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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Netherlands Showing the World the Future of Farming
https://apple.news/As1RsMDEAS32aQbFAzzIKAwThis Tiny Country Feeds the World
The Netherlands has become an agricultural giant by showing what the future of farming could look like
In a potato field near the Netherlands border with Belgium, Dutch farmer Jacob van den Borne is seated in the cabin of an immense harvester before an instrument panel worthy of the starship Enterprise.
From his perch 10 feet above the ground, hes monitoring two dronesa driverless tractor roaming the fields and a quadcopter in the airthat provide detailed readings on soil chemistry, water content, nutrients, and growth, measuring the progress of every plant down to the individual potato. Van den Bornes production numbers testify to the power of this precision farming, as its known. The global average yield of potatoes per acre is about nine tons. Van den Bornes fields reliably produce more than 20.
That copious output is made all the more remarkable by the other side of the balance sheet: inputs. Almost two decades ago, the Dutch made a national commitment to sustainable agriculture under the rallying cry Twice as much food using half as many resources. Since 2000, van den Borne and many of his fellow farmers have reduced dependence on water for key crops by as much as 90 percent. Theyve almost completely eliminated the use of chemical pesticides on plants in greenhouses, and since 2009 Dutch poultry and livestock producers have cut their use of antibiotics by as much as 60 percent.
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WhiteTara
(29,721 posts)I'm so tired of stupid and evil.
Stinky The Clown
(67,817 posts). . . . . to their own hard, hard right leader in their last election.
WhiteTara
(29,721 posts)Here they are given all the country has to offer.
Stinky The Clown
(67,817 posts). . . . supported across Europe. There WILL be a next time for them.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)It is a sane, civilized place,, flat, so you can bike a lot, good health care, great education system, great roads, happy people, and one of the great cultural cities in the world, The Hague is also a great place.
In fact, I think it is possible to actually kayak from The Hague to Amsterdam...
lark
(23,147 posts)I'd love to live there, but can't afford it.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)And can attest to their ingenuity and cultural awareness.
My wife and I visit as often as we are able. In spite of its small size and large population, it is one of the more civil places on this planet.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,773 posts)The future of agriculture.
Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)They're amazing people. It didn't take long, after they showed me around, for me to realize how backward America is.
G_j
(40,367 posts)when that sinks in.
OnDoutside
(19,968 posts)as a CEO once said to me, even the cleaning person here will tell me where I'm going wrong !
I was there in Maastricht for an Andre Rieu concert in July, and I can recommend it for the experience.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Went for the shopping, loved Albert Heijn!
OnDoutside
(19,968 posts)will definitely go back though !
South West of France next weekend
Coventina
(27,167 posts)I did not want to come back.
Beautiful country.