The hidden bill
An analysis of the societal costs of Dutch agriculture today versus alternative systems
The scale and intensity of Dutch agriculture brings positive economic impact while at the same time generates environmental and social costs. Transitioning to a smarter, lower-impact system can, however, shift the overall balance from net negative to net positive.
Dutch agriculture currently has an overall net negative impact
The Netherlands is known for its productive and efficient agriculture. Yet, food production also has negative environmental impacts which affect the health both of our people and of the essential ecosystems we depend on.
Robin Food Coalition and the Food Transition Coalition have commissioned Deloitte to develop a report which provides insights into the hidden societal costs of agricultural production in the Netherlands. The results of our report should not be seen as a set of prescriptive actions, but as a touchstone for future decisions.
Our report shows, that when expressed in monetary terms – the costs of agriculture to society outweigh its economic benefits, creating a net negative impact in excess of -€5 billion.
How to shift the system towards net positive?
Starting from the current business-as-usual model, the study assesses a sequence of four alternative systems that build upon each other.
In the first three alternatives, we assess the cumulative effects of full organic conversion as a proxy for lower-impact farming; the introduction of smart innovation and a decisive shift toward plant-based protein production.
Finally, we explore an additional rather hypothetical scenario in the mid-term to bring the agricultural system within its ecological planetary boundaries through reduced production levels.
We examine each alternative system not only for its economic performance, but also for its ability to regenerate soils, reduce external dependencies, buffer climate extremes, address water issues and safeguard public health—all foundations of a resilient food system.
Our goal is to contribute to the ongoing debate about the future of Dutch agriculture. We hope this research provides useful insights on how the hidden societal costs of agriculture could be reduced and how the long-term resilience of the system could be enhanced.
Download the report to understand more about how to reduce the system’s hidden costs. Feel free to reach out to us with your comments.
