The current highly productive agricultural system in the Netherlands focuses on a (too) narrow concept of prosperity, with GDP growth as its primary goal. The economic benefits of this model now far outweigh its ecological and social costs. There is a misalignment between agriculture as an economic activity and the social and physical environment within which it operates and must maintain legitimacy. The nitrogen crisis is just the latest evidence of this imbalance. According to Janssen, a system is needed in which agriculture’s contributions to the economy and society are evaluated, valued, and rewarded for their role in promoting broad prosperity. This would make room-literally-for values beyond mere economic gains. Such integration of agriculture and the living environment is essential.
Reconversion of the countryside
The strict functional separation in planning-such as between agriculture and nature-hinders the desired integration. As part of the transition to a system in which agriculture contributes to broad prosperity, Janssen calls for a spatial redesign, or "reconversion," of the Dutch countryside. This redesign should ensure that, in addition to food production, other values such as biodiversity, water retention, housing, and care are given a place in the near future. There is a growing need for functional combinations where responsible ecology, such as robust water systems and diverse natural habitats, coexist with social and economic needs, including sufficient housing, a healthy living environment, and a sustainable future for farmers. According to Janssen, the roles of land, community, and history are crucial in enabling such planning combinations.Active land policy
In his address, Janssen stresses the need for a new valuation of agricultural land to enable the integration of agriculture with other functions, such as nature and water management. The government will need to adopt an active land policy to support farmers who wish to embrace green practices. Collaboration between farmers and other landowners is also essential to better align agriculture with the living environment. This requires a government that encourages and rewards collective initiatives. Finally, Janssen believes we can learn from the past. Historical systems, such as watermill landscapes and irrigated meadows, can guide the search for agriculture that is better attuned to nature and an increasingly unpredictable climate. Insights from the past also provide a sense of identity and broader engagement in the spatial reorganization of the countryside.Joks Janssen
Professor of Practice in ’Broad Prosperity in the Region’Ir. Joks Janssen (born 1975) has been a Professor of Practice in ’Broad Prosperity in the Region’ at Tilburg University since January 2021. He studied Architecture at Eindhoven University of Technology and obtained his PhD in 2005. In January 2011, he was appointed as an Extraordinary Professor of Spatial Planning and Heritage at Wageningen University. Since 2020, he has been working as a senior researcher-advisor at Het PON & Telos and, on behalf of that organization, is involved with the Academic Collaborative Center for Governance and Management for Broad Prosperity. He researches spatial changes in the countryside and holds various board and advisory positions.
