, these same unsustainable production systems used domestically are now expansive abroad. As volumes of new global consumers interested in a more resource intensive western diet prove that linear is not scalable, diminishing returns and additional costs are compounded quicker with less than ideal circumstances than we’ve enjoyed in the US.  I’m in no way the first to proclaim we’ve got a market & production capacity ceiling soon approaching for US Domestic practice, but none-the-less not many pragmatic solutions have yet been offered.

When results of detrimental agricultural practice are incurred on soils more populated than our own, we’ve witnessed what happens – we’ve seen outcomes, and despite it being counterintuitive or potentially nonsensical, we press-on with a single practice.  With known human health concerns directly correlated to how well or poorly we treat our food animals; to liabilities of toxins we spray the very skin of the produce we eat; to a lack of national and nutritional food security currently in the mix without agricultural diversification –  we persist with little advancement in alternative food production.  We’re destined an inflection point, a future line of demarcation where sustainable agriculture will not only be associated to alternative food production methods brought mainstream through fighting drought, floods, topsoil loss, environmental contamination, or increased market pressures from more engaged consumers, but directly affixed to alleviating production practice putting us at risk of a public health concern of contaminated care, and resolving corrupted food making Americans increasing fatter & chronically more ill.

Best servicing natural order with circular agriculture practice has net positive results. With the proper knowledge and acumen, the benefit of reinvigorating the land lessens synthetic input requirements.  These cycling practices won’t deplete resource through mining the soil and water, and won’t require additional proprietary imports nor capacity for dependency on raw materials from far reaching parts of the world that could catch us in similar Middle-Eastern energy conundrum (i.e. Morocco monopoly of Phosphate). You see, eventually the mine runs dry; it’s the guarantee of non-renewable resources.  If we keep depleting these regenerative ecological systems as we’ve done with linear conventional practice, the compounding effect of exhausting natural resources force a ceiling to conventional practice to loom ever increasingly concerning with time & scale.  Alternatively, when employed as proactive innovation, we like the Dutch gain an arsenal of long-horizon opportunities to nourish a global population with primary healthcare to body & planet through a pragmatic plan of circular practice.

Forced to read the writing on the wall long before the US, many of our closest allies and European trade partners can systematically help us formulate a plan to bridge our island. During my fellowship program to the Netherlands in May 2015, I gained unique access to an evidence-based agricultural system of empirical and scientific proof that employing circular agriculture at scale is the inevitable future of all growing population densities.  Programs that utilize unbiased science on lands that have required sustainable perspective for generations seem a prime sample-set to expedite implementation of alternative practices here in the US.  I present in this essay collection awareness of how investments in an innovation economy can spawn new discoveries in producing safer and healthier food. A mitigation to risk that takes a proactive approach in finding alternatives in our food production practice through utilizing proven models for diversification.

Alas, a defining moment will soon arise.  Do we in the United States of America once again become a leading voice in innovations that are not just technologies servicing antiquated practice; do we protect our ass against the public health and national security concerns associated to a world without biological medicine; do we stop stressing natural planetary boundaries destined to bite back; do we hedge our bets on global demand and evolving consumer demographics – or do we lose focus of adaptive strategies directly correlated to the reality of changing markets and planet?

Tendering recommendation and strategies for gaining public & private partnership, in essays atWhatCost I explore how doing well by doing great good is the inevitable future of food production increasingly circular.

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Detailing the farm-gate to global trade experiences of my Eisenhower fellowship program throughout the Netherlands and Brussels, the essay series atWhatCost draws upon new insight and acumen gained by meeting 60 European thought-leaders interconnected in the production and distribution of clean & healthy food from proper sustainable agricultural practice. Each essay chapter blends prior knowledge and passion built over a decade in the higher quality/regional US food movements with the eye-opening Dutch approach I learned from experts in the field. Framing the essay series are these core concepts: (i) Evidence-Based Agriculture, (ii) Food Value, (iii) Externalized costs, (iv) Risk Mitigation.  Throughout, I utilize chapters pertinent to program meetings in effort to explain each concept sequentially instead of chronologically. The sum of all the parts provides an accurate overview of my program experience, and further a detailed description of the opportunity set forth in the United States.  Further personal information about me can be found at: www.AaronNiederhelman.com

Continuously fighting to keep the wool pulled over your citizen’s and/or consumer’s eyes will never appropriate a healthy people, nor a sound fiduciary plan for the future of shared health care.  Tightly commingled, empowering societal awareness to make better decisions in controlling their own well-being & financial state is extremely opportune for paying for the future of the affordable care act through better agricultural practices.  By both raising minimum thresholds of market entrance that greatly reduces exposure and risk, and too investing in innovations that systemically result in clean and healthy accessible nutrient value for more – we return food from an afterthought of human existence to a cornerstone of longevity.

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1. Healthier citizens is foremost healthcare – PREVENTATIVE.
2. Investing in healthier systems rectifies potential public health epidemics associates to biological medicine resistance “superbugs”.
3. Circular agriculture is inherently sustainable & environmentally friendly.
4. An innovation economy affords pragmatic business opportunities to grow a niche of market significance domestic & abroad.
5. Sustainable practice is more cost effective. As input costs decrease, the vector to conventional returns for best circular practices exponentially increase over time.
6. Cleaner water, cleaner air, cleaner environment.  Ecological process is of that reduces system inefficiencies to lower costs by diminishing waste streams through refinement. Do more with lower expense and costs.
7. Politically friendly. Yes! Both for preservation of capital and resources, ‘conservation’ should be leading the charge toward risk mitigation in domestic production. A conservative approach to preservation of wealth and natural resources is how to bridge any aisle.
8. The future farming workforce isn’t aligning with conventional practice.  The average age of US farmers has skyrocketed past 60 years old; succession becomes a significant concern.  What of propagating a future food system, workforce, and market increasingly focused on health & best sustainable practice.
9. Educated & accountable consumers come via generational reform. Chats of food, health & well-being thus enter each home with advocacy.
10. A sustainable future of circular agriculture is the only future we’ve got.  With populations to reach 9B by 2050, the unequivocal future for food production on a shrinking planet is to return ourselves to being part of natural order through better understanding and implantation of regenerative design.

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Engaging prior art, aka precedent, from other experts is natural progression in nearly every industry in the 21st century . Proving that Sustainable Agriculture at scale is more than just possible, it’s reality, the Dutch have instituted a cleaner food system out of necessity; and taken that ball, and run with it.  As the single largest outside investor in the Netherlands, and they the 4th largest in the States – our trade partnership 400 years in the making seems primed to further express itself through sharing farming acumen on US domestic soils.  With the aforementioned and imposing list of drivers weighing heavier each year – we need to take action in the US to reduce exposure, and we’ve got some good friends to help.

The following meetings detail a Dutch model of circular agricultural excellence; essay 2 Evidence-Based Agriculture is next in the series:

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Awakening to a reality that we need systemic change is not what most in private nor public sectors want to digest; but it’s reality. What seems lost is the knowledge, or better, accountability to the fact that Cheap Food is impetus for much of this forced evolution.  Low price, but of compromised value to the consumer’s wellbeing, the food chain it services, and the land from where it was produced – commoditized food is just that; cheap.  The proven fix comes from an ongoing process of evaluating the system health and wellbeing of each link in the food production chain to include in the calculation of a “true cost” of food these externalities currently swept under the rug. Getting ahead of the curve through fiscal programs focused on ingenuity, system refinement and new technologies is cornerstone to innovation and premise for sustained economic growth that can promote the future of food into becoming the foundation of human and planetary health.  The deteriorating wellbeing of the consumer, the land and the environment directly associated to the production of cheap food has situated the United States and all consumers of the western diet into a position of forced innovation by the droves; it’s time we be absolved of our past eating sins and begin to invest in our future.

To this, in the last half century we’ve seen incredible advancements in human care.  What’s odd, or potentially premise for these forced advancements in responsive care, the process we use to craft our nutrient security has not progressed.  In fact, the opposite has proven empirically true. The cheaper we make the volumes of food servicing the western diet, the more modern plagues and food safety risks we incur.  At a top level, the process of pumping out inexpensive calories that do not account for food’s true cost is ever stressing a reactive healthcare system by not bolstering a preventative-care system no matter perceived proficiency nor advancement in modern care.

Paying for the future of healthcare needs a paradoxical change in what ails us.  That change comes in the form of preventative methods alternative to conventional agricultural practice that has since the inception been asked to continuously cheapen food, an intrinsic flaw that has proven out with a backlash of lost nutriment, depleted biodiversity and homogenized animal & seed stocks.  Representing a nonsensical and unproven approach in shepherding the regenerative natural resources we’ve employed for all but the last .01% of man’s agricultural linage – we need new discovery at the hands of alternative perspective to address unhealthy systems built on compromised cheap food.

The Dutch have already learned hard lessons of system resilience, and now use that knowledge to fuel an innovation economy focused on a regenerative process of alternative agriculture. This does many great things, but most noticeable it becomes a foundation for preventative human healthcare.  The Dutch have developed this through an offshoot of modern agricultural which utilizes proficiency and production efficiency without sacrificing the value of food.

Getting us to a point of wellbeing, and thus paying for the future of the affordable care act in the United States would be expedited with properly positioned subsidies and incentives into domestic innovation and entrepreneurship that correlate directly to finding biomimicry efficiencies in natural order of nutrient cycling.  Fundamentally, it’s innovation economies that service a large free-market segment that will sway consumer desires for safer and healthier foods.  For private & public sector – curating business growth through investment in Food Value is recouped through dividends of system resilience, reduction in agricultural environmental footprint, and food’s influence on culture, family & ideology; but most noticeably, it’s proven with better societal health.

Meeting with the following contacts to detail the importance of a healthy diet, Food Value is the third essay in the collection:

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Impossible is it now for anyone to consider a world of boundless growth. Earth will remain a finite resource of no unclaimed terra, nor further exploration.  Equally important to this realization is that there’s no far reaching “never-never” land to continue to exploit nor buffer the impact of our exploding waste stream.  Since empowered to enact freewill on our surrounding, and gained hubris in believing we have control of the system that contains us – we’ve been terrible shepherds.  Not listening to natural order (preordained rules establishment in resilient ecological systems) -conventional inputs deplete resources without replenishment.  It’s becoming evidently clear to those who have been forced to pay attention, we must do better in living within the rules set forth in our regenerative systems. Instead, we’ll fall victim to a required recognition that depleting finite resources of “planetary boundaries” will be catastrophic in recovery.

The current conventional agricultural practice employed domestically I’ve heard best described as less farming and instead resource mining.  From practice of excessive use of expensive and corrosive inputs – we’ve depleted capacity and proximity of soil fertility that cleans and holds water.  Our abundance of natural resources has long since afforded domestic US food production opportunity to take without clear perspective on long-term viability, nor knowledge of increased reliance on inputs.

Environmental and resource concerns are real in farming, even for us the United States. Most in the know will tell you that water will be the #changeagent in agriculture.  In the US, a lack of rain in conjunction groundwater exhaustion, and now deep water aquifer tapping should have us concerned with a potential loss of stable food security from California.   Western high plains, and next our breadbasket so reliant on the practice that unsustainably sips for the great Ogallala will cause production evolution and hopefully not hysteria.  Haunting is this potential sequel to the Dust Bowl in numerous areas of the US as much of our worst depleting practices are happening in historically proven susceptible areas.

Water may be what amplifies a required diversification in production methods, but the silent killer will surely be our linear conventional practice decimating the lifeline of ecological microbial life – fka topsoil. Remaining unaccounted for until recent concerns with scale & capacity of ongoing repetitive monocultural practice, the labor force in the soil doing much of the work producing food is an exhaustible resource that sees little light of importance.

The loss of the earth’s thin skin that is 3 Billion years in the making gets further exploited, again by water.  Through runoff and limited resilience to floods – which have increased in frequency on croplands – with current practice we’re left only hoping to not reach a tipping point.  As with climate change concerns, no one knows the exact threshold of impact of soil loss on micro nor macro scale.  One thing that is a guarantee, with business as usual in the States of not protecting our vitally commingled natural resources of water and ecology – we’ll being asking fiends situated in the fertile crescent and Australia how they’ve dealt with ongoing desertification.

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In the Netherlands, where over 70% of GDP comes from lands below sea level, they’ve built ground-breaking innovations to do more than deal with water, soil fertility loss and other externalized true costs of food – they’ve instead learned to embraced them with open arms.  Now, with IP proven over millenniums, the rest of the world will be turning a keen eye to the Dutch for how to be successful and smart with utilizing what you’ve got.

In a country the size of Vermont that not only feeds it’s 17 Million inhabitants, and has become the 2nd largest global exporter of food – they’ve built a circular process of unique attention.

Meeting with the following experts involved in calculating the true cost of food, Externalized Cost is the fourth essay in the series:

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Instead of pointing the finger to present concerns with the integrity of food value, or extending blame for the loss of ecological systems being stressed by growing density of linear practice, my focus instead shall be evaluating how the opportunities for circular/sustainable agriculture are undeniable, and essential for future agricultural growth in all areas of the world. Detailing proven methodologies and a fiscally savvy approach that better aligns with changing consumer demand as mitigation to the festering tumors of diverse risks Stateside – the key seems to not ostracize the establishment of modern agriculture, but to embrace and form consortiums of mutually beneficial results. As the Dutch have shown, investing in supported innovation is proper risk mitigation.

Witnessing proof in the Netherlands that this is possible, we have more than just an idealistic belief – we now have evidence, experience and a process that evolves us in a direction of production agriculture and food system diversification regionalized throughout the United States.

Meeting with the following contacts demonstrated circular agricultural affords Risk Mitigation – the fifth essay in the series:

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basis for clean and healthy food animals & precision agriculture

At what cost is a question frequently asked of food.  The normal connotation, especially in the US, gravitates first to food product price rather than a true cost, which equally accounts for nutritional significance and potential impact.  This approach over the past few decades is proving to be an incomplete equation without the inclusion of consequence from consumption or production, resulting in  commoditization and significantly cheapened food in the western diet. As of 2014, the US now spends the lowest percentage of income (6.6%) on food in the world.  Other high-income counties like Sweden (12.2%), France (13.2%) and the Netherlands (11.6%) nearly double discretionary expenditures by investing in food for its intrinsic values rather than equating “cost” to price alone. Over that same period, there has been a direct inverse correlation to healthcare expenditures doubling while the aforementioned food expenditure percentage the US have halved. The resulting evidence we’re afforded by cheapening food in the US over the past 30 years – we’ve gotten what we paid for, and now we deal with the consequence.

Since its genesis, science has done best admitting when we don’t know. This mindset validates what we do understand, and where we need further exploration.  Since our comprehension of science is actually defined observations, we must ask what is actually being observed with food, and resulting health. The results in the States is empirical evidence that we’re a fatter & chronically more ill society heavily reliant on reactionary care.  At $2.9 trillion in spending and 1/6 of total US GDP – per capita healthcare costs now rank higher than any other developed county – proving we’ve got fundamental problems that reactionary medicine can never address.  As the foundation of existence, this is compelling evidence that our commitment to a conventional agricultural approach of cheapening food based on associated biased science which does more than dabble in systems we don’t fully understand, but tries instead to redefine process and resulting crops needs reevaluation.  Returning to its origin, food science in the States must gain deeper appreciation for how nutrient cycling systems work and the results of any current manipulation is having on its test subjects – which of course is us and our health & wellbeing.

The Dutch have been a global harbinger of change in rectifying many of these self-inflicted production problems on systems that once looked very similar to the current US approach.  Due to their experiences that have shaped their precautionary practices of systemic change, the Dutch implement a few programs that resulted in unparalleled success story in cleaning up a food chain to sustain healthier people.

Similar to the United States, agriculture is extremely important to Dutch heritage.  It’s part of their calling-card; it’s who they are. Choke-full of cultural pride, the agricultural sector in the Netherlands makes up approximately 10 percent of the Dutch economy and provides work and income for more than 660,000 people. The sector has a strong international focus and accounts for almost twenty percent of the Netherlands’ total export value (260 billion Euros). This commitment to linage as farmers and tradesmen alike has made the Netherlands the 2nd largest agricultural exporter in the world, only behind the USA.

But, that is where most of the comparisons stop.  While the United States has commoditized more than 90% of our production, the Dutch have migrated from trying to compete only on price in commoditized exchanges, and instead focused on producing safe and healthy food steeped in provenance – at scale.  They’ve built an agricultural economy using innovation from small and mid-size companies, and equally off strong balance sheets of larger food corporations turning new profits into prudent growth. Developing a system of sustained cash-flow positive companies that service global demand for higher-quality foods has resulted in, or others may describe it as the reason for, quickly instituting higher-quality production standards to all product price points within the food system in the Netherlands.  This paradigm shift, most noticeable with food animals of both protein production and especially dairy, has done more than preserve demand for Dutch products – it’s instead skyrocketed desirability on global markets while providing an example apparent of evidence-based circular agriculture in science and business.

Golden Triangle Supports OneHealth

Onsite in May 2015, I learned the Dutch have made their food system basis for preventative healthcare through investing in scientific farming research focused on animal welfare defined and branded OneHealth.  A management program focused on a single health of the entire circular system through bolstering animal welfare, the Dutch have leveraged a broad-reaching commitment to OneHealth to rectify public health concerns and to enhance market significance associated to quality of products derived from food animals.  The flagship in the program is grass-fed Dairy, where a Grazing program requires the majority of a ruminant’s time on pastor, remediation of any slow administration of antibiotics, and at least 3 out of every 4 mouthfuls being natural forage of rations grass-fed.

Of most immediate and pressing interest Stateside must be the Dutch approach to rectifying a potential public health epidemic instigated by fictitiously engineering quicker growth through methods we use broadly Stateside to raise meat via routine use of antibiotic short-cuts.  The Dutch have differentiated their value chain to raise minimum market entrance thresholds that prevent farm born & propagated ‘Superbugs’ from corrupting the human healthcare system – by investing in this (one)health of the animal. Basically, the conduit to preventative human and planetary healthcare comes from treating animals in our food chain better.  As a result, remediating the use of growth agent antibiotics and alleviating the need for routine application common in conventional becomes the method to rectify clear & present danger to US nutritional and national security.

In the US, where Superbug cases now top 2M annually, more than 30 million lbs. of antibiotics are given to livestock every year for purpose of both quicker fattening and “protecting” pigs, chickens and cattle from the unhealthy CAFO (concentrated animal feed operations) conditions from where they’re raised.

A methodology discovered 1950s,  it was immediately questioned.  The concerning practice of dosing animals with drugs of then tetracycline and now numerous antibiotics of significance to human medical health (specifically cephalosporin – a key agent used in keeping children and pregnant women healthy) is the resulting nano-backlash we incur at the top of the food chain with these medical cases of resistance.  Steroid induced growth and proactive treatments with on-farm animals has become mainstream – according to the PEW research center – over 90% of US domestic animal production utilize administration of antibiotics in ongoing basis through feed or water.   That equates to over 70% of total antibiotics used in the States coming on-farm. Truth be told, since the British Swann report of 1969, there have been hundreds of studies linking poor farming practice of antibiotic overuse in animals to bacterial resistance in humans.  Despite the CDC strong warnings against Superbugs – something they define as a “nightmare” bacteria that cannot be treated conventionally – the US has turned a blind-eye to the cause, food production.

In 2015, we now source globally 9 Billion food animals a year – the very concern Sir Alexander Fleming first warned against with his discovery of penicillin; the slow and ongoing administration of antibiotic medicine results in resistance – or “Superbugs”- with potential catastrophic results.   Without a silver-bullet cure to this systemic problem, this becomes concerning to both nutritional and national security where resistance puts us in jeopardy of world of medicine without biological defense.

Focused on inducing efficiencies and mitigating loss of crops in modern agriculture, the Dutch have invested significant capital in progressing the Science of precision agriculture.  Specifically, certain veggies that account for more than half of US domestic vegetable consumption can efficiently and cleanly be grown under glass.  Reducing contamination risks is again most pressing when dealing with safe and healthy food.   The process of controlling the grow environment has allowed Dutch glass-house producers to reduce risk of exposure to herbicides, fungicides and especially persistent pesticides by nearly 90% as compared to conventional growing standards allowed in the US.  In conjunction with, or better yet – as basis for, the Dutch and the rest of the EU have both raised minimum market entrance thresholds to alleviate proactive applications of neurotoxins and hormone-disruptors through these proven successful methods of growing inside.  Much driven by necessity to service year-round demand with consistent supply of quality in both vegetables and flowers – changing the playing field has allowed the Dutch to grow inside in any weather conditions or climate.   Regionalizing food production has become a large movement in the US, and with the majority of populations densities in areas with outside weather conditions prohibitive to year-round growing, or in those other areas experiencing unprecedented drought. Controlled environments maximize resources in all conditions & environments, and seems a natural progression of Scientific agricultural innovation globally.

In later essays, I explore the environmental and health impact of cheap food, and how the Dutch approach vs. US has evolved with global demand, and the realization that finite resources associated to planetary boundaries cannot maintain a business as usual approach instituted in conventional farming practice. Much through forced innovation the Dutch have developed methods to clean their food chain and reduce waste through agricultural practice by understanding and following the rules of natural order.   Living below sea level, sustaining a life on reclaimed working lands much closer to the cusp of backlash associated to poor habitual natural resource management practice, has given the Dutch an appreciation for importance of regenerative design and system resilience.   What’s so unique, and probably core to the mantra of the Dutch people, they’ve embraced what many could define as a limitation.  They’ve flipped this necessity into a competitive advantage useful as the rest of the world begins to heed similar warnings to problems the Dutch have already resolved in the densely populated lands.

In the States, we’ve put our eggs into a single basket for too long!  I present my experiences in meeting those who have successfully launched and documented a model of circular agriculture and economic development defined here as evidence-based agriculture.  This proven process of closing of the loop in these natural systems, a process of reducing the expense of waste in macro and micro environments – is something of a core competency in ecology and has proven to be the keys to the kingdom in developing a fiscally sound approach to circular and not linear food production.  Over the past 10 years, the Dutch have drafted quantitative and qualitative evidence that presents these methods as not only reducing the danger of nutritional and national exposure, but to develop a replicable clean and environmentally friendly production method of higher quality food that propagates a safer and healthier citizens.

Here are some of the evidence-based success stories in business & science:

A full Fellowship meeting list can be found in ABOUT program.

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At the top of the food chain – we are what we eat.  The dutch concept of OneHealth takes into account the overall health of all parts of the food chain and insightfully realizes we’re dependent on each other for the wellbeing of the system as a whole.  As we near closer to the food we eat, animal proteins express the greatest threat as fewer natural systems can be used to buffer a compromised practice to result in safe & healthly food.

