The Meatrix is committed to helping educate people around the world about the issues of sustainability, specifically in terms of food production and consumption. This action page is a way for us to communicate with the concerned people in France, to encourage them to take action locally, but also to exchange information and experiences at the international level. This way we hope to create a network of concerned people, communities and organisations around the world that all join together to promote more sustainable food production and consumption patterns.
The present action page will provide you with information on the agricultural situation in France, on like-minded organisations that operate on the territory, as well as with background information about the Meatrix series. Please send us any information or update you feel should be added to this page by contacting Giuseppina Pagano at gpagano@fwwatch.org.
Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands: Small Territories, Big Ag
The agricultural systems of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands underwent significant modernization shortly after World War II. This transformation occurred while increasing the agronomic potential of land without upsetting environmental balances.
Aided by research, Norden farmers were among the first Europeans to improve crop rotation, naturally fertilize soil with white clover, achieve an optimum balance between crops and livestock, and combine production of swine and dairy cows.
These improvements were soon adopted in other European countries to the benefit of the farmers, who experienced better yields; consumers, who enjoyed higher food quality and security; and the environment, which did not suffer from excessive chemical use and manure.
By the 1970s, however, factory farming began to develop through a process of concentration and industrialization of family farms. Fuelled by enormous investments, the race to achieve economies of scale led to lower prices, driving tens of thousands of farmers out of business. (See Chart 5)
Tabel 5
Decrease in the Number of Farms - Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands
Boerderijen per 1000
As a result, farmers represent a very small portion of the population in these countries: 3.2% in Denmark, 2.9% in the Netherlands and just 1.8% in Belgium.
Family Farms and Cooperatives Are Not What They Used to Be
By 1993, the typical pig farm in these three countries was much larger than the European average. And these facilities continue to grow. (See Chart 6)
As a result, the agri-food industry has not developed its own facilities, but rather has implemented a contract arrangement that binds farmers to supply them with meat, eggs and other foods. Once-independent farmers have become virtual "employees" who must comply with many onerous conditions, including the number of animals housed, the amount of feed provided, and the type of veterinary products used. They also must purchase many farm inputs from their corporate "clients."
This scheme is called "integration." Accordingly, these farmers are dependent on the agri-food industry as both supplier and buyer alike.
Chart 6
The Increasing Average Size of Pig Farms - EU, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands
More astonishingly, even some cooperatives have taken this path. Though originally created by farmers for the sake of farmers, many today advocate integration methods to their members, simply because they also sell to farmers the inputs they need to industrialize. Cooperatives are also pushing for lower agricultural prices in order to remain competitive.
A prime example is Danish Crown of Denmark. Established in 1887, Danish Crown has become the largest pig slaughterer in Europe - 22 million pigs annually - and the world's largest exporter of pork products. In 2005 it opened reportedly the largest pork processing facility in the world. Located in Horsens, this highly automated plant can slaughter up to 78,000 pigs per week with the help of a robotic eviscerator. Danish Crown's evolution into a 6.5 billion Euro-a-year giant has contributed to the disappearance of thousands of farms in Denmark and neighboring countries.
Producing for the Export Market
As one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, the Netherlands faces the tricky challenge of feeding a large populace with a limited base of natural resources. As a solution, the country has chosen to virtually surrender its culture of cereal production to focus on industrialized production of meat, dairy and eggs, as well as fruit and vegetables.
Consequently, the Netherlands now imports three-fourths of the cereal it consumes. And while producing twice the meat it needs, it has become the largest meat exporter in the EU.
Belgium and Denmark are in similar positions, ranking as the EU's second- and fourth-largest meat exporters. Denmark produces five times more pork and twice as much poultry than its citizens eat. Belgium produces double the pork and one-and-a-half times more poultry than its domestic demand. Naturally, these countries are strong opponents of food sovereignty. They defend their "right to export" and take full advantage of free trade regimes.
The effects, however, are lasting and profound. In these countries, factorization has caused the dual effects of hurting family farms and, particularly in the case of the Netherlands, altering production and supply-and-demand patterns. In the name of food sovereignty, they have threatened their own security by putting the interests of agribusiness over the needs of the people.
