Guide to societal developments relating to agriculture and horticulture

Agriculture and horticulture make a major contribution to environmental pressure in the Netherlands. This is due to the relative size of this sector in Dutch society and the intensity of activity in the sector. For instance, agriculture and horticulture account for most land use by far in the Netherlands.

Index Volume developments in agriculture and horticulture

• Volume developments in Agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands, 1980-2001
• Farms in the Netherlands: numbers and size, 1980-2002
• Arable farming, horticulture and grassland: area under cultivation in the Netherlands, 1980-2002
• Organic farming in the Netherlands: number of farms and area, 1991-2002
• Number of animals in livestock farming in the Netherlands, 1980-2002
• Energy consumption in Dutch agriculture and horticulture, 1990-2001
• Water consumption in Dutch agriculture and horticulture, 1991-1999
• Sales of pesticides for agricultural use in the Netherlands, 1985-2002
• Agricultural use of chemical pesticides on some crops in the Netherlands, 1995-2000*
• Volume developments in Agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands, 1980-2001

Composition of Agriculture and horticulture target sector

The Agriculture and horticulture target sector consists of three sub-sectors: livestock farming, arable farming and horticulture (SIC 01).

Environmental pressure from the Agriculture and horticulture target sector

As a result of the intensive use of agricultural land, pesticides are used on a large scale and intensive livestock farming has led to a large manure surplus in many places in the Netherlands. A large proportion of this manure is applied to the surface of agricultural land. Since not all the fertiliser is absorbed by the crops, some enters the soil, groundwater and surface water. This results in the eutrophication of soil, groundwater and surface water.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Index Environmental pressure from the Agriculture and horticulture target sector
• Index Environmental pressure by theme. Agriculture and horticulture contribute to the following themes: Greenhouse effect, Eutrophication), Acidification and Toxic and hazardous substances.
• Index Quality of surface water
• Index Soil quality
• Index Groundwater quality
• Index Agriculture and eutrophication policy
• Note on Composition of target sectors in Dutch environment policy

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of Statistics Netherlands.