With supreme focus always on raising and rearing healthy food animals for dairy and production – the Dutch first introduced a scalable framework in 2007 that would lead to an evidence-based system utilized today. Abolishing the use of antibiotics via slow and sustained usage on food animals, the Dutch Government employed both a carrot and a stick to empower a community and industry clambering for change.

In response to a brewing nationwide public health epidemic associated to superbugs in hospitals linked to the very same slow and ongoing overuse of on-farm antibiotics in food animals – the Netherlands became an initial petri dish, or better yet, a crystal ball in determining best practices to reducing threat of a world of medicine without bacterial defense.

Supporting the evidence must be unbiased science, and meeting the scientists behind the top educational resources is a great place begin:

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Throughout the fellowship program I was informed of the importance of the OneHealth program in the Dutch food system supported by a public and private initiate called the “Golden Triangle”.  Delving deeper, I spent a few days on campus of Wegeningen UR and Utrecht meeting senior staff from two of the most prestigious agricultural and animal science universities in the world. Following chapters in this essay detail my experiences in meeting with different groups of the Golden Triangle.

The last of my 6 meetings at Wageningen UR, Dr. Bastiaan Meerburg and I became fast confidants sharing spectacular conversations and excitement to further collaboration. We covered ecology, environment, human health, genetic engineering, and importance to this hard work for sake of our kids…  Set in just day two of program travel, the enthusiasm and energy I came away with after spending a few hours learning and corroborating with this true expert set the tone for the rest of the my fellowship travels.

Bastiaan explained for me the true value of animal welfare.  How the refined concept of OneHealth is so equally concise and genius.  He detailed for me his work, and too that of the Wageningen as part of the Golden Triangle (public, private and university conjoined effort detailed in the next chapter below).  Research in husbandry practice and monitoring those results to afford a healthy system was his specialty.  How public awareness of zoonoses (people getting sick from animals) throughout the Netherlands went from zero-to-sixty back in the mid 2000s due to the potential of an antibiotic apocalypse brewing in Dutch hospitals from the unknowing hands of Dutch pig and Chicken farmers.  Running rampant in a highly condensed society – the only solution that proved effective was premptive eradication of food production practices that utilized slow administration of antibiotics similar to current practice on US domestic CAFOs.  As global population demand for food animal products skyrocket – Bastiaan was clear in his thinking, this is not just a Dutch problem, but a global one.

Global Food Animal Requirements – source: Bastiaan Meerburg Wageningen UR

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I learned from Dr. Meerburg that the Dutch approach to animal husbandry varied greatly before the outbreak of resistance.  With large ruminants, specifically dairy cows, the Dutch approach has always been aligned with pastoral or grazing on grass-lands.  A deep connection to their heritage, much of the Dutch dairy industry was very progressive with animal welfare – as the value of clean and healthy milk products from grass-fed cows was equally the desired product of Dutch & German audiences, but a global market competitive advantage.  Other areas needed greater focus and effort.  Meat product from fowl and swine became the driver for change.  Pigs, omnivores that are uniquely connected to the genetics of humans, needed immediate attention as many of the antibiotics used in raising swine were some of the same essential medicines used broadly for human healthcare.  Others, not even essential for human treatment, proved to instigate further resistance.

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From the meat we eat, the manure we spread into fields and into water system, or even on the hands of that farmer’s young daughter who had no knowledge she was a carrier to contaminate a hospital – superbugs curated by farming are a reality and need immediate attention in the US and around the world.

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Utrecht University:

‘Utrecht University is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established in 1636, it currently enrolls  30K students and employs over 5000 faculty and staff. The faculty of Veterinary Medicine performs fundamental and strategic research focused on health, disease and welfare of animals and on related public and environmental health aspects – making Utrecht faculty the center of expertise and point of reference for veterinary issues for the entire Netherlands, and increasingly, for the world abroad.

The Veterinary Medicine study program is not only accredited by European organizations, but by the umbrella organizations in the United States and Canada – meaning Utrecht grads can use their world-renowned degrees anywhere. The staff and students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine perform fundamental and strategic research in the fields of animal health, diseases and welfare, and into related aspects of public health and the environment. This research is organized into five thematic interdisciplinary research programs. The purpose of this is to stimulate scientific innovation on the interface between disciplines and to offer talented scientists a challenging research environment. These thematic research programs are imbedded in Utrecht University’s research focus areas. These are interfaculty, multidisciplinary fields of research in which proven, high-quality research programs have been bundled together. In addition, the Faculty performs research with the purpose of training veterinary specialists, with the goal of maintaining our leading position in specialist veterinary fields, including those that are outside of the focus of the thematic programs. All of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s research is performed under the auspices of the Institute for Veterinary Research (IVR). – APEP program description 

An expert who studies how micro-organisms can move from animals to humans with specialty in evaluating the growing resistance of bacteria against antibiotics, Dr. Jaap Wagenaar is a major player in developing the OneHealth program that has reduced antibiotic utilization on food animals by 67% in 8 years.  He sits on the oversight board for the OneHealth program, and was one of the though leaders directly responsible for its architecture and on-going success instituted by the Dutch Golden Triangle.  Dr. Wagenaar was recently named as a member of the Expert Panel of the Foundation Veterinary Medicines Authority.

When we met during one of the last days of my program, I learned more of the nuance in dealing with antibiotic resistance.  The original goals of Dr. Wagenaar, and that of his team, was to ban utilization of critically important antibiotics in any animal program (cephalosporins & fluoroquinolones), to professionalize antibiotic utilization to only the hands of a veterinarian, and to force and incentives their accuracy in documenting a data stream.  I learned more of recent research performed on certain antibiotics still commonly used in animal production in the US that are not necessary essential in treating human health, like tetracyclines, but act as accelerants toward propagating greater resistance in unrelated antibiotic applications.  Steroids for super-bugs!

Reduction of antibiotics as a growth agent began in 2008, and evolved to cleaning up the Dutch food system through rectifying the slow administration of antibiotics in food animal feed and water.  In 2011, under persuasion of the Dutch Golden Triangle – they had reduced usage by 20% but more importantly had instituted full transparency with vets tracking utilization.  50% reduction by 2013, and now a goal of 70% reduction by the end of year 2015.  Contacts from Utrecht, Wageningen, and at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs all explained, aside from the different practices required to farm without growth agent drugs,  professionalizing the data stream and reporting the process by establishing a 1-to-1 relationship between farmer and vet was the essential step in accountability to establish a system adopting of change. This great work done at Utrecht and Wageningen over the past 10 years to clean up their own mess can immediately act as basis for a proven approach to raise minimum market entrance thresholds to gain greater long-term riches and security.

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The Golden Triangle is a Dutch initiative launched in direct accordance with a 2006 EU ban of antibiotics used as livestock growth agents.  Not satisfied with only propagating reclassification of usage labelling, in the Netherlands they launched an invasively creative program to go far further in reducing routine antibiotic utilization in food animal production as a mechanism to prevent an uprising in cases of biologic resistance popping-up throughout the country.  A trifecta of Government, Business and Education working together to reverse the process that had cheapened food, stopping the inhumane treated animals that was resulting in their country at risk of a public health epidemic proved to be the solution to the problem.  The goal was to systemically reduce antibiotic overuse; the result constituted a food-system becoming preventative human & planetary healthcare.

Reaching each defined milestone thus far,  through both carrot (incentives) and stick (mandates and new hierarchical structures) the Golden Triangle will continue to deliver aggressive objectives for a safer food system based on nutrient security in the Netherlands. Deservedly proud of their accomplishments in proving a model of potential global significance, Dutch Governance was the impetus of this process.

The first day of my fellowship began with a trip to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, who as of the last few years had absolved command of all agriculture practice in this global powerhouse.  Making up 10% of GDP and 10% of employment – Agriculture is a large focus for the Dutch government.  Having opportunity to meet with Henri Kool, Gertine van Ingen and Elzo Kannekens – each an expert in food animal husbandry, care and trade – I learned a great deal of the progressive view Dutch government has taken to promote business of better food and reduce risk through this initiative toward a singular (one)health.  Through inducing the general fiscal policy, by limiting Red Tape, providing economic incentives & credits, and sourcing proper information through-out the system – the Golden Triangle has seen success equally from the mandates and the incentives the government have developed.   Regarding the Euro antibiotic growth agent ban that kicked off the entire process – the Dutch once again demonstrated innovation, then took the ball and ran!

The Ministry promotes the Netherlands as a country of enterprise with a strong international competitive position and an eye for sustainability. It is committed to creating an excellent entrepreneurial business climate, by creating the right conditions and giving entrepreneurs room to innovate and grow. By paying attention to nature and the living environment. By encouraging cooperation between research institutes and businesses.

This is how we enhance our leading positions in agriculture, industry, services and energy and invest in a powerful, sustainable country.  Along with clean, reliable renewable energies , the Ministry of Economic Affairs represents the world-class agri-food sector, that can be further strengthened through, as they told me, investment in innovation and sustainability. Their business practices that take nature and animal welfare always into account, creating balance between economy and ecology.  – APEP program description 

Henri Kool, Director Animal Supply Chains and Animal Welfare – Mr. Kool has been with the Ministry (and its predecessors: incl. Ministry of Agriculture) since 1992. Within the directorate general for agriculture, his current directorate general is responsible for the animal agro-chains, the fishery chains, animal welfare, veterinary market access.

Gertine van Ingen, Program Manager Antibiotics policy Since September 2013, Ms. Van Ingen is Program leader Antimicrobial Resistance in Livestock, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Directorate-General for Agro, Animal Supply Chain and Animal Welfare Department. Prior to that, she was Political advisor Minister’s Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality, Minister’s Office (08/2004 – 09/2013) and Staff officer political and parliamentary affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries, Minister’s Office.

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In 2004, a MRSA link between pigs and humans was proven in the Netherland when several family members, workers and pigs on a swine farm all tested positive for the same deadly strain of this skin bacteria. The Dutch had already instituted strict guidelines in antibiotic use in human healthcare – so this staph infection was an anomaly and instigated further research.  The link was discovered, and it was later found that Dutch pig farmers were 760x more likely to contract MRSA than the general population. Further research found Q fever outbreaks associated to farm antibiotic use in ruminants.  To add some context, Bacterium Coxiella burnetii, or Q Fever, is a bioterror agent according the US Government.  The final straw came with traces of ESBL – an extremely contagious superbug spreading in human and animal microflora – traced back to farm applications of antibiotics.  With the program launched, but still in it’s infancy in 2009, a process of full buy-in from the private sector wasn’t as immediate, and stricter regulations with further incentives would inevitably change most susceptible fowl and swine production.

Focused on three (3) principles of change, the Dutch did a smart thing.  They forced the hand of the farmers and their unions, yes, but they incentivized programs and thus added a layer of accountability.  Their objectives:

1. empower farmers and vets to become equally responsible for livestock antibiotic use
2. Instituted requirements for transparency and benchmarking through cleaning and professionalizing the data stream
3. Believing and committing to PREVENTION being the best CURE

Without sacrificing efficiencies nor financial returns – the process, adoption and effects have changed, and overtime they’ve proved that the refined model does work well.   Now, nearly a decade later the results have established quantitative evidence that this large scale model to reduce antibiotic usage by nearly 70% on the 125M processed food animals in the Netherlands is precedent, or a Proof-of-Concept, for global change in both potential for operating with a cleaner practice, but equally through a free-market basis of exponentially growing global demand for Dutch meat and dairy.

To be clear – the target of the Golden Triangle and OneHealth process is not to stop the use of antibiotics in livestock.  Just as with humans, bacterial modern medicine is essential to all healthy animals living together.  And that is just the very premise for remediation program objectives.  We need these drugs for keeping us healthy – so we better preserve them by reserving them when needed.  A joint effort to raise minimum barrier to market entry has made the entire system stronger and healthier for all links in the chain.

With targets to have prudent use of:

• antibiotics in livestock as only reactionary care
• establish significant herd health improvements via systemic procedural changes
• empowerment of vets to be who prescribe, administer & report utilization

The quick description becomes – the Dutch have researched and tweaked their process that focuses on a system of animal welfare (OneHealth) by enacting a partnership (Golden Triangle) with aligned interest.

concerns of ‘nightmare bacteria’ result in a Dutch Precautionary Principle & a market competitive advantage

Noblesse Oblige “nobility obliges”

Front runners in healthy and sustainable food, the Dutch use commonsense in treating their animals.  Through humane treatment practice of OneHealth, investing in the health of the animal, they invest in the health of themselves and that of the planet we all live.  This is not a niche experiment; it’s instead further proof that global adoption of Dutch internal decree is destined to happen.  Currently, 12 of the world’s largest food companies have an establishment in the Netherlands interested in both Dutch products and knowhow, and this presence has resulted in the Dutch establishing themselves as a global superpower in agriculture.  As we all begin living in increasingly cramped and taxed environments, we’ll have to heed these warnings sooner than later.

As I witnessed, Dutch competitiveness comes from being part of the laws of Natural Order, and not thinking nor practicing under linear and wasteful process. Dutch Government isn’t looking at food and production agriculture as only a domestic problem, nor a Euro-zone problem, but a global issue that will affect us all, equally.  As demand for livestock proteins is expected to grow by 70% by 2050, the current holes in the conventional process so broadly used with the Western diet and/or the cheap food epidemic within the US – just won’t scale.  Production diversity is needed, and it can come at the healthy hooves of the animals who service our longevity if we begin treating the system with respect.  It’s our obligation.

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The Dutch have long since been known for excellence in dairy.  A globally desired standard for grass-fed milk, butter, yogurt, ice-cream and the raw materials for dozens of value-ad products sourced throughout Europe – the Dutch have kept a strong conviction that clean, happy and healthy cows make for the best milk. Moreover, the quintessential imagery of grazing cattle on sprawling open pastors is part of who they are, and much like the Northeast region of the United States where I’m from, this approach to agriculture is more than just how they produce food, but instead part of their ideology and culture.

Due to domestic market forces controlled by the US milk-board, I had limited interest and was not expecting to evaluate dairy production entering into my fellowship planning.   Sage voices with different perspective won the day; it was explained that the foundation to the approach of investing in animal welfare and proper feedstuff – much of what defined the ethos of the OneHealth program – spawned out of process and procedures the dairy farmers and industry in the Netherlands have been implementing for centuries.  Specially, with my focus on introducing grass-fed beef production operations regionally in the US – Dutch Dairy farmers and their progressive support system had a great deal of insights to share.

Displayed in a Boston-area grocer June 2015

Like the US, dairy is a staple in the Dutch diet.  But, so grand in stature, through their commitment to natural order, Dutch Dairy has become a desired staple in many other countries throughout the world who lack infrastructure.  During my travels in May, I heard numerous anecdotes of the far-eastern tourists who were making trips to the Netherlands specifically to purchase Dutch powdered milk.  Buying upwards of 50 boxes at a time to be shipped back home, Dutch grocers were forced to put a moratorium on powdered milk sales to no more than 2 boxes per transaction to ensure stock for domestic consumers.  That story is so uniquely telling to the lengths that global consumers will take to guarantee access to clean and healthy food when awareness of value is a top driver. I find this extremely interesting because it proves perception of value vs. price quickly becomes relative.

In the Netherlands, land utilization has had to be innovative. Wind-turbine technology was first invented to sump water 3ft from each paddock of saturated soils on susceptible reclaimed land in the Netherlands.  Uniquely successful at delivering proven sustainable agricultural systems, at scale, through embracing nature and working with the force of ecology for micro and macro results.  The now global concept of Circular agriculture could probably be traced back to a Dutch farms with 5000 years of linage, and the ongoing refinement of efficiencies in the process is without a doubt domestic Dutch (or potentially Dutch-American on farmlands in Pennsylvania or New York).  This circular system is a process that best utilizes natural order to alleviate waste streams.  Through cultivating links in the chain that can turn lost energy into plant or animal ready nutrients you alleviate the expense of waste and requirements for outside inputs.   Despite the bill-of-goods sold by inputs companies – the magic that makes sustainable agriculture cost effective is the very circular process that got us here in the first place, and in turn sets to return health through better understanding of how we treat the top of the trophic levels (animals) through to the regenerate laborers living in soil (soil biology).

The classification of Grazing in Dutch Dairy is not just US Grass-fed; it’s more than that.  The Dutch Dairy process does regulate that forage must be at least 75% rations grass-blade, but more holistically – it focuses on the animal health of the dairy or beef cattle first.  Outdoor time, ability to lay, clean feed free of synthetics (i.e. no glyphosate or toxic pesticides), and no ongoing administration of growth-agent antibiotics has made Dutch Dairy a market differentiator of global acclaim, and worthy of a trip to the Netherlands just to buy dry-milk! The future of food requires value to be reinvigorated as its core competency, and few industries have led the charge like Dutch Dairy.

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The dairy sector practices land-based dairy farming – which also means it works to protect grazing. Grazing cattle typify the Dutch landscape. The Dutch Dairy Association (Nederlandse Zuivel Organisatie, NZO) is therefore a major advocate of cattle grazing. The NZO asks provinces and municipalities to take this vision into account when issuing environmental permits for farming. The NZO also asks that dairy companies not process or package milk from new farms which do not match this vision of healthy animal welfare practice of open pasture and proper ruminant-friendly forage.  Growing global demand for dairy means that more milk needs to be produced. As the Dutch dairy sector works to help meet this demand, they focus on the premise of their competitive advantage – by respecting animals, the surroundings and the environment.

Dairy farmers and dairy companies are therefore working closely together and have made agreements about climate and energy, animal health and welfare, and biodiversity and the environment. They have set concrete goals to reduce greenhouse gasses and use sustainable energy, to protect cattle grazing and monitor the use of antibiotics, and to improve the import of sustainably produced raw materials. Around the world, dairy is an important food source; it contains a high percentage of nutrients per calorie and is generally affordable.the rising global population and growing prosperity are increasing the demand for healthy diets. The high quality of Dutch dairy translates into a huge demand for our dairy products and dairy knowledge abroad. The Dutch dairy sector aims to meet this demand while producing dairy in a sustainable way.  – APEP program description 

A background as a Public Affairs professional with international linage, for the past five years Tjeerd de Groot has been Managing Director of NZO.  He studied Public Administration and Environmental Studies in Leiden and Leuven and specialized in European Law. He worked fifteen years at the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, amongst others as Political Advisor to the Minister, Agricultural Counsellor in Berlin and deputy Director International Affairs. 

Upon arriving at the Haag-based NZO headquarters I was introduced to Managing Director and Dutch agriculture specialist Tjeerd de Groot. We began the day with an overview of the Dutch Dairy Association – NZO. Tjeerd explained that NZO is a fully immersed trade organization focused on global processing & distribution of 98% of Dutch Dairy.  He detailed Dutch Dairy and organizational linage, both ancient and modern, including a recent history that has returned Dutch Dairy to a “Grazing” program that now requires dairy cows to spend at least 80% of their time outdoors in pastor and most of their forage to be natural ruminant feedstuff of grass.

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A few interesting developments happened just prior to my arrival in the Netherlands.  First, in reaction to increasing global demand, a quota system has recently been relinquished.  This is important as they’ve adopted a global markets strategy, aside from domestic supply.  This means what the market will pay by region sets price.  As Tjeerd put it, they’ve outgrown their footprint millenniums ago, and have been forced to be stewards to the environment.  Becoming so efficient at their trade without sacrificing their core competencies has allowed them opportunity to test boundaries of their natural orders.  We discussed how the biology in that reclaimed and living soil has long-since been recognized as a natural resource – needing awareness and cultivation.  As such, domestic Dutch subsidies (and those of the EU for that matter) are linked to product qualities and environmental sustainability.

Tjeerd became my guru and guide for the day.  We travelled North of Amsterdam where a large portion of dairyland operate in the Netherlands.  During the drive, Tjeerd explained what he felt to be the biggest difference between Dutch (circular) and United States (linear) methods of agriculture. Simply, it boils down to the Dutch having to be conscious of their surroundings, while we in the States have yet to fully feel the impact of consistent shortcuts and unbounding waste.  We agreed, that was soon to change.  As we drove, Tjeerd fielded a few calls to keep up on a busy schedule.  Without speaking a lick of Dutch prior to arriving the Netherlands, I had understanding of the nature of many of his discussions.  Calls ended in a similar cadence to any action item review in a business meeting, and another a call with his daughter, where as being a Dad myself I didn’t have to know the words he was saying to know the context and feeling of the conversation. Upon hanging-up, Tjeerd explained that the call was with his teenage daughter who was in town for a few days.  I soon realized that sharing a great deal of Germanic structure with English, often just needing a game of letter jumble to grasp meaning, there’s a great deal of similarity in the writen word. The pronunciation and verbal recognition was more challenging for me.  Throughout my time I listened intently to announcements on the trains, challenging myself to deconstruct Dutch as I knew an English announcement would soon follow on the PA.  Maybe it was the end of a few long day,  but even with keystones like city name or station, I was terrible!  A few times, I found myself laughing at the Dutch translation I floated to myself as a possible meaning of the announcement.  Learning the English truths moments later can only humble you to laughter.  So, Tjeerd can rest assured that my only knowledge of his conversation was pure conjecture of his actions and delivery and had nothing to do with translation.

Our first stop was a visit with Anne and Henk Kregel, owners and operator of the KoeHotel (CowHotel).  Complete with waterbeds and cow massage brushes, this progressive approach to maintaining herd health was designed from preserving well-being and longevity of lactating bovine animals.  Touring the site, it was clear that even Temple Grandin would be impressed.  According to Henk, the waterbeds (specifically) were a huge help in allowing animals opportunity to proactively maintain health and too regain well-being if ill. “Don’t you recover quicker and feel better after a good night sleep”, Henk explained. Cattle spend more than 50% of a day laying down, so doing so not on a concrete slab but in comfort, on water, does matter. The Kergels report getting nearly 30 additional months of productivity out their dairy cows vs. when treating animals with conventional practice.

CEO Eric Hulst, Sasakia van der Valk and Tjeerd infront of the new Cono Gouda facility

Tjeerd and I then proceeded to Westbeemster – to meet with the CEO of Cono Cheesemakers, Eric Hulst and his executive team.  This is not your average cheesemaker – they instead represent a global gold standard of Gouda fromagerie.  Crafting 20 different types of Goudas, all sourced from milk of a their local dairy COOP that’s been in existence since 1901, it’s just good stuff, and the fact that it’s clean and from healthy grass-fed animals to boot has drawn global appeal.  We enjoyed watching the making, and later tasting, of their flagship Beemster.  I brought home a few shrink-wrapped wedges, and my entire family agreed – this was amazing cheese!  Currently, in the midst of a 2 year transition process from neighboring & current legacy facility, a meticulous process of replication and documentation is underway at Cono.  A process that ensures that cheese cultures and best practice lives successfully through flawless transition. Only slight hints of natural flavor variance dependent on seasonal cattle forage is allowed in this precise execution. From the management of the field, to investments in animal health to ensure consistent supply of quality raw materials – great milk comes from knowledge of OneHealth.  Production at farms like the Cowhotel – affords CONO cheesemakers opportunity to use the best mastercrafted milk to make top quality artisanal cheese.  Thanks to their this brand new state-of-the-art cheese making facility, they plan to better service intensify global demand for top quality cheese and Dutch Dairy. I truly enjoyed the entire red-carpet/ farm-boot lifecycle experience.

