Causing quite the stir, the Netherlands has garnered international attention over the last few weeks as its farmers lead a massive protest against the government’s recent climate policy. In droves, the farmers are strategically blocking large highways and supermarket distribution centers, essentially doing whatever is required to relay their message. The policy, which ultimately aims at eliminating emissions, would entail reducing livestock by nearly 30 percent, hence why farmers are pleading for a change – their livelihoods are on the line. Beyond the Dutch, however, food is on the line for the entire global community. Why is that? The Netherlands is the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products. In turn, the Dutch farmers are declaring "No Farmers, No Food" and warning other countries that they could be next.
Farmers in the Netherlands use their tractors and other agricultural machinery to block highways in response to the government's tyrannical climate mandates. Image Source.
In fact, seeing as the Netherlands has a long history of agricultural success, the farmers’ alarming message carries a lot of weight. Thanks to the country’s flat land, fertile soil and moderate climate, it is a perfect recipe for excellent farming conditions. And the Dutch have taken full advantage of it by growing an array of plants and crops, rearing livestock, and even exploring advanced agri-technology, such as fruit-picking robots. The Dutch have not only mastered the art of agriculture, but they have also mastered the art of trading. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2020, the Dutch exported $87.5 billion worth of "agricultural and related product[s]." So, what happens in the agricultural nation of the Netherlands will indeed impact the rest of the world.
The Dutch Government's 'Communist' Agenda
On June 10, the government announced a plan to significantly curb nitrogen gas greenhouse emissions, which would require some parts of the country to slash those emissions by 70 to 95 percent. The most severe "slashing" – almost 30 percent – would be that of livestock, since greenhouse emissions are heavily driven by ammonia from animal manure.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture reported that "there is not a future for all [Dutch] farmers within [this] approach." Meanwhile, the Dutch have often been touted as a leader in sustainable agriculture by the World Economic Forum, which is ironic at best and adds to the speculation surrounding the government's true intentions.
Dutch ministers seem to have zero compassion or flexibility as they deem the proposal an "unavoidable transition" and admitted that farmers might have to shut down their businesses – even warning of possibly expropriating land from farmers who do not comply. As Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek pointed out to NTD, "It’s communism to the T."
A formation reading "Help! No farmers, no food" is created by protest participants. Image Source.
UN Origins and Climate Neutrality by 2050
Simply put, it all goes back to the United Nations (UN). As clear as day, the official Government of the Netherlands website states: "The guiding principles for Dutch development cooperation policy are the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030."
These goals date back to September 2015, when the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the European Union (EU), an enhanced observer of the UN, naturally adopted it too. The agenda, which aims to "cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030," is part of the broader, long-term plan of complete climate neutrality by 2050 or "an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions," says the European Commission (the executive of the EU).
A snapshot from the United Nations' website.
America Could Be Next
In April 2021, President Joe Biden announced a new target for the United States to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 50 to 52 percent by the year 2030. Unsurprisingly, this plan is exactly in line with that of the UN. As inflation is causing fertilizer and transportation costs to soar, American farmers are struggling to stay afloat and they, too, have warned of nationwide food shortages. Thus, new environmental policies and regulations, which are poised to be imposed by the Biden administration, are likely to put farmers over the edge.
In a disturbing statement on June 24, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that "there is a real risk that multiple famines will be declared in 2022," adding that "2023 could be even worse."
So, it really makes the public wonder, why are governments seemingly doing everything in their power to make agriculture and food production increasingly difficult? Well, to many, it is intentional. "They want us to eat bugs. They want us to eat the fake meat that they produce. So it’s very clear that this is not something that just the Dutch people will be subjected to. And that’s why we need your support from other countries," said Vlaardingerbroek during a Tucker Carlson interview.
From Bill Gates to Hollywood, the idea of eating bugs is strangely becoming commonplace.
In light of the chaos ensuing in the Netherlands, farmers elsewhere – Italy, Poland and Sri Lanka – are beginning to protest similar government measures. Many experts are in agreement that these dramatic and highly consequential climate measures are not the way forward. Nevertheless, with these long-developed global plans, where do the people, the ones who directly deal with the repercussions of the "elite's" decisions, go from here? It appears the Dutch farmers are onto something and it might be now or never.