SDG 2 Zero hunger
- Resources and opportunities for Dutch food production are declining. Trends in area of land used for agriculture and agricultural production per FTE are downward. Production per FTE is one of the highest in the EU.
- Dutch agricultural production is becoming increasingly sustainable. Livestock density, pesticide use and antibiotics in livestock farming are decreasing. The area used for organic farming and outdoor dairy grazing are increasing. The area of protein crops doubled from the previous year.
- Within the EU, Dutch farming places a relatively large burden on the environment. Livestock density is the highest in the EU27. In terms of area of organic farming and protein crops, the Netherlands is almost in last place in the EU ranking. Pesticide use per euro of production is the lowest in the EU; per hectare it is the highest. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake rates are low compared with other EU countries.
- Dutch consumers are increasingly buying sustainable meat products. The Dutch do have relative high food wastage rates however.
Dashboard and indicators
Resources and opportunities
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2023
Use
in EU
in 2020
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Outcomes
in EU
in 2019
in EU
in 2019
in EU
in 2021
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources and opportunities | Utilised agricultural area | 43.6% of total area in 2023 | decreasing (decrease well-being) | 14th out of 27 in 2021 | Middle ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Agricultural production | € 166 million euros (2015 prices) per 1,000 working years in 2023 | decreasing (decrease well-being) | 3rd out of 27 in 2023 | High ranking |
| Use | Livestock density index | 3.30 livestock units per hectare utilised agricultural area in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 27th out of 27 in 2020 | Low ranking |
| Use | Organic farming | 4.9% of total utilised agricultural area in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 21st out of 25 in 2021 | Low ranking |
| Use | Protein crops | 1.0% of total utilised agricultural area in 2023 | 18th out of 22 in 2022 | Low ranking | |
| Use | Pesticide sales | 323.1 kg sold per million euros of agricultural production in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 2nd out of 13 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Use | Outdoor grazing of dairy cows | 75.0% of dairy cows put out to pasture in 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Use | Use of antibiotics in livestock farming | 0.047 grams per kg live weight in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Outcomes | Phosphorus uptake A) | 89% of total input utilised by crops in 2023 | 13th out of 16 in 2019 | Low ranking | |
| Outcomes | Nitrogen uptake A) | 60% of total input utilised by crops in 2023 | 13th out of 16 in 2019 | Low ranking | |
| Outcomes | Market share of organic food | 3% of total spending on food in 2022 | |||
| Outcomes | Meat certified as sustainable | 36.0% of sold meat and meat products in 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Outcomes | Food waste B) | 148 kilogram per capita in 2021 | 16th out of 20 in 2021 | Low ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
SDG 2 aims to end hunger, guarantee food security and promote better nutrition and sustainable farming. As malnutrition and food insecurity are uncommon in the Netherlands, this dashboard examines how the country produces food. How sustainable are Dutch methods? What impact do they have on the living environment? The dashboard also covers an aspect that officially belongs under SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production, namely food waste. Dutch SDG 2-related government programmes centre on food policy, circular agriculture and sustainable management of agricultural land. In this respect, optimum soil quality that can be sustained so that it will remain equally productive for future generations is also relevant to SDG 15 Life on land.
Resources and opportunities concern land and labour available to produce food. The area of agricultural land rose slightly in 2023, to 43.6 percent of the total surface area (land and water) of the Netherlands. The medium-term trend is downward, however. The volume of agricultural production value in relation to the labour used to achieve it is also declining (after correction for price changes). At 166 million euros (2015 prices) per thousand working years the Netherlands still ranked third in the EU.
Use concerns how food is produced. The action strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (Actieplan – Groei van biologische productie en consumptie) sets a target of 15 percent for the share of organic in total agricultural land by 2030. Although the area of organic is small compared with the other EU countries, the share is trending upwards.
Outcomes describe food affordability and the impact of food production on the living environment and on animal welfare. Effects of food production on local environments and water quality are partly related to nitrogen and phosphorus uptake rates. More efficient intensive agriculture will result in less loss to the environment and more efficient use of resources.
Subjective assessment relates to how satisfied people are with food quality and supply, and with the living environment and animal welfare. For this category, no indicators are currently available that comply with the quality criteria of this report.