The Day ended with Tjeerd graciously inviting me to his house for a few pints, and opportunity to meet with his daughter and her friend who were both evaluating career plans as they were soon to enter University.  A true expert in the value of safe and healthy food and what that represents on a global market, Tjeerd was making a full-court press in effort to gain his daughter’s interest in a possible career in agriculture. Soon after our visit, the two were off to New York City for some travel, fun, people watching and exploration; NYC is surely an experience like no other. So, I believe Tjeerd thought as an American investing similarly in career in better food, maybe I could offer some assistance in sharing to good word with his daughter?  In typical dad form, always wanting the best for our little ones, Tjeerd seemed to be doing a fine job sharing his passion to change the world with his little lady; hopefully I added some value to his objectives as repayment for the day of knowledge and insight he granted me on Dutch dairylands.  I’m intrigued to hear how their trip to NYC and agricultural recruiting visit panned-out, I’m sure it was a wonderful experience.  Shuttled back to the train just in time, I returned to Rotterdam.

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Precision agriculture is effectively any culmination of agriculture technologies that have refined a process to efficiency. For certain products, most notably vegetables and greens, Glass-house production changes the paradim.  The controlled growing environment offers not only a cost effective way to produce horticulture with limited waste and high efficiency; it results in an opportunity to reduce utilization of harmful synthetic chemicals used often in open air/field farming.   In the EWG Guide to produce products with the highest percentage of pesticide residue, 5 of the 12  “Dirty Dozen” are on the short-list of produce products that are grown well indoors.

The Dutch are a large producer of year round horticulture.  Both produce production and ornamentals focus, they’ve developed a clean and repeatable  process of advanced hydroponics and soil-based glass-house growing.  Centralized near to Rotterdam shipping port, and acting as a trade aggregate for the EU, the Dutch welcome opportunities to produce not only raw crop exports, but using glass-house production near distribution has built a large industry of value-ad and fresh-processed foods.

Stemming out of the Netherlands’ Westlands, where the largest glass-house cluster in the world consumes ⅓ of the entire region’s landcover – the Dutch push the envelope on Innovation and Competitiveness.  With 10,000 hectares (nearly 25,000 acres) already under glass in the Netherlands, and 75% of global indoor growing already uses Dutch IP; for greens, cucumbers, peppers, flowers and tomatoes (a product that the Westland region sources 50 varieties) they got it figured out in a way that is cleaner and very efficient whether grown in soil or via hydroponics. I had the opportunity to visit the region under the watchful and knowledgable tutelage of Antoon van de Ven – a strategic advisor for the Westlands.  Anton showed me six (6) different glass-house facilities ranging in production from cut flowers, orchids, tomatoes and peppers, as well as a community and industry sponsored test facility that acted as an aggregate to develop and test new innovations & technologies applicable to growing products in glass-house.

First, we caught-up with the Westlands Mayor, Sjaak van der Tak.  A friendly guy, very intrigued in distributing product and/or IP from Dutch glass-house production.  Mayor van der Tak was elected into the Rotterdam city council in 1989. In 1996, he became Alderman for the City of Rotterdam, responsible for traffic, transportation and finance. Since 2004, he is Mayor of the Municipality of Westland.

Westland is a municipality in the western part of the Netherlands. It covers an area of almost 35 sq. miles of which a little over 4 sq. miles is covered by water. Its population is approx. 104,000. 

Westland was created on 1 January 2004 by a merger of the municipalities De Lier, ‘s-Gravenzande, Monster, Naaldwijk and Wateringen. These are also the names of five of the settlements. The others are Heenweg, Honselersdijk, Kwintsheul, Maasdijk, Poeldijk, and Ter Heijde. Westland itself is not the name of a settlement or town, but rather of the region. The City hall is located in the middle of Westland, in Naaldwijk, the second largest settlement in Westland.

The town of Honselersdijk also possesses the largest Flower Auction, FloraHolland, which also has a location in Rijnsburg. This is a very important sector of the Westland economy. Flowers and produce produced in Westland are sold all over the world.  – APEP program description 

We spent the entire day traveling from site to site dodging torrential rain and learning what happens when ingenuity is focused around epicenters. The last visit of the day was uniquely interesting.  Top chrysanthemum producer in the World, Michel Grootscholten founder and operator of the Grootscholten Chrysanthemum Nursery showed us around his impressive facility.  Antoon and I entered Michael’s 12 hectare single glass-house, and I was immediately awestruck by the beauty and sheer magnitude of this soil-based growing operation. I came to learn that Michel had recently built this state-of-art facility to focus on his leadership in a single market. By constructing the most modern buildings possible, using high lighting levels, and automating the planting and harvesting process, Michel succeeded in achieving a further production increase and quality improvement.

M. Grootscholten Nursery

Approaching with a fantastic swagger and self-confidence, Michel met up with Antoon and myself as we had already begun exploring the vast acres of glass-house flowers.  Michel showed us the operations of the meticulously run facility and explained his methodology to not only growing, but business.  Smart and pragmatic, this guy younger than me had taken significant calculated risks in the past decade, and now appears to be reaping the benefit.  Michel explained, in Holland, production has been stable for years, much due to commitment to high quality and specializations.  The chrysanthemum market for EU production has declined in the last years, due to high energy costs and recession, and competition from lower cost South American provides.  Confident in his product and commitment to deliver healthy, lasting and vibrant cuttings will win out,  Michel has found creative ways to solidify the market value of his product, while also developing new green-fields.

The M. Grootscholten Chrysanthemum Nursery sells chrysanthemums through the auction system, forward orders and day trading. Located adjacent to the Flora Holland, M. Grootscholten can deliver extremely fresh flowers within a few hours of harvesting, and meet fluctuating market demand.  To produce in the States, Michel felt looking for an area where there is lot’s of light, and not to much heat ( i.e. the Californian coast – prime for water efficient horticulture).  Michel later shared with me a Dutch saying re: potential US production & relationship to Ag – “you never know how a cow catches a rabbit.”  Who knows how things happen, sometime they just do.

indoor horticultural food production is our most refined state of precision agriculture 

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Globally recognized as one of the best blends of authentic methods with the efficiencies of modern production and science – the Dutch seem to have found a happy balance of producing enough nutrient security to not only feed and keep healthy one of the most densely populated countries, but now source greater volumes of exports to countries all over the world who desire their higher quality and uncompromised outputs.

This didn’t happen overnight. The Dutch have been instituting innovation in land management and agriculture for 5000 years.  Now, with qualitative and quantitative evidence-based systems proving to be a potential basis for global scale, there’s a movement in the Netherlands to take this honed example to new heights.  To me, it seems commonsense for the United States to evaluate this as well-documented precedent that could diversifying a portfolio and reduce intrinsic risk associated to a dumping all the eggs in a single production basket.

Stemming from an industry of tangible outputs and raw materials, agricultural & food innovation in the information will quickly gain further ingenuity.  Production practice, methodology and acumen is unquestionably equity and cache in any and all industries of the 21st century. The Dutch have been masters at cultivating community and building ecosystem to support food ingenuity, effectively by evaluating Circular Agriculture as a large platform for innovation.  And, it seems their investments are paying off.  Coming from a prior world of technology, I found the Dutch notion that the future of food will now be intangible welcoming and refreshing. The concept that best sustainable production methods can be placed anywhere, on any soil – is an intriguing twist of modern agriculture which institutes similar mythology of refined process but with the tangible production materials.   I found it most telling in speaking to financial experts and economists – who explained that the economics of dealing with the many bottlenecks & expenses in shipping proprietary inputs & soft-goods to all corners of the world, and then in-turn to distribute as commodity or perishable exports will prove inefficient in all long-horizon forecasting well beyond the mindset in the Netherlands.  I once had adoption of robotic technologies explained to me in a similar manner.  What seems from the surface a hard-good or materials issue, as with food, is actually a software and intangible problem.

The clear delineation point in seeing it from this angle requires your perspective to include the additional costs to health and environment currently not calculated in the production of Cheap food in the United States. A practice defined as holistic in the US, in the Netherlands it’s much more than that.  It’s a pragmatic economic innovation that accounts for true or sum costs – which are not allowed to be reduced to an individual line-item comparison on the balance sheet.  The Dutch have proven that this commonsense approach to an agricultural system can bolster the success of their healthcare system, establish nutritional security, improve the environment and create jobs through evaluating a true cost.

Dutch Land Management teems with Ingenuity

The fact that Dutch agricultural products are in such high demand in 2015 through-out the world is not due solely to their climate, soil, proximity to water nor location. It’s mostly based on a high-level of expertise, ability, established infrastructure, capital expenditures, efficient & smart processing, and good logistics – all of which – like in the US modern system can be built with proper time and know-how. Dutch agriculture has succeeded in developing and maintaining its lead over international competitors by continually investing in the production of clean and healthy food of higher nutritional value as innovation and economic development; a system that seems ripe and ready to cultivated in other parts of the world through creative public and private partnerships.

The crown jewel of innovative systemic changes must be the Dutch food animal program  “OneHealth”.  As detailed above, the system relies on raising healthy animals as impetus for preventative human, environmental and ecological health through investing in livestock welfare.  Since public, private and educational commitments began 10 years ago, connecting this triple-helix into their system chain has proven to a compelling financial argument over a short-hoizon – delivering billions of Euros to the GDP through food animal product sales, and projects to be a long-term solution and potential basis for a paradigm shift in using proper IP in scaling alternative and less resource intensive production practices.

According to recent Global Information Technology Report 2015: ICTs for Inclusive Growth – the Dutch ranked 4th in economies most adopting of information technologies.  The US follows only a few slots behind on this list of top 10 countries harnessing Information Technology.   Developing a broader business ecosystem that empowers innovation, and a 21st century partnership amongst two agricultural SuperPowers like the US & Netherlands – each would benefit from cultivating production method that use best of breed IT technologies to reduce portfolio risk domestic and abroad.  Building businesses built on something as tangible as cash-flow from sourcing better-quality meat to market makes private ventures well-worth it alone, but the true longterm value of all those fostering an innovation economy could materialize as the intangibles instead of raw goods and crops of today.

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A benefit to human and environmental health through focus on animals as cornerstone of circular and not linear agriculture, to safely feed their own citizens and through reducing imminent risks – the Dutch have employed a higher barrier to entry when addressing potentially susceptible categories. That additional value arming Dutch Dairy and now their meat production; as well, the process of controlling the grow environment through glass-house innovations that nearly alleviate risks of synthetic pesticide residue through absence – has arisen as a tried-and-true recipe.  Already doing much of the legwork, the evidence the Dutch drafted from their research into a future of Scientific Agriculture based on best sustainable methods, one that returns us and our impact (noblesse oblige) back to circular nutrient cycling program, needs further attention in the United States.

The only future of food we have is a more sustainable one.  Proven by this country of 17 million on a footprint the size of Vermont, the Dutch have a great deal of applicable innovations developed through forced necessity which now seem prime to share with the rest of the world.  More so, the reputation of the Dutch as master planners (responsible for designing highest profile US cities) holds true in their approach in building a food production framework for broader adoption through scalability.  Now, with enough tenure to become a replicable methodology to develop profitable production of clean animal crops and controlled environment growing anywhere in the world – they have an evidence based approach that would enhance US domestic production capacity.

As stated, in the US we’ve grown too concerned with product price with limited regard for sourcing practice, impact or quality of food.   The Dutch underpinning of food value and cleanliness of production at fair prices is a gold standard worth engagement.  This mastered process of focusing on food animal welfare as a premise to clean-up their food system has many unintended positive consequences. The question of at what cost is cheap food paid is nothing more than relative, but with changed perspective – we’ll see discovery differently.

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The terminology properly defining the this essay, Evidence-Based Agriculture – is not mine.  I borrowed it from a pretty smart lady. Empowered to insure State and Royal interests have aligned for the past 30 years, Saskia Stuiveling has just left her life-appointment position as President of the Dutch High Councils of State (aka Dutch House of Audits).  With forced retirement at 70 years young, full of vigor and immensely versed & talented, it was evident in our discussions that Saskia is going to crush her next venture.  I had much to ask during our visit toward the end of my first week in the Netherlands. With each question came back a concise answer describing any micro or macro policy.

Hotel New York in landmark Holland America

Standing tall, Saskia’s husband Dop was equally a presence.  The resemblance of Liam Neeson seemed to do well for this knowledgeable, deep thinking and stylish cat.  A pediatrician specializing in research into the neurological and communication disorders running rampant in little boys, Dop was involved in many global efforts evaluating and rectifying the problem.  I can only image the zest and quality of conversations that surround their holiday meals.  What was originally planned for a few hours evolved into Saskia and Dop, a Grande Dame of the Netherlands and leading man of medicine, spending their entire day with me.  I gained unparalleled nuance and backstory to the city, the country and region.  Both impressive in stature, and bigger in heart – I look forward to remaining in contact with them both.

Thursday May 14th marked the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Rotterdam, known as the Blitz.  Described as a barbaric act of terrorism, this 10 minute German air-raid pounded a city and port – eventually becoming fully decimated after burning for 30 days more.  2015-05-14, at 1:29pm I stood witness to an emotional scene; a gathering that even after 3/4 of a century – and now on the foothills of a completely rebuilt city & port – wounds still surfaced throughout many generations.

Saskia comes from a well-known family with deep roots in Dutch politics. A dynamic presence evidently felt as we traveled throughout city that Thursday, she was continuously being recognized and praised.  As first acting leader after breaking German occupation, Saskia’s Grandfather was a national hero.  My hotel concierge later explained it as -“Saskia is Rotterdam!”

I truly enjoyed the entire day.  The three of us ended the with a late lunch sharing ideas and great seafood at the iconic Hotel New York restaurant. Saskia asked what I had learned thus far, and too what I’d hoped to learn with the fellowship program.  I shared my lens into the future; how I felt higher-quality food has potential as preventative healthcare in the US, and Sustainable Agriculture would do much better as an appeal for portfolio risk mitigation rather than a finger-wagging replacement to conventional.   A past Eisenhower Fellow herself, Saskia was one of the lead officials orchestrating access for my Fellowship Studies, and a leading voice in the Dutch chapter.  She listened to what I had to say, and thought of awhile while the gents explored the beautifully restored Holland America Building.  When Dop and I returned to our patio table – Saskia welcomed us with the clear and concise explanation “what we’ve got in the Netherlands is evidence-based agriculture.”

Saskia, Dop and myself infront of Holland America landmark building

To mitigate mounting risk, the US has opportunity to invest in proven innovations that diversify our production portfolio by focusing instead on a true cost of food and not price point at market.  We need a process, and infrastructure that can evaluate agricultural alternatives to specific practices deemed most unsafe and/or concerning to our nutritional or national security. The free markets will drive this evolution, and the creation of profitable production companies of scale on US soils that service changing domestic & global demand for clean & healthy food will thrive.  If supported sooner than later by public and educational spokes in a wheel as seen in the Netherlands, evolution is not generational, but has proven to be done in a decade. Knowing there’s well-document precedent full of proven insights from our close allies who can legitimately support any claim of system evolution, makes evidence-based agriculture premise for future food.

We’ve lost our way in sourcing health

Unquestionably, the leading feedback I tune in defending the quality & value of food – is it’s too expensive.  Product price over Value is the top driver in most US households, proven in the national statistic comparison for food expenditures introducing essay 2 on Evidence-based Agriculture.

Of any possession, including other perishables like time and patience, food should be heaved to the top of the value chain.  That said, I strongly believe that it’s only a matter of awareness to potential risks looming in US production before price relinquishes it’s near singular grasp on food buying habits. This theory would seem solidified by a few recent instances where societal backlash changed practice and general awareness quickly. A few years back, the newly minted power of social media expressed a near immediate US remediation of pink slime in beef processing.  More recently, our mainstream media reaction to ebola turned a controlled situation into hysteria.  I could only speculate to the impact a medical world with pervasive resistance would have on information outlets and thus general awareness significant enough to enact precautionary change.

Better yet, what we lack is not necissarily more gloom and doom, but instead appreciation for the impeccable upside to personal well-being, societal value, family health, and of that of our surroundings that comes from committing a few extra bucks a month dedicated to buying higher-quality foods of diverse value.

Yes, due to virtually no domestic economies of scale in alternative production; lack of equity and risk capital; lack of equal public dollars supporting initiatives dedicated to alternative vs. conventional agriculture;  and because products at market are sold at controlled premium niche prices – this higher quality food is more expensive – at least for now.  As proven in other countries, most noticeably the Netherlands, it seems a short-horizon before free-markets will connect opportunity with capital to meet new market evolutions and demand.  In the information age, the inevitable future of a market continues to prove as consumer desire. But, somehow we remain food ignorant in the US.  Somehow we persist in not knowing the backstory of food, despite requiring information of everything else we buy except what’s most important in subsistence.

So, we need a bit of a (or in our case in the US, an increasingly larger) gut-check in conjunction with efforts detailed in improving production capacity and efficiency of sustainable agriculture.  This call to arms will equally require social, cultural and personal commitment to the value of food.

It turns out we have a bit of an excuse with this one.  We’re pre-wired to be a short-term thinking animal.  In the book Immoderate Greatness William Ophlus does a masterful job concisely defining how and why we’re pre-programmed to be these short-horizon thinkers, detailing from origin of homo erectus -to- progressive societies why we haven’t been able to break from preordained assets we took with us from the wild.  Once useful, these now prove as limitations when dealing with living with our others in closer confinement.  Fast-forward a few millions years and we’re still living with those defense mechanisms that kept our ancestral generations alive.

We’ve seen some glimmers of evolution recently, especially with broad information sharing.  A few industries have discovered and cultivated methods that circumvent the natural short-horizon thought-process intrinsic in us all.  Most noticeably, at least from my perspective as it’s part of my past career, is the financial retirement industry’s capacity to engage nearly every American, and their employers, to proactively plan for long-term wealth preservation.  Timing was ideal, as driving independent retirement plans cleanly replaced faltering pensions. Milestones reached thresholds, and through decades many retirement goals were reached thanks to smart public and private support, and broad GDP growth & expansion.

The consumption of food that is clean of toxins, higher in nutrients and safer for your community & planet – a higher quality food – should be perceived no differently than your financial retirement plan.  Small, habitual and sustained practice is what preserves the health of any portfolio, including personal well-being, and dollar cost averaging is no different if it were diet or 401K.  Pay the farmer now or pay the Doctor later – isn’t the whole story anymore.  With the cost of modern care, those Doctor medical bills now cost orders of magnitude greater expensive, you lose those essential perishables of time and patience,  and mostly it means you got a health problem(s) and poorer quality of life.  HR teams explain that once you begin contributing to an employer sponsored 401K program – you won’t even realize it’s coming from your current paycheck. And boy does it compound!  Over the years your investment in safe and healthy food grows and reaps great returns, similar to your financials.  Spending an extra 20 or 30% on food quickly becomes the best investment you’ll afford yourself and your family.  First by delaying your succession plan, the benefit further presents itself in your general wellbeing while stocking away those investments, and to that of your family’s health as well.  Lastly, what habitual practice do you want your grandkids to share, and thus pass to generations-of-the-next?

To clarify, I use diet as a noun.  Anything we consume is our diet.  The process of going on “a diet” perpetuates misconceptions.  How we source and produce our sustenance means a great deal more to the value of that food and the affect on your body than does any caloric or fat content.  A concept of eating what you want, as long as it’s of higher quality – is the place it began and where to return.  This commitment to sourcing develops awareness, engagement and better chronic eating practices that the folks practicing the verb of a diet desire.  When the body operates on proper fuel and framework, including minerals, phytonutrients and lack of toxins and contaminants – the overindulging desires of an overfed and undernourished society reduce as hunger subsides not when the belly is full or stuffed, but when the body feels nourished and sustained.  Stacking cheap, refined and quick acting sugar energy into everything we eat surely doesn’t help the body or mind.   Playing chemical warfare on the body’s ability to regulate hunger vs. desire, sugar in all forms, but especially refined, is mainlined in the Western diet to a point of system shock, inflammation and as an instigator of modern plague. I’ve heard it defined as the starter-drug to the ill-to-pill reactionary approach to healthcare.

If we have hope of collectively empowering healthcare to be electively preventative, we must begin equally on the farms as between the ears.

Deep roots:

No matter from where you hail, we all share food to be much more than caloric.  Further, food runs much deeper than what’s often be defined as ethnic. Instead, I think food and that of its production share a common language amongst any successful lineage proven-out with a national, cultural or regional pride.  Heritage and food/ diet are nearly interchangeable in most cultural backgrounds represented Stateside.

Instigating and antagonizing this lost cultural heritage via food could happen in nearly every US household.  To utilize an aggregate of traditions to sculpt a new national food identity for the US which can learn from so many successful attributes of our diverse citizens.  A StoneSoup for health – the basis for making these cuisines unique becomes focus on sourcing only top quality raw materials.  This melting pot for food heritage of the US is lofty goal, but one I believe to have potential of great advocacy and support, when promoted and supported appropriately through awareness and production infrastructure.

Currently done primarily in higher-end white tablecloth restaurants of celebrity chefs, the opportunity is to make the farmer the rock-star of food – not the person mixing the ingredient nor turning on the cook-top.   High-end restaurant food quality sourced broadly and diversely as means of preventative health has teeth.  That said, we do have cultural food heritage broadly digested in the States – but predominately and stereotyped globally as cheap and fast foods. If not super-sized at the table of the franchised restaurant – this lower quality commoditized foodstuff makes up the vast majority of the center aisles of the grocer –  the pinnacle example of sacrificing food value for price and profit.   The game theory presents this as the best possible scenario as food desires and production requirements evolve.  Delving deeper through awareness and appreciation into food’s backstory as a common core competency to reinvigorate each food-heritage through a new national ideology of food. As the Dutch have done with dairy, glass-house horticulture and recently clean meats – owning a positive persona focuses proper attention.

