Wageningen, The Netherlands
July 6, 2011

As a result of the high prices for agricultural products, incomes are increasing in agriculture and horticulture. Export is growing, but a manure surplus is once again looming. Interest in animal welfare is increasing and interest in nature management is decreasing. These are some of the most noticeable points in the Agricultural Economic Report 2011 (Landbouw-Economisch Bericht 2011) of the Netherlands.

The consequences of the financial crisis were less serious for the Dutch agricultural complex than for other sectors. The added value of the agricultural complex remained unchanged, but that of the total Dutch economy fell by 3%. Over the past years, distribution (trade and transport) in particular grew in importance within the agricultural complex, because more and more products from outside the Netherlands are being processed and handled within the country.

After a period of decline between 2000 and 2007, agricultural exports grew again in spite of the crisis. On the other hand, employment within the Dutch agricultural complex fell by almost 4% between 2001 and 2009. Currently, food and flowers are increasingly being ordered over the internet, sales on Sunday are on the rise, and the hospitality sector is losing business to supermarkets.

The English summary of the Agricultural Economic Report will be available soon.

Website: http://www.wur.nl

Published: July 6, 2011