The PieperPad (Dutch for
"Potato Trail") is a 1,000 kilometer long cycling tour designed to
raise awareness about the importance of ecological farming in the
Netherlands by encouraging members of the public to get out into
the countryside and enjoy potatoes, a well loved Dutch staple, in a
totally new way.
A member of Parliament, called Mr. Pieper (yes, he's actually
called "Mr. Potato"!) was a special guest at the premiere of the
first track along with Gert van der Zwan, principal of the Carolus
Clusius College (Carolus Clusius is the botanist who brought the
potato to Holland around 1600). Copies of the cycling guide were
given to these two sensibly dressed fellows who then donned potato
costumes, hopped on their bike and rode to the first potato
exhibition field sporting 15 kinds of potatoes. Assisted by
students of the Carolus Clusius College, the two special guests
planted the last potatoes here.
The Pieperpad is an initiative by Greenpeace Netherlands
together with Biologica. Both organizations defend biodiversity and
campaign on environmentally and socially sustainable
agriculture.
On yer bike!
In several Dutch cities the Pieperpad was promoted by volunteers
handing out potatoes, flyers and riding around on bikes dressed as
potatoes - through the center of Utrecht and organic markets in
Amsterdam and Amerongen.
Dutch folks have been very enthusiastic about the project and
requests are flooding in from individuals and businesses who want
to hop on the Pieperpad. Greenpeace Netherlands has also started a
competition asking supporters to create a name for the newest
organic potato that will be ready at the end of 2009.
Organic revolution
We asked several organic farmers here in the Netherlands how
they felt about going organic. J. Bakker, grows potatoes on his 80
hectare farm, in Munnekezijl. Mr. Bakker was a conventional farmer
for 25 years, but in 2001 he decided to switch to organic farming.
He says "Genetic engineering is the biggest threat to agriculture,
because there is so much uncertainty."
Joute Miedema, in Oudebildtzijl, went completely organic in
2009. From 1967 till 2000 he worked as a conventional farmer. But
when he realised that organic farming was economical feasible he
decided to make the gradual switch to organic farming. He enjoys
being an organic farmer a lot more. "It demands more creativity and
alertness", says Miedema. "Marketwise it's more pioneering and I
like it more and more." Because he uses organic fertilizers in
stead of artificial ones, his soil gets more body and life returns
to his acres. "Birds of prey have returned, just like hares, deer,
quails, while they have been away for years."
Erik Ploer runs a farm with his family in the same region. When
they first started working there he wanted to work in a way that
was friendly to both humans, animals and the environment, that's
why he decided to work organically. "Organic is the kind of farming
I feel most at home with. In agriculture everything has to do with
everything. You feed the soil, work together with the animals and
for humans. Organic farmers make the right moves: No poison,
rejecting genetically modified crops and no artificial fertilizers.
Physical and mental health go first!"
The GM resistance
European countries continue to resist growing genetically
modified (GM) crops.
Germany has just announced that it will become the sixth EU country
to ban the cultivation of Monsanto's GM maize MON810 - the only
GM crop that can be commercially grown in the region. But Monsanto
is still pushing for this maize to be grown in more EU countries,
with some worrying success. The EU Commission needs to take a stand
against GM crops to ensure the protection of consumers, farmers and
the environment.
In another bid to control our food, Bayer,
the German chemical giant is hoping to get EU approval for the
import of their GM rice variety LL62. This rice has genetically
manipulated rice to withstand higher doses of a toxic pesticide
called glufosinate, which is considered to be so dangerous to
humans and the environment that it will soon be banned from Europe.
If this rice gets approval - farmers in the US and elsewhere may
soon start planting the manipulated crop.
We hope that governments around the world will follow the
examples of countries like Germany and France by announcing a ban
all GM crops.