Based on proper financial drivers supporting an innovation economy, improving raw materials in conjunction with informing consumers of the true and accurate value of reducing risk through cleaning a food system of neurotoxins, hormone disruptors and animal steroids will have positive recourse with lasting effects to body, ethos and generation ahead.  A roughly painted picture of OneHealth in the US could be cultural or regional pride that celebrates diversity of population – equally.  That wonderful nuance that makes us each so unique, but equally as common amongst every Joe seems a bridge built by getting more folks thinking again about food for it’s value to human and environmental health, and developing a shared pride associated to each diverse recipe using nothing but healthier and safer foods of greater value.

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The concept of decommoditization is just as it sounds – the opposite of commoditization.  To return intrinsic or unique additional value to a food output through proper circular agriculture.  Our practice of cheapening production crops of nutrient value and inducing potential risk from methodologies that cut corners on essential systems is proving that the skimping often used in conventional practice is concerning, and potentially, the compounding effect of compromising values has corrupted the underlying purpose of food.  It’s not caloric, it’s sustenance.

Not all food is created equal – couldn’t be more true.  The further down processing you adventure, the more the concern you draw in increasingly shallow waters.  There are many shortcuts of unintended, unknown, and better yet unrealized consequence supporting our production infrastructure in the US.  As mitigation to going all-in with a single methodology in food production – we should study the book of forced Dutch innovation.  With our current production methods that are nearly similar in practice to those in the the Netherlands 15 years back, we can see our future – and if we learn from this Dutch insight – we’ll require systemic change to clean-up some minimum market entrance thresholds that currently put us in significant jeopardy.

Many of the best opportunities have proven to be companies that have gone far further than just meeting revised minimum market thresholds, but instead decommoditized product sectors in food.  Some glimmers have happened in the States, but our staples are a decade (or more) behind. There are many ways to associate additional value into food and industry – the Netherlands is prevalent in success stories leading industry and pushing an innovation economy of food & agriculture.

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I’ve often been asked why I chose Organics for my Eisenhower Fellowship focus.  Trying to explain Organic food production is only a small part of my objectives often becomes difficult as the more nuanced layers are pealed.  That said, Organic food production, or Biological in the EU, has been culturally defined as the only well recognized alternative to conventional.  It’s surely placed at the pinnacle of the higher-quality food pyramid, and to some consumers and growers here in the States see that as off-putting.  I think Organic is broadly used as the catch-all, if not the first foot-in-the-door for those interested in better quality food alternative to conventional commoditization.  The entire Dutch food system has raised standards well above US domestic food production and horticulture practice.  As described, with immense support spawned from awareness to food value, they’ve continued to push the envelope in building systems for safe and healthy food through public and private campaigns that draw consumer advocacy.

First, an essential detail.  USDA Organic (US version that uses 4 major grades of Organic food) and EU Biological Organic are different.  From allowance of certain chemicals, practice and even synthetics – we differ.  One of the clearest separation is US Organic certification can be donned from food grown in any sub straight – as long as it’s lacking use of certain synthetics and all trans-genetically engineered seeds.  Meaning it can be Organic here in the States even if grown inside via hydroponics (water).  Amongst other more restrictive rules, the EU regulations require Organic food must be soil-based growing (inside glass or out).

One who has progressed the Organic food movement through his unrelenting focus on preservation of top-soil is Volkert Engalsman, CEO of EOSTA.   While running the largest EU importer of Organic food, he has arisen as a heavy hitter in the global soil and the nutrient security discussion. Our 1 hour scheduled meeting at Eosta’s home office turned into 3.5 hours, where we became quick friends & confidants.

You wouldn’t have believed all the phytonutrient and mycorrhiza discussion piping from that room that morning.  We both reside in the same camp regarding the importance of soil microbes producing complete planet ready nutrients – the essence of nutrient security that eventually make its way to our health.  I pay great attention to thought-leader in ecological farming and those in the world of soil, and Volkert is one of those cats. I’d heard of Volkert prior to travels, but wasn’t aware of the gravitas he’d carried.  He seems to be a guy who comes prepared with his A-game all the time, and I that’s because he knows the concepts cold.  I was just ending the first week of my program; after so many inspirational and engaging meetings –  the synapses were humming and we had an amazing discussion with both guns blazing.  A serve-and-volley discussion turned quickly into a doubles match of us soon taking on the world!

Nature & More takes a circular view at food & health

Volkert is the innovator first to utilize technology to detail food provenance.  All his produce is complete with full transparency & traceability to the food backstory, and imprint on ecology & environment.  He branded a concept “Nature & More” – which  has since become an industry standard for producer & supply chain responsibility.  Think of FedEx tracking on every fruit or veggie you buy.  Volkert also hosts and curates the SaveOurSoils annual event in Amsterdam. A leading voice backing soil, technology and proper marketing – Volkert is a savvy businessman on a mission to mobilize an industry to empower consumers.

The leading importer and distributor of organic produce in Europe, Eosta serves major retailers and natural food stores in Europe, the USA, Canada and the Far East by focusing on innovation and appealing to consumer demand. Eosta products carry a unique three digit Nature & More ‘trace & tell’ code and/or QR-code that provides retailers and consumers with direct web access to the producer as well as his ecological and social impact. We were the first to obtain carbon credits on organic farming practices and to offer TÜV certified Climate Neutral products in the European food market (via Soil & More).  the core values of responsibility, togetherness and authenticity are at the heart of everything they do as a company, trademark and team.  

Eosta shows and tells the story behind the product, providing visibility to the grower’s efforts towards a fairer and more sustainable society, through our ‘trace & tell’ trademark; Nature & More. In this way, we empower the consumer to make a well-informed purchasing decision, at a price that is fair to the producer, society and the environment.  Distributed global network of logistic and commercial hubs with central management of product development, Nature & More’s innovation and added-value policy, trade flow, marketing, logistics, finance, controlling, administration, ICT and HR. – APEP Description

I took away numerous thoughts, concepts and interesting nuggets.  One interesting fact I thought worth sharing – according to Volkert, and later reinforeced from from others in food logistics and cross-boarder distribution – the further North you progress, above 50°N and absolutely above 60°N, the proportionately higher percentage of soil-grown Organic food is consumed.   Anecdotally – based on all those fit and healthy folks who’ve enveloped the Scandinavian and Bavarian   regions of the globe who have the lowest health-care costs and eat all that clean food grown in soil  – that seems like an interesting area of further research.  I look forward to joining Volkert next year at his SaveOurSoils summer symposium, and getting also opportunity to continue to learn from this very smart and skilled leader using information and technology to engage a following.  Without a doubt, he’s guy I want in my corner no matter the brawl.

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Annie and Henk produce great milk.  As mentioned as part of the Dutch Dairy chapter in the second essay – they own and manage a stable of dairy cattle in the Northern peninsula near Alkmaar.  They source only the highest quality milk to the Cono Dairy cooperative, part of NZO Netherlands.  Grass-fed rations coming from open-air grazing is what you get if your a dairy cow taking lodging at Henk and Annie’s cowhotel.

Best described by my program manager – a lot of attention is given to the facilities: waterbeds, massage brushes, lots of space to move around – we had the opportunity to tour the farm, stalls, lofts, independent birthing pens, youth (cow) hostel, and expansive open flatlands canvased with lush grass and forbs; it’s system health epitomized.  Most farmers won’t take the time for these type of tours.  Look, there’s never enough hours on the farm, and none should be wasted.  Very gracious in sharing time, getting to meet these innovators in person and having them personally tour us through farm & facility was invaluable. It’s like speaking to a founder of an early stage idea – where unique passion and knowledge is unsurpassed.  I doubt anyone personifies the many values of Dutch Dairy more than Annie & Henk; the deserved pride was evident.

Henk shows off the cow massager – waterbeds on right

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Annie and Henk find its important to have a good, healthy livestock and therefore pay lots of attention sustainability, a low stress level for their cows, optimal housing and outdoor grazing in the summer months. As a result, the past year they had a low usage of antibiotics, a good production of milk and good growth of the young stock. 

Great products come from the best raw materials.   Part of Cono Cheesemakers is a small-scale dairy cooperative of 500 dairy farmers in The Netherlands. We produce Beemster cheese and we deliver milk for Ben&Jerry’s ice-cream in Europe (one of Unilever’s suppliers). Our sustainability program Caring Dairy has goals to make the whole chain sustainable. For sustainable feed they collaborate with the Dutch NGO Solidaridad in India.   – APEP Description

A market primed for expansion in the United States is that of higher-quality and naturally raised meat and beef. From alleviating routine use of antibiotics, to investing in animal welfare, and of that of evolving and maintaining forage on grass; or Organic – the US market has numerous product categories that decommoditized food animal production has yet fully realize in domestic markets.  The land and workforce is there; what’s needed is capital and knowhow to aggregate efforts that reap market and health benefits.

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Just to enter Dutch distribution – Federal and European Union requirements now make meat cleaner by significantly reducing the risk of use of growth agents in animals, or toxins and known carcinogens applied to the thin-skins of tubers, produce & cereals.   Maximizing efficiency and sustainability without cost to food’s intrinsic nutritional value nor compromised safety is required & incentivized.  From reducing antibiotic usage in food animals by 67% and lowering the use of persistent pesticides, herbicides and fungicides throughout the EU- much by controlling the grow environment in certain highly susceptible product lines – many thanks should be extended to the Dutch for their efforts.

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Combating looming threats of resistance with circular farming:

Recently ranked by Oxfam as the best country in the world to find a balanced and healthy diet, the Dutch have not always been the pinnacle food system. In 2007, after being ranked at the top of the heap for proactive antibiotic OVER-USAGE in livestock, the Dutch agribusiness industry established a public-private partnership to lead efforts in greatly reducing the use of antibiotics in their livestock operations – orchestrated as part of a national task force that would introduce reduction policy.  Since the Golden Triangle program inception, this collaborative initiative that also promotes sustainable agriculture and holistic animal husbandry to alleviate antibiotics as growth agents and is expected by year-end to have reduced the majority of chronic farm antibiotic use.

As explained, banning antibiotics as a growth promoter alone had little impact on farmer behavior as total volume of antibiotic use remained fairly constant during the first few years of the OneHealth program in the Netherlands. In the beginning, the groups of the Golden Triangle had to work together to fix the abuse of reclassification of prescription. More stringent regulation and professionalizing the data stream used for accountability began to move the needle.

With the vast majority of land protein produced in the US coming from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (feedlots), where feedlot animals now consume 70% of total annual US antibiotic usage – we must evolve to a more successful model. Federated mostly in low level doses to promote artificial growth and/or to proactively address illnesses common to exposure to other feedlot animals, only a small percentage of these “germ killers” are actually used on animals for therapeutic practice.

Evaluating recent spikes in case volume. according to the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats report ’ 2 Million Americans already contract infections resistant to antibiotics each year. This costs the US healthcare system $20B annually and 23,000 lives.  If we maintain business as usual in the States, we’ll only expedite the superbug epidemic on vast scale and these numbers which already seem high, will expand to both the world of the overfed & undernourished, as well as to that of the underfed and undernourished – leaving all without the use antibiotic defense.

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Frans Van Dongen – Director of International Affairs: COV (Dutch Meat association) helps develop the consupmtion of more Dutch meats.  Currently representing a €4B market, COV shepherds 80% of the 125M production animals the Dutch send to market annually.  Surrounded by a fake astro-turf field in an ultra-modern cafe in Brussels – when we met we talked pigs, specifically the changes used over the past 8 years to reduce the use of antibiotics, and the resulting systematic evolutions needed in practice.   Dairy, beef cattle and veal made a cleaner transition as Dutch Dairy has long-been built on grazing and pasturing, but 10 years back all Dutch food animals fell under the OneHealth program, and that presented a challenge.

After near industry collapse during that period,  two large companies now control the Dutch Pig and poultry industries, and have worked in unison as leaders in the Golden Triangle to institute best practices in animal welfare – as seen similarly with bovine.  Pigs are tough – as I’ve been told by many in the US and equally in the Europe.  The Dutch have been working with their top agricultural universities in Wageningen & Utrecht, and with Frans and the team at CVO, private sectors have greatly advanced clean, safe and health practices with raising pig for pork.  Who doesn’t love bacon – right?  Sculpted as “Pigs of Tomorrow”, the Dutch learned a great deal from northern neighbor Denmark regarding best practices to operate clean, semi-circular production of swine at scale.

When the EU implemented animal welfare standards, certain countries took lead in pushing the envelope.  The Dutch innovation economy took that as opportunity and – as detailed – have since built a business ecosystem that services internal food threshold requirements, and expanding global demand.  The Dutch have full commitment to traceability and quality control standards co-defined by industry, government and academia.  As with the the success of their Grazing Dairy program, sustainable best practice reduces externalities and fits into a similar vein of thinking that environmental, animal and biodiversity health are effectively shared health.

The future opportunity for Dutch meats seems in finding better ways to promote their higher standards as a market premium to global consumers.  As major US retailers commit to antibiotic free meats – production and through-put of those cleaner proteins is the clear roadblock in the US systems.  Chipotle alone may want all 17M Dutch swine to service a exploding burrito demand! Nevermind that bacon.

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With potential for a regional footprint, a huge opportunity yet to be realized in the States is glass-house production used in servicing demand for safer and healthy produce of consistency and quality.  The market opportunity for a scalable produce production food line from indoor grow facilities that may or may not be full Organic, but are free of potential exposure to toxic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides is immense in the US.  Glass-house production is one of the best approaches of repeatable precision agriculture, which most often is focused on reducing waste streams and lowering input costs through better system harmony.

The Dutch are a the leading producer of year round horticulture.  Both produce production and ornamentals focus, they’ve developed a clean and repeatable  process of advanced hydroponics and soil-based glass-house growing.  The Dutch again took the ball and ran with it, spinning EU restrictions requiring raising market minimum thresholds in use in potential harmful synthetics to innovate and grow business.

The European Commission has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The Commission has Representations in all EU Member States and 139 Delegations across the globe. 1 President, 7 Vice-Presidents and 20 Commissioners.  A new team of 28 Commissioners (one from each EU Member State) is appointed every five years. The candidate for President of the Commission is proposed to the European Parliament by the European Council that decides by qualified majority and taking into account the elections to the European Parliament.  The Dutch take presidency of the EU during the first half of 2016.

The Commissioners meet as a College once a week, usually on Wednesday, in Brussels. There are 23 000 staff members working in the Commission in departments, known as Directorates-General (DGs) or services, each responsible for a particular policy area and headed by a Director-General.The DGs draft laws, but their proposals become official only once the College of Commissioners adopts them during its weekly meeting. The DGs also manage funding initiatives at EU level, carry out public consultations and communication activities.  – APEP Description

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The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development is based in Brussels under the authority of Commissioner Phil Hogan. With a staff of about 1000 and led by Director-General Jerzy Bogdan PLEWA, it is responsible for the implementation of agriculture and rural development policy, the latter being managed in conjunction with the other DGs which deal with structural policies. It is made up of 11 Directorates dealing with all aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) including farm support, market measures, rural development policy, quality policy, financial and legal matters, analysis and evaluation as well as international relations relating to agriculture.

I met with Joost Korte – Deputy Dir. – General for Agriculture & rural development. Deputy Dir. Korte brought in a few team members more broadly versed in US production for our meeting.  An interesting and enlightening discussion where I learned a great deal about EU policies, and reasoning behind regulations so significantly more stringent than in the US.  Including the Netherlands, for many countries already busting at the gills with people, and a requirement feed population densities, there is no other option than circular.  The mission of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development is to promote the sustainable development of Europe’s agriculture and to ensure the well-being of its rural areas.  

I came to Brussels at interesting time, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) was in full fever.  Meeting here with EU leadership, and later with USDA leadership, it was clear everyone had a very different view on agricultural trade and investment.  Looking for growth, and equally solidifying nutrient security – it seems certain EU countries have capacity, and have already begun plans to promote agriculture as innovation in coming years.

It seems commonsense to leverage the opportunity to move TTIP along with both raw material trade of higher quality meats and products produced through circular agriculture to enter the States with immediate recourse; and so does the information, methods and practice that can be best brought forth through successful and profitable businesses.  I believe Joost agreed with much of what I was sharing, at least of the objectives and possibilities.

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I’ve already hit on the importance of Cultural value associated to food in the Netherlands.  Equally, that opportunity to connect good food to someones backstory, first generation and linage prior, seems primed and destined for our US soils as we have so many cultural values of many backgrounds in which to aggregate. Let’s take cuisine diversity, and connect it through cultural association of grand-ma’s kitchen – no matter from where grand-ma hails.

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I want to spotlight a few folks from my program that seemed to personify cultural values.  First, he’s not Dutch, but of nearby brethren who share many similar beliefs, values and perspective – yet so very different, and teeming with Belgian pride: Michael Voordeckers, Strategy Dir at Hill + Knowlton – Eisenhower Fellow’10.  

Michael is a Belgian national with 15 years of experience in local government administration and EU political organizations. He has a high level of expertise in connecting national and private sector objectives to the EU agenda, particularly with regards to Competition matters (anti-trust, state aid, merger control), Trade (FTA & Anti-Dumping procedures) and energy & climate change. He also has an in-depth knowledge of the Belgian political and business landscapes and advises clients on both Belgian and EU issues. Michael also has an extensive experience in the restructuring of international companies and its consequences on the local level.

Michael started his career in 1998 at the Ministerial Cabinet of the Belgian Minister of Justice and subsequently he was a lawyer for 5 years at Storme-Leroy-Van Parijs LLP. Between 2004 and 2011 he was the European adviser of the Federation of Enterprise in Belgium (FEB). There he was in charge of European economic dossiers such as internal market, R&D, climate change, environmental issues, services and international investments. He represented the FEB in numerous working groups of Businesseurope.

Michael obtained a Master in Law degree from the Ghent University (1998) and has an MBA from the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School (2004). He is an Eisenhower Fellow’10. He is of Dutch tongue; and fluent in English & French.   – APEP Description

Michael was an incredibly gracious host to me during my entire time in Brussels.  He and his wife Katrien went above and beyond to welcome me to their home for dinner with newly anointed Eisenhower Woman’s Program fellow: Annemieke Serlippens. I’ve come to learn that this opportunity to visit Michael and Katrien, and meet their two talented young daughters at their home in Ghent may be something I’ll bragging about in cocktail parties in decades to come.  “I had dinner at the house of the First Family of Belgium – is how I’ll boast. You see, Michael is being groomed as a candidate for his party’s leadership, and eventual run for Prime Minister of Belgium. This dad first – who likes to partake in some green-thumb gardening in the backyard of their gorgeous modern home situated directly adjacent to a picturesque canal – may be destined to use his skillset on a grand scale. I was fed a fantastic meal, saw amazing sites and had an opportunity to get to know some top notch people.  What an opportunity, and I can’t thank the Voordeckers enough.

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On the second-to-last day of Fellowship travel, I moved from Utrecht in the AM, The Haag for early afternoon coffee, and back to Rotterdam for a late afternoon meeting that I’d been greatly looking forward to…  Prior to leaving for the fellowship program I’d been doing some research on the era of the enlightenment– a period in the late 1700s where cultural and intellectual powers promoted reason, analysis, and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority; much of which spawned out of the Dutch “societies of usefulness”.  The enlightenment was the time when cultures of progressive thought-leadership first combined with the origin of true & accurate science to ease social errors, shift politics and imprint future cultural norms.

With a request of my Dutch program officer, Lia Rosenbrand of APEP, to find an expert in this concept, and see if they’ll take time to meet with me – may have been difficult task especially only 1 week prior to departure for the Netherlands.  Not only did Lia deliver again, but she delivered quality.  An academic Doctor, and current University Professor teaching a class on the enlightenment, I was excited to meet Dr. Henk Oosterling – Rotterdam Philosopher.  The impact of cheapening food on consumers fatter and chronically ill in the western diet is in need of philosophical assessment, I was hoping to uncover a few golden nuggets in my discussion with Dr. Oosterling that would better connect the value of what sustains us as preventative human and planet healthcare, through deeper connection of ideologies.

Dr. Henk Oosterling teaches dialectic philosophy, French philosophy of differences, intercultural philosophy and philosophy of arts in the Faculty of Philosophy since 1985 and is associate professor since 2001. Oosterling has studied Philosophy & Japanese language at Leiden University but obtained his MA- degree (cum laude) in Philosophy at Erasmus University in 1985. In 1996 Oosterling obtained his PhD (cum laude) with a dissertation entitled ‘Moved by Appearances – Towards a hypercritique of xenophobic reason’. Oosterling plays an active role in the city of Rotterdam, for which In 2008, Oosterling received the ‘Laurenspenning’ for his important role in and contribution to social and cultural life in a quickly evolving city. Oosterling is initiator and operational director of ‘Rotterdam Skillcity’, a bottom up research model for urban revitalization and renovation, focused on the specific social-cultural and socio-economic situation of Rotterdam. – APEP program description

Nothing like having a few pints with a philosophy professor who knows his stuff.  He called it an Ecological Enlightenment – he explained that perception is fixed to our view and knowledge of the world, and getting folks to see alternatively can be the challenge, and thus knowledge is provincial.  He shared a few nuggets, and even armed with the desired silver bullet – it’s called “unbounded hard work” he said!  Throughout our discussion he shared both anecdotal stories of his accomplished career as a #changeagent in Rotterdam, and of broader efforts – successful and failed – through the history of mankind.  It was like getting a lesson with all the nuance and feeling the history books didn’t detail.  Not just the what, but the all important why.  One thing he clarified – how changed social errors seem so logical and straight-forward in hindsight, but truly rogue and ostracizing to most at game-time.  This to me is the epitome of the cost of cheap food at the expense of value for price.

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From my seat, what’s so exciting about the Dutch model of safer animal production and nutritious & clean grass-fed dairy is it not only sources to the largest segments of our US food system, but the entire process changes a consumer mindset to awareness.  This appears to be a key and critical driver to change a social error, or at least adoption of a precautionary principle worthy of change and evolution for the greater good of society.

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We, like the Dutch, rely heavily on our College and University systems to groom positive contributors to society.  The information shared in each institution’s hallowed halls is useful, yes, but the learning how to learn, how to meet tougher deadlines and form adult relationships and bonds; becoming a responsible adult in contained environment is part of the high ticket price.  As Americans, we go to, or strive to go to –  a 4 year college.  Many aspire higher still. It’s part of who we are, like buying a house – it’s cultural practice living out in social norms.

