Accelerating Toward 15% Organic Farmland by 2030: The 15% Club
Why This Acceleration is Necessary
The Netherlands has one of the smallest shares of organic farmland in the EU. While countries like Austria and Denmark have made significant strides over the past decades, the Netherlands is lagging behind. Meanwhile, ecological limits are becoming increasingly visible: nitrogen emissions, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and climate impact demand a radical shift in our food system.
Organic farming delivers demonstrable societal value: better soil quality, cleaner water, increased biodiversity, lower emissions, and healthier food. Yet, a clear roadmap to rapidly scale supply and demand—and to provide farmers with the certainty they need to transition—is still missing. This is why the 15% Club focuses on an approach that moves beyond plans and visions, centering instead on concrete agreements and actual transition.
The Leverage Strategy: From Product Groups to Concrete Deals
The core of our approach is working with leverage points: product groups and supply chain partners that can create significant impact in a short time. Think of dairy, potatoes, carrots, onions, and pulses. By focusing on products with large acreage, manageable price gaps, and strong supply chain structures, we can accelerate where it matters most.
Our strategy follows three steps:
Identifying Leverage Points – Mapping out which product groups and chains have the highest potential for rapid growth.
Forming Coalitions – Building partnerships for each product group involving farmers, processors, retailers, food service, and knowledge partners.
Establishing Covenants – Securing concrete agreements on acreage, procurement volumes, price guarantees, guidance, and communication.
How We Work
The program is structured into three phases, with clear milestones and evaluation points:
1. Orientation and Structural Development (2025–2026)
Developing the leverage matrix and conducting initial explorations with retail, food service, and major brands.
Testing covenant concepts with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
Launching coalitions and task forces per product group.
2. Deal-Making and Chain Activation (2026–2027)
Signing the first covenants and agreements with farmers and buyers.
Developing transition roadmaps and securing price guarantees and market certainty.
Launching communication campaigns and knowledge sharing to foster broader engagement.
3. Scaling and Integration (2027–2028)
Expanding covenants to new product groups and supply chains.
Integrating these models into policy, industry agreements, and financing models.
Evaluating the contribution to the 15% target and preparing subsequent steps toward 2030.
The Impact
By the end of this trajectory, our goals are:
180,000 additional hectares transitioned to organic farming.
Commitment from supermarkets, food service providers, and major brands to long-term procurement and price guarantees.
Access for farmers to the support, knowledge, and guidance needed for transition.
Visible organic offerings on supermarket shelves, in out-of-home locations, and in consumer communications.
A robust set of covenants, tested by the ACM and anchored within the sector.
A Collective Movement
The 15% Club works in close collaboration with existing networks such as Bionext, RVO, the Demeter Foundation, Questionmark, and the Louis Bolk Institute. We build upon ongoing initiatives while adding speed, focus, and cross-chain cooperation. With an entrepreneurial and results-oriented approach, we aim to move organic farming from a niche to a standard, integral part of our food system.