COLUMN: Bas Boots
The 2021 flood is still fresh in our minds. The was a wake-up call: crises come unexpectedly and hit us hard. But what happens when the next disaster strikes, or worse, a war?
The LLTB's response: the Netherlands needs a strategic food supply. Without a solid plan for our food security, we put ourselves at risk.
At the Social Resilience Symposium in Venlo, I drew attention to this pressing issue. The Figures are staggering: if our food chain is disrupted, we have food that can be kept for seven to 10 days. That is everything. And then I assume normal circumstances. Think back for a moment to the corona crisis and the raving hamster actions. What happens if this is done with food instead of toilet paper? A unimaginable scenario, but at the same time realistic enough to take action now. And who steps in when the need is really high? Right, the farmers. During the 2021 flood, they were the first to stand by with tractors and sandbags. She not only helped with dykes, but also rescued affected communities. Die Involvement is deep in the genes of our agricultural sector. The is a sector with close mutual ties, where we know what is going on, are there for each other - and our environment - and we are also prepared for crises.
Farmers and gardeners are central to our food supply. She are not links you just replace, but the linchpin in a complex chain. A farmer does not plant a new crop tomorrow; there is time, knowledge and precision behind it. That is why the LLTB advocates a strategic food stock. Not to store luxury products, but to secure basic needs such as potatoes, grains and canned food.
Our society should not take that power for granted. Farmers are not an inexhaustible resource, but a crucial lifeline. The next crisis is a matter of time. Will we let ourselves be taken by surprise, or will we be resilient and prepared?
Bass Boots
Director of the Limburg Agricultural and Horticultural Union
lltb.co.uk