The Golden Triangle has staying power – it’s systemic:

So, the influence higher-education has on society is supremely strong.  A through-put engine churning out passionate contributors and future leaders, higher education has great responsibility in sculpting societal norms.  Great passion lies on nearly every campus across the US, teeming with belief in something greater than themselves.  Schools most often react to these situations well with adaptation to trends, but mostly it’s full blown movements that gets the ball rolling on campus.  Find me a college campus 2015 without a sustainability office, integrated curriculum, if not Dean of sustainability, and I’ll present to you how they’ll be out of business in less than a decade.  One of the latest movements enveloping a younger population in the United States is a better or local food movement.  40% of 20-somethings define themselves as “foodies” – caring for food quality and provenance. Even driving many young men, and even more coeds to summer farm internships (farm-hand) to best immerse themselves in their passion for higher quality food.  Funny, we’ve done little with land-grant US agricultural colleges, but it’s liberal arts colleges, progressive vocational colleges, and even STEM & business schools where sustainable agricultural programs have begun to gain mass appeal.

After visiting Wageningen I saw it in an entirely new light.  Dutch higher education injects system health for all practice food, environment and ecological within the entire university.  It’s taught and presented as a requirement of the whole.  At Wageningen UR, called Europe’s MIT or maybe best described as Nature’s MIT – I saw first hand the opportunity University has on evolving social norms.

I provided details on scientific research happening at Wageningen University as part of Essay 2: Evidence-Based Agriculture in meeting Dr. Bastiaan Meerburg, but another of my meetings on-campus that struck me unique was with Director, Wageningen International – Dr. Huub Loffler.  Huub presented the entire full-kit package very well.  Guiding me through the idea and importance of OneHealth, the best analogy I can make is the Dutch perspective on circular is similar to the immersive impact of technology on every aspect of day-to-day lives.  It’s just a different way of thinking and acting thanks to greater awareness.  The foundation for the formula is proper animal husbandry and well-being; it’s the keys to circular kingdom.  This thinking is immersive in their STEM programs which look to the guidance of natural order and that of the entire system instead of becoming too focused on mundane detail or reductionism that loses sight the sum is always greater than the separate – especially with realization parts are related.  Striving for nutrient security and not caloric intake, the Dutch focus on more efficient types of faming closer related to the system we belong.  This one system Health thinking is taught in all disciples, no silos, to every student that enrolls.  It’s immersive and impressive.

We’re more than a bit food ignorant in the United States.  From affect, effect, practice, or production location – we’re mostly blind to the food that sustains us.  Communications issues first – then infrastructure can follow, but like the Dutch have done with food, or we in the US have done with kicking a pervasive cigarette habit – we must embrace a known problem to afford positive solutions to follow.  In conjunction with land-grant college and universities – we in the States need to adopt research centers (innovation hives)  dedicated to promoting and progressing circular agriculture and antibiotic free meat production as means of reducing risk while teeing-up business growth to a market demanding alternatives.  Drawing upon parallels of producing safe and healthy food with appeal of environmentally conscious practice and the technology innovation economies thriving on campus in the US, the opportunity is to make wake of broader advocacy and engagement amongst generations next when food is treated as the business o f primary healthcare for body and planet.

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My goal in this Food Value essay was to first address some of the all important intangibles before getting to the foundation of food has as human’s leading source of health and well-being – good or bad. Previous chapters Decommoditization & Minimum Market Thresholds address the importance of nutritional value associated to food safety and market opportunity. Detailing how we must cleanse bad practices not serving our well-being at most dinner tables before delving into something as tangible as food’s direct impact on health.

While in the Netherlands , I was exposed to countless studies, field & lab experts, and replicated methods not trying to prove if the quality food is better through circular vs. conventional, as often studied in States where research projects have conflicted interest and lead to biased science for those who fund the initiative. Instead, nutritional value of proper practice is a constant and premise for nutrient security. “Bang-for-buck” quality, or food value, associated to better production and sourcing as preemptive and proactive healthcare just seems commonsense to the Dutch.

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I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Frits Thissen – Permanent Mission of the Netherlands in Brussels. My initial meeting upon arriving the first morning in Brussels, Frits took me out to an early lunch at a fantastic small family owned restaurant that made everything from scratch.  All ingredients sourced locally, or from personal connections in Italy.  As the Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality – Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the EU, Frits will have a big role to play prior to his retirement. In 2016, the Dutch take over presidency in the EU and have some exciting concepts and plans on utilizing agriculture as global innovation.

It is our daily job to negotiate and lobby on behalf of the Netherlands in the EU. This implies that all of us, each in his/her own specific field of expertise, are in daily contact with the representatives of the other Member States, as well as with the European Commission and the European Parliament.

A long-term strategy for food policy is needed in which ecological sustainability, public health and robustness of the food supply are the central pillars. Food policy must take account of changing power relations, incorporate seed companies, supermarkets and the food industry, and acknowledge the relationship between production and consumption. As regards ecological sustainability, the policy will need to focus not just on production, but also on consumption. Public health policy will need to focus more on the supply side. At present, the healthy choice is the difficult choice. – APEP program description

The Permanent Representation promotes the Dutch interests in the European Union (EU). The team consists of people from practically all ministries and other branches of the Dutch government, united in one building and one organization in Brussels. Frits shared ideas on reinvigorating food of it’s value and nutritional benefit, Frtiz is spearheading efforts to establish a Dutch food strategy for national security.  Part of a group defining a best approach to fixing a domestic & global food network, Frits was a significant contributor to the WRR  report designing continued refinement to their already progressive system which seems years ahead of our own.  It’s somewhat reassuring to see that they’ve still got some kinks to work out of their food system.

I very much enjoyed my lunch and time spent with Frits.  He was a funny and jovial guy with a great outlook on life.  Already living through many of the risks now facing production in the States, in a calm and proper demeanor – Frtiz provides assurance to me that what we need to accomplish is nothing that hasn’t been tried and done before.  As the Dutch progress their EU leadership to further circular agriculture innovation economies – they can rest assured they’ve got a smart guy keeping fires lit.

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A universal truth, consumers must know the facts of food.  The impact of what reaches the dinner table is far greater than the resulting personal gain or satisfaction.  Domestic US food production does not account for waste, environmental impact nor ecological footprint – that’s our actuality!  We’ve flattened a circular process into a frozen rope. These additional costs from mining the soil without replenishing systems needed for self-sustaining nutrient cycling have created a never ending waste-stream and defined an intensifying need for persistent inputs.  Despite wellness to consumer becoming of greater concern, a “true cost” of our linear food production is only just beginning to be realized with scarcer proximity to natural resources, and has yet to be incurred at the cash-register.  With no scope nor expectation of re-payment of this tax, we’ve externalized these “true costs” of cheap food to lessen the vitality of the whole system.

You see, food production has great impact to planet, soil & water. If you believe this to be the case, and appreciate an evolution in US production is required – it‘s pretty straight forward – a bridge must be built.  If we want to change this linear system so prevalent in the States, we must embrace with open arms current market leaders engaged in conventional agriculture to now partake in sustainable practice beneficial to their long-term sovereignty. As a call to action for my domestic brethren, we must adapt with empathy and diplomacy to accomplish greater impact. As serial entrepreneur and activist Gary Hirschberg explains “we must take a seat at the table if we want to be a voice of influence.”  

When you break down all the factors, the Dutch have a compelling story of free-market success. Business working to help control their own destiny is a much better way to go through transition vs. a fight where you wait to see how hard the stick will strike.  Numerous large companies in the Netherlands were proactive in servicing the changing desires of consumers for safe and nutritious food.  Getting ahead of the regulatory curve by looking backwards to move forward, it was realized the authenticity in Dutch food production and provenance of farming became worthy of growth & advocacy.  All the beneficial environmental and ecological impact was not just icing on the cake, but instead the core to a successful transition to circular.

An epiphany came during my fellowship with proof that not only is this the proper thing to do, as this planet is the only home we have to live, but it’s better business.  ROI in converting and operating a circular approach has shrunk significantly in the last decade. System efficiencies, lower cost of waste stream and production inputs, economies of scale, better innovation & technology have all taken part in lowering the entry cost of producing circular.  As increasing input costs compound with further requirements for more synthetics to produce the same volume of crop, it’s becoming hard to argue that the longevity and ongoing expense of circular is not a cost saver. Like the Dutch has demonstrated, if we employ this refined perspective as part of a true cost of food – taking into account a destiny of further regulation, increased expense and a change in consumer sentiment not be serviced – this puts new glimmers on leaders stepping-up to become accountable for our food actions.

We’ve done a nice job of justifying a lack of accountability for being grand-scale litter-bugs of linear perspective in the States.  As the 800lbs Gorilla in global food production, reducing our externalized costs that currently accrue on ecology and the environment will be of great interest to many. Repackaged as opportunity for potential growth, mitigation to climate change, and that of risk mitigation against a public health concern & loss of market-share – we can embrace our mounting waste-streams and that of the imprint on planetary boundaries, through changing the short-cut practices putting us in harms way in the first place.

Aside from the financial driver discussion, we must start acting like responsible adults in managing this inherited dowery of earth’s fertility.  That is just commonsense that seems to get strained with tainted short-horizon perspective and credulity.  As part of estate planning, how is the health of the planet not of greatest concern in passing wealth & wellbeing to the next generation? Best yet, as a leader of any kind – how do you see yourself in other’s eyes?  Are you looked up to as an empathetic individual attune to generation next; or a litter-bug on grand scale?  To a man, as we still evaluate atwhatcost is cheap food paid – we all deserve much more, and leaders must step-up.

To drive broad & diverse consumer adoption of higher-quality food as preventative human and environmental healthcare, many required steps to evolve practice have already been drafted.  Learning from close allies, we can gauge success in their tackling of same issue we now face on a shrinking footprint Stateside.  From the financial bridge required to support circular production transition; to the appropriation of proper techniques and plans; to a distribution and value-ad frameworks that decommoditize food via technological backstory and provenance; to sharing, testing and monitoring best production practice in reducing the expense of waste in circular agricultural systems – it’s there.   So, let’s stand-up like leaders, like parents our kids see us as – to address problems with haste and flip a method of sourcing sustenance corrosive in nature to one taking account for true cost.

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During a trip to the Haag, I had an opportunity to catch-up with Thijs Cuipers –  Director of LTO Netherlands since November 2011.   LTO is the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture, a union that represents over 65% of produced food in the Netherlands.  He is also a member of the soundboard group of the Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority(NVWA), Deputy member of the Social Economic Council (SER) and Deputy boardmember of the Dutch Employers’ Cooperation Program (DECP).  Thijs explained that there are about 50K agricultural ventures of scale in the Netherlands, and LTO represents well over 30K of those farmers.  Dairy/Glass-House/ Animal Proteins/tillable production are the big 4, but LTO represents over 80 different agricultural segments.

When give the choice to reduce the use of harmful synthetic chemicals, especially those of sprayed pesticides or antibiotics  – the farmer universally would be the first to adopt a cleaner and safer way to manage the production process and reduce their personal or that of their families’  risk of exposure. Toxins, carcinogens, hormone disruptors etc. are a scary issue for any parent, especially to those of kids living of the farms themselves. Can you imagine the feeling of those parents who learned that it was their pig farm who had gotten their daughter sick.  To learn that she, then the hospital, then concern of national security spawned from practices unknowing.  When you do learn of the cause and effect – what do you do with your farm?

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As with many of the meetings with senior leadership, both public and private, Thijs detailed the importance and commitment of his food producers to Circular agriculture, and not linear.  Effectively, there is now limited other way to produce food in the Netherlands.  Not just with causation, but considering a growing desire from products exported from these Dutch farming practices, who wouldn’t partake when they’re incentives and it’s in their best interest.  As in the States – farmers are ultimately entrepreneurs, they could go rogue and produce food through conventional practice but they’d lose access to that support system.   The Federal and European Union incentives and access to broad distribution channel of consistent demand & compensation are reliant on best circular practice, and a circular economy.

Thijs was the first to explain to me that only 4% of Dutch production is Organic (or Biologic).   I’d come to later learn that many of the practices instituted for a safer food system drove Dutch minimum market entrance thresholds higher in meat, dairy and produce.  As stated, the Organic stamp in Europe goes further than that in the States, requiring soil-based growing and numerous other attributes of idealogical process. Thijs was very clear in stating the reason that Dutch foods are known around the world was in direct accordance with first cleaning the domestic Dutch diet by raising those minimums to eliminate public health concerns.  Now, with enhanced global interest in their exports of cleaner, and healthier foods – LTO is working with farmers to ensure they receive returns for their investment.

We spoke a great deal about the importance of the Rotterdam Port.  As the Rhine River gateway to the rest of the world, Rotterdam Port allows Dutch opportunity to not only easily distribute their production via the third largest global port, but also through becoming a mecca of value-ad production and distribution.  As the 2nd largest exporter of food stuff in the world, and the 3rd largest importer – establishing a leading voice in production of staple raw materials like meat, milk and produce has afforded ability to vertically integrate the middle-market, and LTO farmers and the Dutch economy have benefited greatly.

So, it’s the coexistence with natural order in circular production that affords more LTO farmers greater potential without capacity of expanding their footprint.  Those efficiencies compound on themselves through better logistics and sourcing that places the Netherlands as a global superpower in food.  One thing is for sure, the Dutch farmers seem well represented.

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Our Planetary Boundaries are being stressed thanks to commitment to a single model of agricultural practice, amongst other unsustainable luxuries of modern living.   It’s our truth, and our nature, that until we feel the impact that can be traced directly to a detrimental practice – we do little to act.  Well-known private equity investor Jeremy Grantham is famous for his comparison to the modern middle-class American living better than any king or czar of empires past. Now, as we’ve cheapened resulting product quality and food safety for what seems to be all the wrong reasons; cheap food is not going to feed the entire world as planned, but instead seems ready to further nutrient insecurity and propagate poor human and environmental health.

What we can do now is to invest in risk mitigation of both business and environmental imprint through accruing value from the the soil up.  Circular agriculture is showing sure signs of being the required flagpole that could rectify many concerning unintended consequences of our wasteful western (now global) culture. Visiting the Netherlands couldn’t have solidified that notion more.  That very same book of Dutch forced innovation has established success from a commitment to a single health of the system. Where animal welfare may be the conduit for success, the foundation for the entire structure is the living soil.

We’re blind to the level of destruction and overall impact topsoil corrosion and loss will have on longterm capacity to feed a growing population.  The majority of Americans have know no clue to the provenance of their food, nor shortcuts that potentially putting them and their family in harms way. On top of that – the question of impact of that food on soil is a rounding error to most.  One thing is for sure, learning from a highly effective system of nutrient cycling with 3 Billion years of reducing waste through refinement & efficiency under its belt – the process of circular farming based on biomimicry of ecological best practice utilizes nature’s work-force so ready to contribute to a non linear approach to food production.  What’s beginning to be lost, like language of a lost civilization, are the gurus and coaches who know how to properly motivate and empower the microbes teeming in soil.

While at Wageningen UR, I was able to catch-up for lunch with one of those soil gurus –  Wim De Vries.  Wim is a research scientist at Alterra, a Dutch environmental research institute at Wageningen UR. Also a practicing professor, Wim holds the chair “Integrated nitrogen impact modelling”. The focus of his work is the interaction between air, soil and water pollution and its effects on natural ecosystems and the services that they provide.

My specific expertise is related to the development and application of integrated assessment models at various regional scales (landscapes, national, continental, global), evaluating the interacting impacts of air pollution, land management and climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, with a special focus on the elevated use of nitrogen in agriculture. The evaluated impacts include production and carbon sequestration, biodiversity, green house gas emissions, soil quality and water quality. Research results are included in approximately 120 articles in international scientific journals and more than 250 other professional publications, including articles in national journals, chapters in English and Dutch text books and scientific reports.     – Wim De Vries

A contributor to the of the European Commission JRC report – The States of Soil in Europe – Wim evaluates threats to soil salinization, acidification, compaction etc. throughout Europe.  Wim had insightful perspective on the requirements to transition to a more sustainable food production system in the US based on the numerous projects he’s been involved in throughout the Netherlands.  In our discussion, I found interesting his more conservative approach relating to conversion and operating costs of circular sustainable agriculture.  His point, and probably a better way to evaluate it, Circular practice transcends the entire short-horizion discussions of price vs. value; it’s instead based on known issues of depleting resouces and increasing demand.  So embrace it – it’s the inevitable future of food, he explained.  Short-term matters not if the system is destined to be corrupted.  Wim, and many of his peers at Wageningen have decided to learn from it, and see how food and natural resource management can keep pace with population.  From Wim’s perspective, soil is the unequivocal key to future prosperity needing a precautionary global plan to managing this unaccounted for resource of epic importance.

There are billions of microbes in every tablespoon of soil.  Varied biology by the millions living in a complex maze of bug hotels that help glue together this aggregated host called soil.  Natural plants grow as a result of this microbe, bacteria and fungi food chain; a web where omnivorous bugs deliver plant ready nutrients along the way – simply as part of their waste or survival stream. Coined by legenardy soil biologist Elaine Ingham as the “Soil food-web”, clusters of energy, plated and served to the next trophic level, this nutrient cycling is where the bugs are supposed to make the chemistry to feed the plants. Conversely, the synthetic chemicals of conventional agriculture slowly destroy the needed bugs with salt steroids tricking the plant into growth.  Devaluing the system integrity with lopping off links in the chain fosters a requirement for more pesticides, herbicides and fungicides which eventually further empower the “pests” ability to regenerate and become resilient to our synthetic defenses. More synthetics, higher in potency, are needed to produce and protect a yield of increasingly questionable in taste, quality and nutrients.  We’re going to lose this battle as the bad bugs always come back first, and with harder vengeance.  It’s hubris to think we can even understand the magnitude of the complexity below the soil surface, never-mind trying to control it.

Simply, the meaning of life, at least with soil, comes from a ratio of fungi to bacteria, kicking off the process that determines which seed germinates and what plants flourish.  In the proper skilled & knowledgeable hands, the process of succession becomes the building block of the food chain, which can be understood and harnessed with granular control.  Knowing how to influence an army of microbes has seen proven success, even in small scale in the US.

This meeting with Wim was one of my favorite conversations of the entire Fellowship program.  We ate at the on-campus “restaurant of the future” and discussed the orchestration of nutrient cycling happening throughout soil trophic levels.  A bit of my backstory to further detail my interest on soil.  I first got into food through soil, via a project for the PGA Tour.  10 years back, I spent time under the tutelage of Elaine Ingham in Corvallis Oregon- studying how to grow safer and more sustainable turf for golf.  There was some turf talk, less for ornamentals but more for grazing ruminants, and everything else focused on the power and capacity of living soil to produce food. Becoming a father earlier that year, the information came at me like an avalanche at that point, a learning cliff that would forever change my perspective, and purpose. There are just some things you can’t unlearn; and compounding after nearly a decade of fevorish work and passion, I’m at the point in believing that in order to rectify a few concerning wrongs- working with the circular economy teeming in soil is the only way.

The Western reductionist approach is our only premise to apperception of living soil, something we barely account for in all sectors of US food production.  Across the board of conventional food, there’s a lack of understanding for how the system really works.  We know small parts, some granular, and we try to control with synthetic chemical inputs.  Those inputs, and the pest preventative synthetics required as a result, have unintended consequences, including killing nature’s work-engine through sterilizing soil-biology.  To keep pace with past years outputs – more synthetic inputs with greater utilization are required.  Simply, the focus of conventional agriculture is to feed the plant, where as a circular approach feeds the soil – thwarting persistent increases in input utilization and cost. Destroying many links in a natural soil food chain that happen below the earth’s thin skin – we persist in cutting off our nose to spite our face.  If operating costs do go down, and Wim’s point of an inevitable future of concern with crop supply from conventional practice to meet increased demand for nutrient security comes true – the economics to transition to circular prove increasingly advantageous.

What became evidently clear while in the Netherlands, all these folks doing business in circular agriculture are in a different league. Wim and the rest of his team, his students and all others discussed in this essay series have established a support system, a Golden Triangle complete with free-market and incentive economic drivers fueling their scientific research of natural order.  Too often in the States, our thought leaders in alternative agriculture spend much of their time countering or defending validity.  Science in the Netherlands is premised by the discussion of system & Soil.

A spiraling layer a top the globe – the green zone is the safe operating space, the yellow represents the zone of uncertainty (increasing risk), and the red is a high-risk zone. The planetary boundary itself lies at the intersection of the green and yellow zones. The control variables have been normalized for the zone of uncertainty; the center of the figure therefore does not represent values of 0 for the control variables. The control variable shown for climate change is atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Processes for which global-level boundaries cannot yet be quantified are represented by gray wedges; these are atmospheric aerosol loading, novel entities, and the functional role of biosphere integrity.

I love talking turkey with people who’ve a unique grasp of soil and that of its broad-reaching and holistic value.  Highly respected for his analysis and proposed solutions, what an honor it was to meet with Wim De Vries.   One very fascinating part of the discussions was with regards to his involvement in researching and quantifying Planetary Boundaries.   Wim explained that the earth needs a “safe operating space for humanity”, and that comes with a better understanding of our imprint on these required resources.  About five years ago, 26 scientists identified nine (9) Earth system processes which have boundaries that, to the extent that they are not crossed, mark the safe zone for the planet, and of us.  Truly fascinating to think we in the States are barely just connecting the issues of climate change and agriculture, and agriculture on climate change – and these folks are 9 steps ahead!

On the train ride home I began speculating to what value this quantification of the planetary systems, or circular systems, could formulate with business for better food.  To the likes of Risky Business – an initiative to calculate economic risk of climate change spawned by Paulson, Stayer & Bloomberg, it would seem a holistic demonstration that abusing planetary boundaries is premise for impact of climate change being larger that only sea level rise and weather changes; one that instead looks at systems we’re part of circularly and not linearly.

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After decades of soil misappropriation, nearly one third of all quality topsoil has been eroded from the U.S. farm belt.  With no soil tilth (structure), as found with proper verve of ecology, more than 80% of these expensive synthetic chemical nutrients (water soluble salts) flow right past the plant roots, draining wallets and stressing water quality to environment of a different axis.  At the same time, plant requirement increase as poor soil structure can’t retain nature’s capacity to co-feed this plant, requiring a greater synthetic fix.  The more you use, the more you need!  To this, the conventional fertilizer and pesticide problem can be compared to a global drug addiction in dire need of intervention. 

Track-records has demonstrated that once growers are hooked on soluble synthetic nutrients and non-selective pesticide programs, it’s increasingly more difficult to turn a profit.  Increasing scale and size will only take us so far before the ceiling is reached or the floor erodes.  Depleting a natural resource designed to be regenerative, it’s not farming in the western world, it’s better defined as mining, and it’s just not financially sound and it’s sure doesn’t make commonsense.

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As footprint requirements are destined to grow and population density intensifies, we should learn from folks who’ve already lived through a squeeze and come-out smarter and more nimble.  I find this most telling in the dollar & Euros of the Dutch economy, especially from those shepherding free-market capital expenditures.  Epitomizing this is the superpower bank of agriculture, Rabobank. Holding a market cap nearing a 3/4 of a trillion Euros, Rabobank stays true to it’s roots as the farmer’s bank. Through vehicles debt and equity, Rabobank have fully vested circular agriculture as the model of the future.  When you look at all the factors, and reference future trends – this is what that commonsense looks like.

Rabobank is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It is a global leader in Food and Agri financing and sustainability-oriented banking. The group comprises 129 independent local Dutch Rabobanks (2013), a central organization (Rabobank Nederland), and a large number of specialized international offices and subsidiaries. Food & Agribusiness is the prime international focus of the Rabobank Group. In terms of Tier 1 capital, the organization is among the top 30 largest financial institutions in the world. As of December 2013, total assets amount to €751 billion and the organization is in the top 30 largest financial institutions. Rabobank is traditionally a farmers’ bank and it still holds an 85% to 90% market share in the agrarian sector in the Netherlands.  Rabobank also holds some 40% of the total outstanding sums on Dutch savings accounts and they account for approximately 30% of all private consumer mortgages in the Netherlands.  – APEP Program Description

I was welcomed to the Rabobank home office in Utrecht Netherlands by Marjan Van Riel.  As Business manager for food and agriculture for the bank, Marjan is a very busy woman.  Now, in this role for 18 months and coming from a previous position leading strategy at Wageningen, she’s had opportunity to blend together many disciplines leaned recently with those gained over a decade prior in the private sector as an executive analyst at a top Dutch feed company.  It was obvious in our discussions that Marjan was well versed in food, faming and financing.

We headed-up to their temporary office space, part of a transition plan to a new facility built to deal with consistent growth of employment now topping 60,000 globally.   Joining the meeting was Thomas Ursem, CSR Manager, Rabobank International.  Thomas was a stoic presence; he added wonderful notes of wisdom throughout the conversation.  He is responsible for coordinating the sustainability activities for Rabobank worldwide, supporting the sustainability network of experts and advising the business on integrating sustainability in the business, both in risk processes as in the commercial relation.  He explained, the focus of his work at Rabobank is creating sustainable supply chains, with a personal focus on remediating the environmental catastrophes happening with modern palm oil mining.

Marjan is a unique presence. Engaging, insightful and judicious in her questions regarding my fellowship studies and resulting proposed plan.  I felt like I was being interviewed by a true expert in reading human emotion and passion – a Katie Couric of global agricultural banking.  I was told, Rabobank is “the Bank for Food” with focus on fueling greater sustainable practice.  Marjan and Thomas both detailed how we need a business-like global transition to alternative production, and the only way to get there quickly is through properly allocated capital.  This is done through a few methods, mostly by developing vertically integrated investment stacks that affords growth via cash-flow, as well as support of different types of innovation economies.  As a large multi-national bank operating in 40 countries, many of the their financial allocations have been focused on the large Dutch production & wholesale distribution market, but they’ve launched separate efforts to service new technologies or greater global expansion. I picked-up many things during my discussion with Marjan and Thomas – both who’ll have direct responsibility in furthering Rabobank as the bank of future agriculture.  Mostly, what I took out of this discussion was the matter-of-fact language used in describing results of savvy financial plans that already return investors & shareholders proper returns for investing in food as preventative human and environmental healthcare.

– Circular production presents reducing waste as nothing but fiscally savvy commonsense.

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As the World teeters on the cusp of a Malthusian catastrophe unlike no other, for the first time in history to realize resources and unbridled growth are increasingly finite, more mouths turn to conventional practice for nourishment, and instead receive food-systems taxing to soil, body & environment rife with catastrophic backlash.

Litter is contagious, and that surely doesn’t make it right.  Despite, the vast majority of US agricultural practice is linear and exposed to the very environmental and ecological forces it forgets about. Through utilizing best practices in harmony with natural order, countries of limited footprint the Netherlands or other of increasingly squeezed resources like Isreal and Australia lead the way in establishing methodology for broader adoption of Circular practice by reducing or recapturing waste as a method to inherently finding efficiencies in One system Health.

This brought me to Gijs Kuneman – Managing Director of the Center for Ag and the Environment (CLM) in Culemborg, Netherlands.  Director of CLM since 2007, Gijs is responsible for the day- to-day running of the company, its direction and customer relations. He explained, the key is to not get married to either side, and instead connecting environmental stewardship with proper farming practice throughout.  He has been directly responsible for building this bridge between food production and environmental best practices by acting as a mediator that utilizes facts and outcomes mutually beneficial to business and environment proponents.  

CLM is an independent consultancy established in 1982 working in the field of sustainable food, farming and rural development. CLM carries out research and advises government at all levels, from local authorities to the European Union, as well as companies and non-profit organizations. Our expertise is rooted in professional practice and supported by our network of 250 farmers.

Read more of: The Vision of Gijs Kuneman

Focused on pillars of:

• Biodiversity preservation
• Water utilization and safety
• Carbon Imprint
• Economic Stability

It was a very interesting discussion.  Gijs knew his stuff, and was supremely well connected politically and amongst the business community.  Where he and CLM differentiate from most NGOs Stateside is their willingness to find diplomacy between the establishment of business as usual and the growing voice of a more environmentally and food conscious society.  Holding the framework together, Gijs seems proficient in using empathy as glue to keep interests & results aligned.

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be one with it.

While in the Netherlands I learned of Henk Ovink; a Dutch national who at the age of 47 had already established a global reputation as the man-for-water.   During fellowship travel & meetings, Henk’s work throughout the Netherlands and that of the United States, came to light often.  Most noticeably, his captaining the launch and orchestration of the epic Superstorm Sandy rebuild. So impressive was his knowledge and insightful plan – United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, expedited Henk’s ownership of this supremely high-profile clean-up & rebuild effort through a creative trade relationship engaging Henk as special water envoy to the US.   At this point in time, when the United States of America is making-up new titles for you – you’ve got some good things cooking.

Entering my last week in the Netherlands, after hearing of these accolades of a real-life Aquaman tackling significant problems – I had to reach out to the Grande Dames of Eisenhower Netherlands and ask for help in setting-up a meeting with this guy.  And they did, quickly opening the doors for which Lia from APEP again executed.   We had a meeting arranged that next Monday, a holiday in the Haag.

To establish some scope as to why I was so intrigued to meet with Henk – water is agriculture; especially all future agriculture.  It’s vitally important to learn how to better maintain reservoirs increasingly stressed to serious jeopardy; how to properly store water in the sponge of topsoil; how not to contaminate our vital building block which literally is our essence; and how to deal with risks of drought, flood or destructive forces of sea or fresh water-surgence to current food production.  With 70% of global fresh-water currently being allocated to agricultural irrigation, and known expansion plans of demand and imprint – as we begin to see conventional production pressing closer to an impending ceiling, water seems destined to be the instigator of change in food. A modern stab at a food-plan that tackles water issues would prevent further risks of failure like drought in California, or that of the looming possibility of a 2nd dust-bowl when the Ogallala aquifer that stitches together overwatered production in our breadbasket reaches point of no return. Often defined as next oil, I think water is a hell of a lot more important than that; without access to ample water to raise food from plant nor animal- we’ll fail through our food, thanks to water.

Henk and I caught-up at a outdoor cafe in the Haag.  He’s a smooth cat, with big plans.  I enjoyed our conversation greatly; his work ethic was as apparent as his intent.  The results he’s demonstrated with engaging public and private sector is inspirational. He explained that without strong dykes and buffering of canals – 60% of the Netherlands would be underwater.  Basically, the entire process the Dutch have adopted and built innovation around is – instead of fighting water, embrace it with open arms.  This stems from a same vein that looks for innovation in water, including agricultural models that originated wind-mills, and channels to buffer floods through properly storing water for future irrigation. Henk’s model for SuperStorm Sandy pulled together best innovations and technologies in a creative manner.  Supremely smart planning followed suit, and his use of an innovation economy has and will go a long way in affording better resistance during times of stress or disaster that will be proven not only immediately in Long Island sound, but around the US and globe as much of these best practices are being shared, and scaled for global consumption.

Henk Ovink employed an innovation economy to deliver Rebuild By Design, an RFP that received hundreds of original bids as possible allocations for Super Storm Sandy relief money. Drawing from the best thought-leaders and planners of resilience from around world, coastal New York & New Jersey gained the eye and resulting submissions of some of the most talented folks in the world through what could be best defined as a successful idea-crowd-funding initiative.  Henk defined a plan, he got the best, and they delivered in droves…

Most recently, Henk and the Dutch government began a plan to foster greater water ingenuity.  One of the booklets provided at our meeting, Water Innovations in the Netherlands presents 35 different innovations dealing with a diverse way to best utilize or prevent water catastrophe.

In March 2015, Ministers Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and the Environment), Ploumen (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) and Kamp (Economic Affairs) appointed Henk Ovink (47) as the first Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In his capacity as thematic ambassador, the Special Envoy for International Water Affairs reinforces Dutch ambitions in the water domain; he contributes to boosting the international market position of Dutch know-how and expertise.

Worldwide, water is a connecting issue. With its integrated approach to water shortages, water safety, water quality, logistics and transport, the Netherlands make the difference across the globe. We are leaders in the field, which is welcome, but that also obliges us to continue to invest and innovate, in the Netherlands and abroad. Our Dutch know-how and expertise are unique. I see plenty of opportunities to utilize this knowledge even better at the international level.”

Ambassador:

The key task of the Special Envoy for International Water Affairs involves economic diplomacy: as the ambassador for the Dutch water sector, he is responsible for maintaining good relations with foreign governments, knowledge institutions, umbrella organizations, coordinating and representative bodies, the business community and civil society organizations. He establishes connections with the other relevant top sectors (energy, agriculture, the creative industry). He collaborates closely with Dutch Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Representatives. He also maintains direct contact with bilateral and multilateral actors such as the World Bank, the United Nations, the OECD and the EU. He’s representative of the Ministers at international water meetings.

Henk previously held the position of Deputy Director-General of Spatial Planning and Water Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, and Director of National Spatial Development. Mr. Ovink currently serves as a senior advisor to the American Federal Government and the former Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Taskforce instituted by President Obama. For the reconstruction of the New York and New Jersey region, he developed and lead the ‘Rebuild by Design’ contest, which CNN designated as one of the most innovative ideas of 2013. Mr. Ovink has a long record of service in the business community, education and the government in the fields of spatial planning, water management and culture. Among other activities, he has served as Curator to the 5th International Architecture Bienniale Rotterdam, he sits on the International Advisory Board of the city of Rotterdam, he teaches at Harvard GSD and he advises the Rockefeller Foundation regarding their approach to resilience and water safety.

Getting too much water, or too little, is a reality of modern agriculture.  It’s the elixir and the expeditor!  The contamination of runoff & depleting process of conventional practice is stressing systems once assumed to have ample supply. The circular system gives back, and the more waste you can reduce – the less input and expenditures are incurred the following year – this holds very true for water.  Circular also reduces the risk of synthetic toxins and steroids reaching the water system through abstinence; at least that’s what Henk tells me he and his buds at the Hall of Justice are working on.

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If the only failed diet in the history of modern man is proving out to be the Western Diet, we must asses our current situation in dire need of insight.  Until we get our food system back in accordance with with safe and healthy, as the Dutch have proven, we’re likely to pay consequence to our health and that of planet.  Best yet, during discussion with Jan W. Van Der Schans I learned that in this past decade the entire mindset and knowledge of food has evolved in the Netherlands.  The immersive nature of OneHealth has established a systemic, if not generational evolution of food awareness.

Jan W. Van Der Schans is focused on short innovative food supply chains, while researching Agricultural Economics at Wageningen.  He explained that students, and other millennials in Rotterdam where Jan lives and curates communities for hyper-local food production are the driving force of food values.  I explained that we share a strong movement in the US related to Regional or Local food;  based mostly on local production being equated with safer, fresher and more nutritious food.  What I wasn’t aware going into May’s fellowship was to the extent that countries like the Netherlands had adopted circular agriculture as standard model abound.  As mentioned, raising minimum standards spawned tremendous business growth, and even better future prospects arouse out of an supporting economy.  Jan’s goal is to empower Dutch products and business to garner regional or city food provenance similar to Italian regions adopting agritourismo to promote a diverse brand, or wide-spread local decommoditization of food and spirits throughout France.

It’s only hubris or ignorance to continue to think we can control the system we’re a part of.   Instead, there’s unique precedent from food systems around the world on how to redraft a mindset of value through education and remediation of food ignorance – an infestation spread broadly across the US society.  The Dutch OneHealth model focused on animal welfare would influence the largest segments of US food system, but it also changes a consumer mindset to awareness in the process.  From Noblesse Oblige to environmental footprint – knowing about your food values matters more.  This realization seems to be a critical step to change a social error.  Intensifying this problem, we’ve been marketed to so often, placing drivers to price and savings rather than value, our credulity has gotten the best of us.  We’ve extended blinde-faith to a system asked, designed and empowered to make cheap food that adds calories to the world – and mission accomplished.

To win the nutrient security battle, and not the roid-rage freenzy to strip-mine sustenance from caloric for cost – it becomes essential to educate our citizens to take ownership and accountability of their own well-being and long-term health.   This is done in many ways, but as Jan points-out, knowledge-share and repetition begins with this immersed generation of teens and 20 years-olds deeply connected with food, and more engaged with agriculture.   A movement the US and Dutch share.

This declaration shared from culture to culture within the Dutch society now representing 150 ethnicities – empowers accountability of personal well-being through better food with backstory – an essential next step in paying for healthcare through preventative methods.

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In the short 30 year lineage of modern genetic engineering that jumped shark to transgenesis, we’ve resulted in 92% of corn (maze), and 94% of soy (soya) produced Stateside to now be of modified seed stock.  What seems so different in our approach in governing the building blocks that sustains us – is that with all other top-level determinants in preserving the sanctity of our species – the line of demarcation remains natural order.  Except food?  This era has set into motion a cascade of events that has led us to point of questionable and corrupt practices influencing the masses.  Who knows if it’s the GMO, but looking again at the precautionary principle here – why is it not the responsibility of those performing transgenesis Genetic Engineering (GE) on seeds to own the burden of proof?  If a GMO is different enough to own a patent for being unique, it’s different enough to be expressed to the consumer.

One thing is clear to me from this entire GMO discussion.  There is a growing group of engaged consumers looking under the hood with a skeptical eye.  The over use of persistent pesticides is alarming, herbicides have become as common as seed, water and fertilizer, and many are often engineered to only work together.  Do we really know enough about these “positive” results to bet future of our seed-stock on 50 years of science that is now proving its test subjects of the Western diet fatter and chronically ill. This instead demonstrates empirical evidence to look more in-depth.  Now, whether those results are only habitually bad eating, or from the raw materials – as pragmatists leading industry and regulation – we should hedge outs bets through diversification and investment in new innovations. Doubling down on what could be defined in history as the steroid era of food, just doesn’t make commonsense when consumer demand is suggesting otherwise.

For those vested in the world of GE food – the concept often boils down to transgenesis vs cisgenesis.  Cisgenesis empowers the use of naturally manipulating attributes of plant and seed stock  – a practice including grafting and hybridization employed globablly for over hundreds of thousands of years.   Transgenesis in not.  Effectively,  it’s a petri dish manipulation of intrinsic seed values through long-standing tournaments of Russian roulette with effort to gain attributes of perceived enhancements borrowed from other trophic kingdoms.  It’s something in serious need of re-calibration.  We’ll lose the battle of resistance on our soils, as discussed above the bad bugs of biology come back first in a broken system – and their super-charged and ready for vengeance.

I don’t think we should ban GE – I think we instead should empower and educate through understanding of certain concerning transgenesis practice.  What is BT enzyme really doing in that corn, or your gut?  Or, how engineers seeds resistant to allow heavy baths of herbicide glyphosate effects & affects on human and environment – a practice as linear as they come in destroying biodiversity, contamination and waste.  Did the original script to feed the world contain this knowledge or intent?  

The week before my visit to Brussels, the EU decided to let each country make their own decision regarding  GE crops.  Effectively, many countries already evaluate the line of demarcation for GE being cisgenesis/tansgensis – but no one stepped forward a replicable solution that makes industry and society comfortable.  For the EU, representing 28 card carrying countries, they decided to pass it back to the lower Courts of Appeals of each nation. With minimum threshold of labeling, we begin broader consumers awareness and loosen credulity needing of intervention.

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Mostly, we must empower consumers a framework to make their own decisions in using food as health.  Through labelly any product containing any GE product of transgenesis origin, we begin the process of empowering more well-versed decisions.  The burden of proof needs to be placed on those of controlling interest to prove the impact on personal & environmental health of these crops to not be detrimental; to prove that the empirical evidence of a fat and ill society has no link to the cheapening of food and devaluing livestock welfare associated to the practices of using their products.  That the GE crops do equally well outside linear systems of no regeneration, excessive waste and sterilization of all substrate – to instead thrive in a circular program without the additives.  Employing blind-faith that has prevented a consumer the freedom to know the true recipe of what sustains the well being of their families’ comes atwhatcost? If time will tell, results look souring.

No crucible of change other than awareness

Some say research into the effects of crossing outside of genotypic ranges and not playing within natural order over the past 30 years has demonstrated concerning outcomes; some say not.  I believe there are many other concerning attributes of our food system needing immediate action, detail through-out the atWhatCost essay series, but it seems GMO could be the required mobilization that empowers consumers to focus more on food value associated to nutrition and reduced risk of exposure to known toxins. GMO is a big deal as the crops associated now make up a huge portion of human food, and a larger portion of food animal feed.  This “advancement” now showing its age needs further scrutiny, and awareness of the consumer can be the best approach to empowering better decisions. 

Holding folks to task through advocacy has long-since been a keystone of US culture and society.   Who knows if GEs are good, bad or other.  I have my theory, as do many, and we often differ even within the same camp. But, keeping the US populations in the dark about something as intimate as what sustains them is the polar opposite approach needed to get more vested in their own personal well-being.  Establishing accountability affords awareness that can vastly improve personal health and act as premise so broadly immersive that this awareness of food could subsidize the future of the healthcare through employing the best type of care – preventative.

The empirical evidence of our ill society is proving that an overfed and undernourished people is costly with upkeep.  We must assess the validity of placing our entire nutritional security over the long-haul on a single approach of fundamentally unproven agricultural practice.  Depleting and expensive with waste, the longevity of current conventional food production in the United States, and abroad, is challenged.  But, with limited framework alternative to conventional production we maintain food ignorance and fall victim to credulity of compromised perspective. Further, because of our commitment to commoditized feedstuff, rampant addiction to growth agent antibiotics in food animals, and use of excessive & powerful synthetics fending off pests on produce and cereals – global scrutiny of US foods is very real and seems increasingly well deserved. This blind-faith certainty to the hubris of a few with biased intent that seems ready to exhaust essential resources through the heavy hand of monopolized business focused on short sighted profit drivers is without consideration of food’s intrinsic purpose of nutriment and value.  We’re in dire need of different perspective in protecting our nest eggs.

It’s nature’s way to balance trade-offs between characteristics such as growth rate, tolerance, drought resistance and defense to plague.  This comes with understanding that we’re part of a process – offering further insight into working in unison and not against the systems we partake.  We may be able to fool the system with artificial growth for a while, but it’ll bite back and we’ve no redundancy plan to deal with that consequence.  Very much as Henk Ovink is coaching the States on embracing water, we need similar systems thinking with regards to soil and environmental health.  This mindset defines new opportunity for US agricultural production to diversify by embracing regenerative natural order as investment to mitigate future risk to ourselves & surroundings.

Step one in mitigating production risk in the United States takes advantage of our top assets. Returning grazing animals to being part of land management, and focusing on agricultural practice that feeds the soil and not the plant are undercapitalized segments in US sustainable practice with broad upside.  Financial commitment to programs that put ruminants back on pastoral grass, and fostering the science of reducing input cost through finding efficiencies in regenerative Circular Agriculture creates immediate business opportunities that promote (One)Health of the system.

In 2013, the Wallace Center Pasture Project detailed demand for grass-fed beef in US Domestic markets that equate to $10 Billion.  With no immediate market leader and rare-few domestic producers of scale – the vast majority of supply is coming from abroad; imports from Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Uruguay etc.  Mind you, this supply may be short lived.  At the Global Ag Investment Conference held in NYC this March, there was an entire conference track dedicated to servicing the influence of China’s 300M middle-class desiring a food animal production that included grass-fed meat and dairy.  With unique proximity to Australian & Kiwi production, and an unprecedented trade agreement recently established between Chinese and Brazilian governments – all that imported cryovac grass-fed beef servicing US demand is destined a different future.  As future volume of higher quality food currently servicing US demand heads to the Far East, a new source of supply is required.

As I’ve witnessed first hand in helping to orchestrate the Entrepreneur Agrarian Fund, the opportunity to build a series of farms producing consistent supply of quality meat to wholesale distribution is vast and well beyond our scope of only serving New England.  Growth off a strong balance sheet with sustained cash-flow and increased earning potential at scale does well in building rock-solid business ventures.   Through selling higher-quality food, especially based on assets as tangible as land & livestock, other countries have proven that pragmatic investment in circular can benefit general consumer health; it can rectify the potential of an epic health outbreak; it will establishes a cost-saving production model at scale; and it reaps great benefit of positive unintended consequences associated to environmental and ecological impact – all through utilizing best sustainable production methods.  Only one of these attributes seems reason enough to invest proper capital into concepts alternative to linear on US farms, but this collective quiver affords a unique arsenal for public and private support of circular food production.

Delivering a consistent supply of high-quality products to wholesale distribution servicing the aforementioned domestic & global demographic of those re-connecting food to their personal wellbeing is without a doubt the single largest hurdle hindering evolution in the US food system.  Circular practice lacks unified guidance, capital and representation Stateside.  This is a problem as land, water and inputs begin to test as finite resources even on our huge island of bounty.  But, it seems as long as we act swiftly we can fear not, as others have had it much worse and innovated to thrive.

If we’re interested in seeing what our future will look like – we need no better example than the Netherlands. Evolving a nearly exact replica of current production in the States, the Dutch in the last decade have changed their approach to dealing with food animals to redefine future global circular agriculture. Busting at the gills, and constantly managing water & arable land – the Dutch have made significant invested in agricultural innovations and through such have gained general societal awareness to the importance of safer and healthier food on personal wellbeing.  Becoming an agricultural superpower and global influencer (only behind their bigger cousin, the United States, which sits at nearly 250X the landmass) thus came with realization their products of higher standards gained unique demand.  What’s so intriguing in hindsight, preserving cultural heritage to better service this evolving global demand from consumers aligning health to the food they eat may be the best investment and most creative ingenuity in the bunch as it offered a pathway of risk mitigation by taking pride in being, well, more Dutch. 

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The Precautionary Principle is effectively a guide to taking actions now that would prevent future undesirable actions or results.  When inertia from past detrimental events gains overwhelming advocacy for change – that’s when reform of social errors often takes place. Each society has their own – which effectively tells backstory of a nation.

In 2005, UNESCO best defined the concept of the precautionary principle as when human activity lead to morally unacceptable results that are scientifically plausible, but often not proven (often due to magnitude or complexity) – actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish harm.  Unbiased scientific evidence shall be the benchmark to enact actions as both interventions of current practice and innovations to improve or refine the future. Effectively, in situations where we forgot to measure twice prior to cutting, the precautionary principle process evaluates impact of short cuts or intrinsic flaws needing further insight and acumen.  Current review of man’s contribution to climate change since the onset of the industrial revolution is a prime example of a principle shared globally.

Eradicating an immersive societal smoking habit once open and pervasive throughout the United States is fantastic example of success in judiciously instituting a precautionary practice for the betterment of the society.  I joke with farming friends thinking of transitioning to sustainable practice, that the best course of action is to start growing in circular fashion, or just completey jump-ship and plant sterile fields of conventional tobacco dripping with synthetics. What seems to be a huge differentiator, and a feather in the cap of production of higher-quality food as compared to tobacco, we’re not trying to ban food. Instead, it’s about shifting focus of existing business to invest in new innovation of circular food production.   This approach to mitigating risk, regulatory and market, just seems a more advantageous approach for circular food advocacy and conventional practice alike.

25 years since the fall of the once great empire of US domestic tobacco sales, the results of reducing a known societal health concern has now seen great impact on health and societal norms.  Taking a generation to fully realize beneficial results, we should be proud of a track record that has greatly reduced use and immersion of cigarette smoking in our society. With different drivers for societal change, the Dutch had their own fish-to-fry. Living through the backlash of food production’s hit on human care, with near immediacy they began designing a systemic precautionary food principle that took a decade to now realize.

Upon returning Stateside, I came to learn cigarette usage in the Netherlands is about 60% higher than in the States, and nearly double the amount of Dutch kids smoke cigarettes compared to Americans.  After three weeks of being immersed throughout the Netherlands I felt I got a feel of the populous. Anecdotally, it seemed a saw a huge volume of smoking in all generations.  It was a bit odd to see, young and fit folks – ripping butts through-out the day.  The above cigarette advert of a young, attractive and fit woman riding her bike (without a helmet) while enjoying a smoke seemed spot on. I saw young kids, elders, pregnant woman, professionals and many millennials with a lit cigarette in one hand, and the pack of smokes complete with the jolly roger skull & crossbones toxic warning in the other. I learned while in the Netherlands, like in the States decades prior – in trying to eradicate this known public health concern through precautionary practices that will improve the health and well being of their society – the Dutch have recently banned smoking cigarettes indoors and in public places, and they’ve established a knowledge-share campaign paid-for by the extra taxes incurred on tobacco sales.  To be honest, after hearing of their incredible commitment to food as healthcare – I was surprised to the volume of smoking I saw in the Netherlands.  A friend described it as what a Hollywood parody on the French might look like.  I believe it’s a bit of a sensitive subject, like the obesity problem in the States, but none-the-less I found it refreshing and somewhat encouraging.  No-one likes teachings of perfect people.  But we do have tendency to learn from those who’ve fixed known mistakes; we’re suckers in the States for innovators and the come-back story.  It’ll take some duration, but no better time than the present for addressing problems with food or smokes.

Free-markets have a tendency to boil down the wrongs-and-rights of who’s liable – and for what.  Insurance companies have been telling us for years that smoking is taxing on health and premiums reflect such lifestyle choices. Life and health insurance companies delve further – assessing your wellbeing, poor or good, as a rate determinant.  So, why shouldn’t a preventative approach to healthcare by eating well sourced higher-quality food be of greater reward in our free-markets?  It would seem in the best interest of big insurance companies to support such a plan of instituting a precautionary approach. A carrot, along with stick, could vastly improve our risk factors with food and resulting health. Premiums could flatten, but profitability would increase as less taxing care costs afford better returns. Nearly every provider not offers fitness reimbursement, pretax dollars can be earmarked for massage or alternative and homeopathic care – but not that of higher quality food?  To be absolved of past eating sins we must take accountability for cheap food. 

Taking this leap with some precautions in how we raise food animals, or alleviating toxic exposure in the food we eat seems to make a lot more commonsense for the general public as compared to what we’re broadly digesting domestically through US production and paying for in reactionary care.  Less cases of cancer, heart disease, obesity and other modern plagues could be useful fodder in conjunction with industries and regulatory forces yet to chime in on food and its impact on health of constituents and surroundings. It’s time preventative care gains shelf-life.

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While in Brussels, I had the opportunity to visit the US embassy and meet with Jim Higgiston, our Minister-Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Mission to the EU.   Jim has an impressive and intriguing past; he first joined the Foreign Agricultural Service in 1984 after graduating with a Master’s Degree in International Trade and Finance from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He joined the Foreign Service in 1987.  Jim has served in Moscow (1988 – 1992), Warsaw (1997 – 2001), and Ankara (2002 – 2006). He has also held a variety of positions in Washington dealing with analysis, food assistance and trade policy. Since August 2010 Jim served as Deputy Administer for the Office of Foreign Service Operations (OFSO). As Deputy Administrator for OFSO, Jim was responsible for all FAS overseas operations which included 96 posts, 110 American officers and 320 Local Staff with a budget of over $90 million.

Jim was the first to educate me that a precautionary principle is a replicable formula.  He explained that recent report comparing US practice vs EU found we nearly mirrored each other in volume of implementation, but application of precautionary approach varied greatly.  I’d heard of the concept prior with regards to seat-belts, bike helmets, automobile airbags and cigarettes, but never fully evaluated domestic sustainable food production as a potential method to modify future risk of keeping all the eggs in a single production basket through shifting the burden of truth.

Jim listened, had a few questions, and listened some more to what I was trying to accomplish with this fellowship program.  Sustainable agriculture is too often presented as only black and white – and I feel, as I believe Jim did as well, this was not the proper approach.  Joining our meeting was Yvan Polet, a knowledgable specialist in European agriculture.  Jim and Yvan asked of me poignant questions regarding the introduction of alternative production at scale in the States.  Overall, I think the conversation went well.  I left the meeting feeling genuine intrigue from Jim despite some exceptions taken from my definitions of food commoditization and lack of value in conventional US production; understandably so.  Both Jim and Yvan recognized the opportunities in servicing growing market demand of food of circular practice, and some potential in mitigating risk to certain detrimental practices that may use a fresh perspective in sourcing food with a more environmentally conscious approach to farming.  Jim did mention, if ever there was a modern agriculture system to evaluate diversification for the US, the Dutch approach was it.

What the Dutch got as a result of cleaning their food system and defusing the risk of resistance has materialized into the health of their citizens recently projected to have the lowest future global obesity rates in the developed world.  Evolving food, as with cigarettes, will be a slow-burn. This will prove to be mostly Market driven, but a few ground rules instituted preemptively will help change habits through limiting availability and accessibility through different perception.  In each and every country we all share unique backstories that have led us to discovery with different cadence. Better appreciating other’s successful prior-art in rectifying societal health issues, and learning from our inevitable truth should be a cornerstone of future trade discussions as precautionary practice amongst progressive allies both interested in feeding and making healthy a shirking world seems a must.

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Properly incentivizing farmers and production capacity to migrate to circular practice in the form of existing business diversifying their offerings to service changing consumer sentiment and through an influx of capital to support innovation & product niche expansion, a bridge takes a few forms.

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Picture this: a Dairy, the 5th largest in the world, that sources nothing but milk and operates with revenues similar to those of United States Grocer Whole Foods.  You may have the wrong image of production in your mind – unless you’ve been to the Netherlands.  For Friesland Campina, producer of huge quantities of best quality dairy from nothing but pastured and grass-fed cows, the focus is clear – it’s about nutrition and healthiness of clean dairy throughout this 170 year-old Cooperative.

Every day Royal FrieslandCampina provides millions of consumers all over the world with dairy products containing valuable nutrients. With annual revenue of 11.3 billion euro, FrieslandCampina is one of the world’s five largest dairy companies. FrieslandCampina supplies consumer products such as dairy-based beverages, infant nutrition, cheese and desserts in many European countries, in Asia and in Africa. Products are also supplied to professional customers, including cream and butter products to bakeries and catering companies. FrieslandCampina also supplies ingredients and half-finished products to manufacturers of infant nutrition, the food industry and the pharmaceutical sector around the world. FrieslandCampina has offices in 28 countries and employs over 22,000 people. FrieslandCampina’s products find their way to more than 100 countries. The Company is fully owned by it’s employees, with more than 19,000 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives. – APEP Program Description

Convening at Friesland Campina’s Global headquarters in Amersfoort, we met with Jaap Petraeus – Manager Corporate Environmental affairs & Sustainability, and Jan William Straatsma, Manager Sustainable Dairy for Friesland Campina.  Also joining me for this day of meetings was friend and German Investment Banker confidant, Benedikt Boesel.  Ben has a background in farming, and is set to continue his role with agriculture on his family’s expansive farm near Berlin.  He’s smart, passionate and cares greatly for evolving food through proper channels; his impact is only just beginning to be felt.

Japp gave us an overview of what Friesland Campina was up to regarding corporate sustainability, circular production practice and One animal Health.  Unlike here in the States where sustainability is ofter a rounding error or appeasement stats – in the Netherlands it’s as immersive in all business silos as technology, and adoption of broad-base sustainable practice in Dutch food companies is a standard.  As Manager Corporate Environmental affairs & Sustainability at Royal Friesland Campina, Jaap is very professional in delivery and material. His specialties are the sustainability issues within the Dairy, and the Food industry, directly responsible for setting up a company policy on sustainability and how to implement into the organization.

We discussed many of the global strategies employed by Friesland Campina.  One I found very interesting was the tests in creating Dutch Dairies on non-domestic soils. Friesland Campina milk sourced not just from import, but through production on foreign soils through best proven methods aggregated within their dairy Coop.

Friesland Campina is huge, and like US grocer Whole Foods they have not sacrificed their mission nor ethos for profit. Alternatively, I think they’d both agree that in the long-run their commitment to consumer and planet will generate more profits. Where they differ, Friesland Campina seems more of a Dutch standard, where as Whole Foods is surely the US anomaly.

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Anterra Capital was formed in 2013 from the spin-out of Rabobank’s proprietary food and agriculture venture capital fund, Rabo Ventures. Today, they’re backed by Moonray Investors, the proprietary investment arm of FIL Limited (the parent company of Fidelity International), and Rabo Private Equity, the proprietary private equity arm of Rabobank, a global leader in food and agriculture financing.

Our close working relationship with Moonray and Rabobank ensures us access to industry-leading knowledge and a comprehensive network of industry and investment expertise. Through this partnership, our companies are able to access resources that are proven to accelerate global growth.

I caught-up with Managing Partner of Anterra Capital, Adam Anders at his offices in Amsterdam.  Adam has over 14 years of private equity and venture capital experience, having entered the sector as a senior operational executive for several venture capital funded businesses. Adam has held senior roles at Rabobank including as a Director of Rabobank Private Equity and the Managing Director of Rabo Ventures.

Adam grew up in rural South Australia where his interest in agriculture & food innovation was initiated. Adam is a regular top-billed speaker at food and agriculture conferences, and that passion and leadership he presents for improving global systems was evident in our discussion.

Adam described what they were up to at Anterra; a fund managing more than EUR100 and focused solely on investing in the future of food, and new food technologies.  He explained that when approaching Fidelity to be an anchor LP, the fund was instead nearly completely filled that day by the Fidelity Umbrella.  It does make sense when it comes down to it.  I spent a few years working at Fidelity early in my career.  After one of his speaking engagement I had the opportunity to meet with legendary Magellan fund manager Peter Lynch.  If you follow the Peter Lynch guide to investing – putting investments into what your kids care about is usually wise.  A new venture fund designed to cultivate business growth in fields of great interest of generation next – like higher quality food and circular production, well, that just makes commonsense.

A pragmatist who sees great value in spawning new food ventures through financially backing raw and energized talent, Adam is on to something big.  Investing domestically in the Netherlands, and now looking throughout the US, Adam utilizes his talents in finance and his passion for agriculture to build a bridge necessary in fostering a more robust innovation economy of circular agriculture and food.

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Paul explained to me the grande reduction of active ingredient pesticides used in the EU over the past decade. Dropping from nearly 1200 synthetics used 8 years ago – down to around 300 used currently in circular production. Koppert has played a key role in reducing the use of supremely dangerous pesticides and fungicides on especially susceptible crops like produce & cereals through empowering natural order.

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Heading out near Lelystad, I traveled to the home office of Schothorst Feed Research.  This group is responsible for evaluating 80% of feedstuff coming into the Netherlands (mostly from Brazil and Argentina).  I spent about 3 hours with Dr. Piet van der Aar, Managing Director at Schothorst feed research.  Dr. van der Aar explained that about 10% of all global feedstuff is based on their research at Schothorst.  Production from healthy food animals is big business in the Netherlands, and not much is left to chance.  The approach Piet and the smart folks at Schothorst utilize is learning from best practices and efficiency in natural systems. Better use of by-products, and broader introduction of diversity into diet is their focus in growing business and refining feed efficiency in a healthy system.  

Piet detailed how the US remains an island in its animal production.  He explained innovation in the States is too often about blind manipulation rather than appreciation for known best practice found in natural order.  According to Piet, the most important advancement for Agricultural Science will be an evolution:

Quantity →  Quality →  Sustainability

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Piet van der Aar received a Masters Degree in animal nutrition from Wageningen University in 1979. Besides Animal Nutrition, he had Grassland production as a major and Animal Physiology and Marketing and Marketing Research as minors. During his Master phase he also spend 6 months at Cornell University at the laboratory of Dr Van Soest. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1982 in the area of Nutritional Biochemistry on the Thesis : Effect of alcohol-water treatments on the utilization of soy bean meal by ruminants at the University of Illinois. Since 1982 he’s worked at Schothorst Feed Research B.V.  holding positions including ruminant researcher, coordinator swine research, and now managing director.

Innovators looking at alternatives aside from staples soy(a) & rapeseed, Schothost has begun testing insects, micro algae (a multifunctional raw material), seaweed, dehulled pulses, and broader spectrum yeast & fungi as potential feedstuff proteins.

Comparison traditional vs alt sources (Krimpen’12)

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Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) is an independent private research and consultancy institute for animal nutrition, dedicated to assist its clients in the development and implementation of nutritional knowledge into profitable and innovative feed concepts that are socially acceptable. The office and state-of-the- art experimental facilities are conveniently located in the central part of the Netherlands. Large scale experiments under practical conditions can be performed with livestock animals as well as lab scale R & D trials. With a long tradition in the international feed industry our main area of expertise is to assist clients worldwide in implementing nutritional science into practical and economical feed formulations, nutritional products, and feeding programs adapted to local markets and circumstances. The unique combination of expertise in digestive physiology, feedstuff quality, quality assurance, feed evaluation systems and nutritional requirements of high productive animals and the continuous interaction with feed companies all over the world, make SFR an excellent partner for leading companies in the feed to food chain.  The organization has knowledge transfer contracts with feed companies in 22 countries in Europe and Asia. Only in the last 2 years, Dr van der Aar has giving invited 20 speeches and lectures on topics regarding implementation of scientific knowledge in feed formulation. – APEP Description

Schothorst facilities situated on 88 hectares near Lelystad

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Appreciating the need for further research in animal feed, Piet detailed some concerning trends happening around the global with food animals and feedstuff.  We should heed these warnings and begin to plan according as our business-as-usual constant will change.  Feedstuff alone is well worth risk mitigation Stateside.

International trends in feedstuff:

• Increasing livestock production in Asia and India
• Increased volatility of feedstuff prices
• Competition between food, feed and fuel through 2030
• Increased pressure on water and land use
• Sustainability becomes global concern
• Genetic potential of animal hybrid vigor keeps on increasing
• Geopolitics will also affect feed to food chain
• European protein policy
• Knowledge shifts from public to private

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As the Dutch have clearly demonstrated at scale, with proper incentive, a circular approach to farming is in the best interest of those who it serves – and will be eventually adopted ubiquitously.  A healthier work environment that accounts for externalized and true cost of food leads to a residual of lower operational expense as input costs shrink and a framework for more fiscally sound business is based appreciation and not depletion of natural resources. One system Health is better of the farmer, the consumer, the environment – through the conduit of animal welfare.

While in Brussels, I caught up with Koert Verkerk to discuss how the Dutch have made a name for themselves through clean and safe food animals.   Koert is a Policy Advisor of International Affairs at LTO Netherlands. This dynamic guy in his late-20s is already making good things happen.  He’s directly responsible for coordinating lobby activity on an international level.  What I found most interesting was his perspective on food and agriculture as an informed Dutch millennial.  He had heard of animal production practice in the US, and at the scale it’s performed on large bovine, and followed with many questions about regional differences and demand in the States. A few folks at LTO were less bullish on TTIP and future trade of clean meat & dairy with the US, but Koert was enthused to learn more and see where the future may lead.

I found it telling that the farmers trade organization in the Netherlands representing higher quality Dutch products had hired this businessman with scientific farming  savvy.  A Wageningen graduate who is already tooled with unique knowledge and passion – as the Dutch take over the EU presidency in 2016, it seems their model of Dairy, meat & OneHealth is primed for lobbyists of clean and healthier food to lock horns with those of special interest in conventional food production in DC.

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It’s a short fuse before the general public in the US will better understand & appreciate the public health risk we’re self-inflicting through our livestock operations.  The gross overuse of antibiotics as animal growth agents now accounts for over 70% of total domestic antibiotic usage happening on the farm.  As both qualitative and quantitative evidence based agriculture, for a decade the Dutch OneHealth model has proven successful in mitigating risk by stamping out a festering public health issue ready to inflame.

Mostly spawned from this slow and sustained use of antibiotics on the farm, Superbugs or “Resistance”, have now caused millions cases costing the US health system $20B and 30K lives.  Treating animals as persistently sickend by the system, in conjunction with artificial weight gain and additional feed efficiency has developed a framework intrinsically flawed.  We can learn from trusted allies that cutting corners bites back – hard, and evolution is a requirement.

Reported at only 12% utilization for growth agent purpose in the States, an industry consensus shows numbers significantly higher, as usage data is being alternatively defined for on-farm antibiotic administration.  Currently using an estimated 30 Million lbs of antibiotics annually to raise our feed animals, the arcane and non-required process of collecting the data on antibiotic use prevents accurate assessment and true reporting in US production.  Bolstering the immunities of germs & not humans, as Sir Alexander Fleming warned with the advent of penicillin, administration in slow and small doses will establish microbial immunities – superbugs.   This process, whether defined as growth agent or not, is a a self-inflicted bio-warhead with no current checks and balances requiring immediate remediation. Leaders are more worried about the results of an Iran nuclear deal 15 years down the line when we’re curating an epidemic of WWIII proportion on our homelands today!

We live in a shared environment where bacteria selectively affects animal throughout the food chain.  With us at the top, we consume all the potential risk.  Despite a first US attempt to alleviate the overuse of antibiotics in 1977, we remain paralyzed with practice of slow and federated on farm utilization.  Not requiring a prescription, antibiotics are routinely ingested by livestock through feed or water.  This habitual on-farm use is what has been proven in Europe to accelerate antibiotic resistance now threatening human health.

When this is presented as investment in agriculture innovations which deliver diversity to production that’ll better mesh with an evolving global market demand increasingly less interested in commoditized US feedstuff and meats, that is risk mitigation to surefire public health outbreak and against loss of business. Not to be forgotten, the US Domestic demand for higher quality meats is already a $10B industry with the vast majority of that supply being sourced by international import – so, capturing new business is equally on the table for domestic production.

The success of this required production evolution in the Netherlands came in tow with track-record and use data from professionalizing the data stream.  Even without full government commitment, the free market opportunity will eventually move this small niche intro broader adoption here in the States as superbugs spawned from food production is nearly guaranteed top billing as a future meme throughout a connected society. The Dutch solution, now a decade in the making, empowered veterinarians to become the holders of the keys to utilization and tracking.  This same practice seems an ideal scenario for modifications in the US.

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A profitable economic model designed to invest primarily in real-assets (farm, land & animals), that benefit many stakeholders through correlating returns to the sale of decommoditized meats (meats that are clean or have additional market value) from animals raised with proper circular practice is premise for the private equity fund I represent in Boston.  The Entrepreneur Agrarian Fund (EAF) focuses on servicing the demand for grass-fed beef cattle and clean swine in the Northeast United States through building a series of farm enterprises meeting increased wholesale demand for higher quality proteins.  Our model is unique and revolutionary in the US, but not so for financial vehicles around the world.  Many of the farms producing grass-fed beef in Australia, that later ship cut primals in cryovac bags operate in similar fashion, but on Australian soils.

What is often overlooked by most of US beef production is the operational cost of grass-feeding cattle stays relatively flat, if not decreasing overtime, where conventional production is extremely susceptible to price volatility associated to being reliant on numerous commodity bubbles.  The sun and ecological workforce source an ongoing feedstuff to ruminants on pasture – which in turn produces healthier animals on proper forage, and that of better welfare from pasture not confinement.

Land is often the primary concern of most when we describing pastural animals.  The concern is often associated to the expense of cropland in the US.  A valid concern, although the Dutch would chuckle when hearing the US complain of accessibility to land, but worth exploring further.  First, there is a great difference between returning fallow pasture vs. cropland.  Since pasture is often a next natural step in land regeneration – returning animals to the natural process is how the system works to begin with. Even marginal lands can succeed – especially when coached properly.   Pasture is not fighting to fend off a natural process, as with row crops, it’s instead mixing a recipe known to thrive when ruminants and grasslands work together.  What’s exciting for US production – steeped with history and tradition – putting animals back on the farm only disrupts a the tail-end portion of the existing framework as many of the pastural practices still exist throughout production beef and dairy workflow. Most young food animals could be diverted immediately into circular programs focused on consistent animal health and not commoditzed food stuff.  As witnessed in the Netherlands, having dairy and meat animals on the farmland is part of who we are as a nation; it’s our linage.  If celebrated, and promoted it draws fresh and unique appeal.

Last year I had opportunity to engage with Pully Rutland – CEO of the US Cattlemen’s beef board and an Eisenhower fellow’13.  We’ve stayed in contact and seem to share similar intrigue in opportunities arising for US beef.  While in the Netherlands, I sent a note asking of her interest in working on a project that demonstrates how grazing bovine can work to remediate deserfication in the US high plains and southwest. This concept is something Allen Savory has spent a lifetime promoting – and groups in the US are beginning to look at the model not only as a way to address soil and natural resources concerns, but as a proper method to infuse natural carbon sequestration into the bank account of healthy soil through grass and associated practice of fixing nitrogen via forbs & legumes.  Polly couldn’t have been more enthusiastic.  As she concisely explains, beef coming from the States spends a great deal of it’s time on grass and pasture; often preserving these areas where water has grown increasingly scarce.  The economics still make a pastured and grazing incubation process in both cow/calf & stocker thrive in conventional production systems. What Polly and I were discussing, when cattle is managed properly through pulse/mob grazing even on marginal land, and animal welfare matters, there’s millions of years and 60% of global land covered in grass as evidence that OneHealth is beneficial to animal, soil, environment and planet.

Here’s the kicker – through extensive research in the industry, at the EAF, we’ve demonstrated that the cost per lb. of weight gain is about .70 cents on grass, as compared to $1.25 on corn or other seed/grain feedstuff.  For grazing dairy, grass-feeding is even more economic feasible, as expediting animal to weight of harvest is not a concern, and according what I learned at a few different dairy farms in the Netherlands who invest significantly in animal welfare – the average longevity of grazing OneHealth animals can be an additional 2-3 years of lactation.

No E. coli , no mad-cow, no propagation of resistance; all from a protein higher in oleic acid and balanced in omegas 3&6 while safer for the planet and environment.  Healthy and safe bovines living on natural forage and focused on animal welfare should be a flagship initiative in cleaning our food system.  Sounds like a winning recipe for beef, and one that may not be too far reaching for more efficient vertical integration potential, or for those US Dairies in the Northeast and West Coast already performing mostly similar in practice.  

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The application process for pesticides on our food is NOT based on an exact science.   What persists, and how much of that trace element neurotoxin or hormone-disruptor left on the thin skin of the fruit or vegetable you’r eating is anyone’s best guess.  Many of the synthetic defenses used in the States are designed to scramble the brain & disrupt reproduction non-selectively amongst trophic levels of the food chain.  Meaning, they might be meant for bugs, but additional usage and run-off is showing contamination to biodiversity, and evident loss of wildlife. Mostly, these synthetics used as a direct recourse to our linear farming process to fend off pests has gained further scrutiny in recent years much due to their imprint on physical and mental human health.

Don’t be fooled, no matter the level of trace amount found, now higher in application concentration and potency, the use of these synthetic chemicals applied directly to fruits and vegetables is of immdiate concern to public health.  The potential spill factor of excessive use of pesticides during conventional open air farming application is extraordinary.  Designed to resist the elements, the reality that persistent neurotoxins are present when you consume that tomato (washed or not) is very real.

The Dutch are light-years ahead in combating this pesticide overuse through what can be best described as ‘precision agriculture'; or glass-house production.   Currently, 75% of international IP for glass-house production is Dutch.  Despite aligning with many of the interests of US consumers, there’s a limited footprint in the States, and have virtually no East-Coast instances.  We sit at 1/10 the total sq. footage of the production under glass as the Netherlands.  The fact that the Dutch have reduced the use of persistent pesticides, herbicides and fungicides by an order of magnitude in 10 years, and that model under glass can be premise for a cleaner methodology for vast volumes of produce and fruit that can services diverse demographics in the US seems a natural progression in mitigation of risk to business, and societal health.

Thanks to current innovation, there’s immediate opportunity to grow safe produce from anywhere.  This use of innovation in form hydroponic or soil-based glass-house production can do many positive things in the United States.  Year-round consistent production changes the dichotomy in local food distribution throughout the US.  When clustered, as the Dutch have proven in the Westlands, production of safe and health fresh food can service any population density.  That same clustering in the US, especially on the East Coast equidistant between population densities of cities & colleges – produce production can become hyper-local and very cost effective way to raise minimum thresholds to reduce or remediate harmful and toxic pesticide use, while inducing a potential year-round supply of fresh, nutritious and local fruits and vegetables.

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Near Eindhoven is Middelbeers, a town in the Netherlands known for some Dairy, some fowl and a lot of swine.  But, my visit that day was for neither; instead it was to Oirschot Organics, a family run glass-house facility that produces top-quality Organic/Biological produce. From the soil-up is exactly how son Jorrit Jonkers, and his father Adri operate their nearly 10 acres under glass. Jorrit explained that they went Organic vegetables only in 1999 after raising chicks & vegetables onsite since 1970.

Now, focused on production of cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers they produce enough volume for 95% of their production to enter wholesale distribution spread equally to Germany, Domestically and the rest of the EU.  And despite production yield being lower in total weight as compared to conventional – the Jonkers reap a 20% market premium, they gain healthier and safer crop outputs, a safer environment for themselves and employees, they draw consistent demand, and they lower seasonal price fluctuation with their soil-based (non-hydroponic) Organic produce.

I first learned of Oirschot Organics after readying of the EU Delegates who visited the Jonkers’ farm while evaluating the capacity for EU Organic food growth of the future.  Jorrit took a few hours to walk me around the well-kept and smart facility.  He explained and demonstrated the great opportunity glass-house production, especially for soil-based growing, has throughout any region of the world.  As Jorrit opens the roof and side-windows venting heat and encouraging natural fauna to engage in the controlled growing space, Jorrit described the natural energy loop they use in operational and agricultural approach.  In his mid-30s, Jorrit had his stuff down cold.  From soil, to growing technique and latest innovation – Jorrit was a student of the game and that was clear in this state-of-the-art controlled growing Organic environment.

Son, Jorrit Jonkers of Oirschot Organics

I believe the market opportunity for Organic glass-house production in United States is unparalleled and immediate.  We’ve done the modeling at the Investment Bank I work with on the Entrepreneur Agrarian Fund, and the financial benefit in disrupting regional wholesale distribution with a constant supply of high-quality produce, Organic and not, expedites with further scale and deeper vertical integration with production, distribution and value-ad.  The great part of the whole thing, raising minimum barrier to market entry through alleviating proactive production requirements for toxins found commonly in conventional herbicides, pesticides and fungicides through controlling the environment is a now a proven and tested technology at maturity developed in the Netherlands.  

More than just pesticides, the backlash of other linear practices in conventional production have been called in question – specifically the sterilizing herbicide glysophate used both in growing and as a preservative on harvested cereals.  Additional practices using taxing practices putting human and environmental health at risk will need further evaluation, but awareness of the risk we’re self imposing will further materialize with the general appreciation and understanding of the risk to the #changeagent of pesticide exposure.  The market for safer produce at minimal margin increase will gain adoption with more awareness no matter what.  Glass-house production gets ahead of the curve through immediate and cutting-edge Innovation investing in controlling your own environment, by controlling your own destiny.

Glass-house production can regionalize food – it conserves required resources, most noticeably water, and the technology controls the grow environment which reduces a requirement for preemptive pesticide application and potential exposure.  Latest advancement reduce energy requirements, while using renewable resources for energy and heat.  If we’re looking for a Silver-Bullet for cleaning up production and mitigating risk of food exposure – creating profitable glass-house businesses of scale in the US to service population densities seems to have a loaded chamber.

I agree with Jorrit; controlling the grow environment to ward off potential crop combatants is the way of the future.  Alleviating potential risk of drought or exposure to extreme weather, the practice of precision agricultural in glass-house production reduces the need for contaminants or toxins exposing consumers and the environment to persistent pesticides, herbicides and fungicides widely used in domestic US conventional agriculture.  With the ability to reduce utilization of synthetics by an order of magnitude and too abstinence from the real bad stuff – like known carcinogens, neurotoxins  and hormone disrupters currently given a green-light in the States – direct exposure drops dramatically by controlling your own environment. With indoor soil-based Organic practice, I again agree with Jorrit – precision agricultural production is more cost effective and pragmatic as it reaps increased desirability, consistent cash-flow & price premiums – which could service regional US cities & colleges with a full season consistent supply of Organic.

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Due to circumstances often out of their control, the Netherlands, Australia, and Israel have all been thrust into the lead position evaluating best sustainable practices to feed a shrinking planet.  Discussion with these folks about how the problem in the US is that we just don’t have enough affordable agricultural land is futile; they’ll laugh, and explain to you as if you’re an inexperienced youth that it’s only a matter a time until our perspective will evolve.  What’s unique, this insight gained from turning their necessities into an assets helps formulate a lens into how we’ll need to feed the our future growing population. Pumping out cheap calories at the expense of human, animal & planetary system health is proving costly.

Now, in the 21st century, combining the sheer volume of demand with changing diets consuming more animal proteins puts further tax on a production systems already stressed.  As our border wars and population growth have become a hot button issue in the States, domestic production matters greatly.  More pragmatically, in the grande scheme – borders matter less with the modern realization the earth is a finite resource we all share in use & containment. So, it’s time we act like adults, and leaders of the free-world by thinking globally through acting locally.

The circular system gives back, and the more waste you can reduce, like in circular economies, the less input and expenditures are incurred in following years. When evaluating how circular systems scale – they’ve proven cleaner, healthier and significantly less risky to potential public health outbreaks; so from the lens our backyard or far expanses of the globe – this is a good place to begin.   As the Dutch have documented with their flagship livestock revision of OneHealth – clean food solved a few of their festering problems while drawing a new audience.  In the States, there are immense untapped markets ready for regional producers of safer food. The icing on the cake is that sustainable/circular agriculture is financially prudent.  Not only does it better service evolving demands of populations densities, it lowers operational costs, and raising ruminants gains further value and savings by the year.

Of national concern, water seems what will cause enough wake to disrupt food business as usual into a new-normal.  Stressing ecological systems by poorly managing natural resources, especially those regenerative in nature – is bad business, poor commonsense and flat-out hubris to think our amassing species can continue to thrive without playing by the rules of the systems surrounding.

There’s been discussion in the US of a requirement for a national “food-plan“.  It’s a great concept, and needed, but at the same point without infrastructure to support broader sustainable agricultural practice across the US – the food-plan matters not as it’ll just create additional politicizing and finger-wagging.  Instead, we have infrastructure and interest available in the USDA to begin to seriously invest in alternative methods of production; ones of a proven track record that diversify our portfolio to alternative and change our risk profile.  We need a new agricultural mindset, one that doesn’t mine natural resources of ecology for benefit of cheaper calories to enter global food streams, and instead one circular that invests back into the system.  Food is – healthcare for body & planet.

Root cause prevention is the most fiduciary approach to tackling any health issue, especially of those associated to fixing a problem as straight forward as eating cheap food.  At this point, Circular agriculture is nothing less than worthy of a true assessment for any forward facing food company or country. Our ability to work with the bounty of natural order to produce enough food on an ongoing and consistent basis to feed a shrinking world can only come through better understanding of a circular approach that teems with resilience and cycle nutrients on a regenerative basis.  Circular and not linear is equally a practice, and a mindset.  Production of clean & safe food is foundation for awareness & action, and our best food-plan.

An innovation Economy:

We’re defining a template that uses capitalism to reinstate nourishment back into to food and transition from a process contamination and waste with a rapid enough cadence to rectify human and environmental health through-out. A pragmatic approach to evaluate not just new technologies in the same conventional genre,  but true systemic innovations as risk mitigation to US production. History presents clearly this won’t be the first time “modern” science fell into a trap of overthinking its knowledge is absolute. Certain knowledge remains provincial, and unless we make ourselves part of the circle once again – system resilience will be tested at our expense, and thinking will change quickly at the tail-end of backlash.

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Investment in innovations keen to modern society and environmental impact, and mitigating of risk from certain agricultural practices of questionable result should be easy to justify when calculating all the facts in the circular equation. A Dutch recipe for sustainable food production built on an economy of growing business, we should approach sustainable with this same perspective Stateside.  As circular, it’s innovation and risk mitigation through diversifying our suite of offerings.  

Drawing upon the precedent in coffee, craft beers, cheese, wine, sweets/savories and others have accomplished decommoditization in US markets – rejiggering the value of the center of plate and that of the salad plate has great merit to the same US consumers who’ve already expressed numerous evolutions in their food buying habits. The way we reduce risk of food or production, whether via business or State, is by diversifying a portfolio through the creation of successful free-market business which meet evolving market demands, and act proactively in one’s destiny.

Nutritional security is national security, and maintaining a single system dependency on production of what sustains us all should be concerning to both.  We must diversify our food production and innovate our way back into the circular system we’re ultimately apart of.   Based on the many drivers detailed prior, it’s a revised agricultural plan that gets us closer to a global community where dialogue, understanding, and collaboration lead to a more prosperous, just, and peaceful world – Eisenhower Fellowship Mantra.

Evaluating a proven Dutch model for producing safe and healthy food as risk mitigation to our near singular commitment to conventional practice increasingly susceptible to evolving regulatory & market forces, atWhatCost is a six part long-form essay series detailing how investments in Circular Agriculture positioned in a well-supported innovation economy affords domestic US production a pragmatic future of paying for human & environmental healthcare through the food we eat.

The findings of my Eisenhower Fellowship program to the Netherlands focus primarily on reducing current exposure in food animal production through deeper appreciation of a ‘true cost’ of food, and further promotion of system resilience & greater precision to empower food value as foundation for future wellbeing and ecological vitality.

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One of our strongest allies has evolved risk to the health & well-being of their citizens into vast global opportunity. The Dutch, experiencing troubles decades ahead of our own in the US, have already proven a model of circular agricultural practice that would expedite our capacity to successfully snuff-out public health concern, reduce liability to modern plagues associated to what we eat, and diminish many risks of toxic exposure which currently festers throughout the United States.

I learned while immersing myself in the Netherlands that there are many potential opportunities to implement Dutch evidence-based agriculture practice on US soils.  Most noticeably, formulating cash-flow positive businesses that service immediate and intensifying domestic consumer demand for higher-quality food through production models alternative to conventional in the US.  Supply of safe and healthy meat & dairy, and that of clean produce with reduced risk of exposure to persistent pesticides is currently being met predominately by international supply that even now can’t keep pace with demand.  As markets trends lean toward wellbeing and greater consumer awareness, and the sure sign of more large US franchises flooding wholesale with demand for higher quality food value, it’s unclear where future supply will arise without addressing domestic sustainable food production limitations hindering greater adoption.  Even with creative aggregates and food-hubs, small and mom & pop local farmers won’t do it alone. We need to barrow efficiencies of larger modern farming without compromising food for its essential value nor losing scope of its true cost.  As I’ve witnessed, the Dutch approach does well – if not the best.

Below, I reference three immediate market strategies: (1) OneHealth Food Animals, (2) Glass-House Production, (3) Circular Agriculture IP & Community – each with opportunity in US domestic production to utilize, promote and evolve Dutch ingenuity which expedites our production diversification to a cleaner and safer food system Circular in origin.  My investment bank has run extensive modeling on these strategies, and validates that not only are these practices the right thing to do for human and environmental health, but these initiaitives instituted on domestic US soils are destined for longterm preservation of wealth, strong financial returns and a prudent succession plan to all stakeholders.  We’ve toiled in the US for years trying to change the system – I trust this approach gives fresh perspective to instituting Circular Agriculture at scale without betting the house nor losing anyone’s shirt.

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A consistent supply of higher-quality meats is a $10B nationwide market opportunity, and $3.4B business potential to service population densities in the Northeast United States alone.  Surprising to many, with 2.1M acres of fallow land currently growing trees in the Northeast – there’s unique opportunity to meet intensify demand for regionally produced food with provenance. When capital supports circular agricultural food production models at scale, wholesale markets surrounding population densities gain consistent throughput to desirable distribution.  Best case scenario, under a single acclaimed brand promoting complete traceability and transparency, with distribution direct to consumer, restaurants and through-out wholesale, metadata of perishables becomes useful in both logistics and additional consumer value.  Based on advancements in practice & technologies, and those on our assets in the States – (1) Grass-fed/ Grazing beef, (2) Grass-fed & pastural dairy, (3) clean; no routine antibiotic meat production – are three profitable product categories that endow US demand with higher quality food animal products with local backstory.

As in the Netherlands, the practice of professionalizing drug utilization and data-stream record keeping through empowering veterinarians to promote animal welfare through practice of OneHealth creates and framework for aspiring US farmers looking to get in, or transition to safer circular agriculture.  But addressing these problems is systemic, requiring fresh perspective and unique knowledge for change.

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grass-fed & grazing Beef cattle

Immediate opportunity to service current direct & wholesale market demand for local, grass-fed beef

grass-fed & pastural Dairy

Milk, butter, cheese, cultures, cream, chocolate etc. are products destined to be “grass-fed” in US markets

clean Meat from well kept animals

Meats safe for consumer, producer & public health – come as a result of investment in (one) system health

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The future of horticulture production will require additional precision in practice and better utilization of resources.  Innovations associated to controlled environement glass-house production over the past decade have grown exponentially with both hydroponic and soil-based growing.  Reducing the risk of exposure to synthetic pesticides, and producing a consistent supply of food derived regionally to service demand for safer conventional and Organic produce & greens with provenance is a large market niche in the US – which seems destined for immediate growth when tooled with proper real-asset investment.  As a whole, the US has a limited glass-house footprint – currently at only 10% of that of global leader – the Netherlands. Advancements & efficiencies in controlled environment growing afford new perspective in how local food can be consistent, cost effective, healthier and safer to population densities of the US that clammer for more.  For the 34 Million in New England and New York, where local production only accounts for less than 8% of consumption, the Northeast United States ships most year-round fresh produce at least 3000 miles from water-tapped California, questionable linage on Mexican fields, or from the glass-houses in the Netherlands.

With economic modeling in tow, decommoditized food grown indoors is a triple-bottom line approach to solidifying nutrient security and preserving health for a greater volume of US population from diverse demographics.

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glass-house production is local everywhere

Innovations in glass-house production offer consistent produce production nearer US population densities

reduction in persistent pesticide exposure

Glass-house production is precision agriculture that controls the grow environment to lower use of toxins

unparalleled resource conservation

Indoor hydroponic or soil-based growing are both highly efficient in water, energy & resource utilization

tangible real-asset investment with ticket

A strong cash-flow investment vehicle, building glass-houses is applicable to many US incentives & credits

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The future of food production will be much less resource intensive in both production methodology and distribution.  As the Dutch have proven on densely populated lands – for purpose of nutrient security and cost, food production is destined for evolution.  Established on a corroding foundation, current practice of conventional agriculture nears a concerning ceiling of water and natural resource utilization.  What appears to be our future, and that of the rest of the world, is to instead utilize regenerative natural resources locally with best practice circular agricultural knowledge.  A concept of international IP presence on different lands is nothing foreign in conventional production, so why then obfuscated for circular; i.e. best farming practice of Dutch Dairy farms on Chinese lands, or new US grass-fed beef husbandry production on African plains are dependent on packaging scalable IP, and building a global advocacy community and network to support.  An aggregation of strategic partners, industry thought-leaders, key producers, distributors and vendors engaged in defining a better circular food system is ripe with opportunity and new technologies teeming with insights from a framework of transparency and traceability.  Sharing an online platform ecosystem of knowledge-share, collaboration, innovation and engagement sets forth best circular practice domestically in the US, and abroad, through economic incentive of sourcing regionally produced foods, anywhere.

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future food production is knowledge basis

more than production knowledge, it’s consumer awareness that food is human and planetary healthcare

global network of circular agriculture

provincial practice matters less as domestic production will be reliant on one-system-health throughout

regional & global community supported

advocacy of US farmer and global consumer await proper channels to think globally while acting locally

innovation hives foster grander ingenuity

Proven in many verticals, when innovation economies aggregate under a single roof, ingenuity is a buzz

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Underpinning man’s ability to do more than survive, but grow, learn and thrive – our most profound genius of community, society and culture are directly correlated to an ability to source sustenance to growing populations. Now, overfed yet increasingly hungry & malnourished, the past 25 years have forced consumers of the Western diet fatter, chronically more ill, and disconnected enough to their food-system that most Americans have lost complete touch to the primary purpose of the food they eat. As the World teeters on the cusp of a Malthusian catastrophe unlike no other, for the first time in history to realize resources and unbridled growth are increasingly finite, more mouths turn to conventional practice for nourishment, and instead receive food-systems taxing to soil, body & environment rife with catastrophic backlash.

The skyrocketing cost of health-care should be directly correlated to the deteriorating value and poor nutrition of the Western diet.  What’s intriguing, US consumers are now linking the wellbeing of their families to food as more than fuel – but sustenance. As seen in the Netherlands, engaging a diverse group of partners and vendors to promote higher quality food, and the process used in producing that sustenance as a mechanism to proactively keep employees, citizens or students healthier, is primed for future private, government and educational action beginning equally with consumer awareness and alternative methods of production.

When digested Stateside as new innovation to diversify our production portfolio through investments alternative to conventional, and not that of competition nor business-loss, domestic food systems will evolve to meet changing consumer sentiment drafted first by the free-market.

Yet to be fully realized, the production of higher-quality food does more than source preventative human healthcare and build farther reaching food security, but also these proper practices significantly lower impact on ecological resources, water and the environment. If properly incentivized, healthy grasslands, cover-crops and top-soils teeming with biodiversity can rectify the warming of the planet through proper ecological & animal husbandry.  Being part of the circle we partake keeps us healthy & whole.  This seems an ideal foot in the door to drive further State influence as nutritional security is first and foremost national security.  

So, the world isn’t big enough, and we’ll have to evolve our practice. Already in crisis, conventional farming and food systems have experienced skyrocketing operational expense combined with a shifting regulatory environment and an diverse awakening of consumers to the true cost of food to establish a pending revolution in food production & distribution throughout the world, and recently the United States. After a half-century of a conventional agricultural experiment mining our domestic natural resources & water while incrementally squeezing American farmers – our current food system is proving damaging to future production capacity.

What needs to be told is the United States is the story of solutions of change. This may come someday in form similar to the Dutch ‘Golden Triangle’, but without a doubt, at least in my mind, the impetus will be pragmatic business, entrepreneurial circular farmers and new startups throughout the food system engaging consumers in innovations that take control of their own health and wellbeing through the food they eat.

We are what we eat.  But, what we’re learning on a shrinking planet is that it’s much great greater than that.  What we eat is not just about us as individuals, it’s about everyone and everything in the circular one-health-system.  Calculating atwhatcost cheap food is paid gets us to understand that the solution to the problem is the very nature from how it’s been derived.   This is not a roadblock, but instead a short-hoizon hurdle that presents unique opportunity to evaluate these true costs of food with new perspective gained from awareness, facts and precedent from proven instances that embrace an inevitable future of circular agriculture.