Thread by @Sentient_Media

This month, the dramatic #FarmersProtests in the Netherlands have captured the media's attention.

Today, we take a look at what the coverage got wrong about the #boerenprotest and the #BigAg interests many journalists failed to mention.👇 1/19
sentientmedia.org/what-the-media…

🚫Most reports failed to mention 8 major companies that have an interest in protecting the status quo:

🐷 meat: @VionFoodGroup, @VanDrieGroup & @PlukonFoodGroup
🌽 feed: Van Heus, For Farmers & @Agrifirm
🐮 dairy: @FrieslndCampina
💵 finance: @RaboFoodAgri

#boerenprotest
2/19

🔍"The Mighty Eight try to be invisible because the more it is seen as a #farmer protest and not the big industry behind it, the better,” says @FrankMechielsen, @feedback_europe.

@Agrifirm even supported the #boerenprotest financially, @NOS reports. 3/19 nos.nl/nieuwsuur/arti…

🔍Many Dutch farmers are in debt to @RaboFoodAgri, so a chunk of the 25 billion euros the government has earmarked for the transition will end up going to the bank.

MP @Joris_PvdA urged Rabobank to write off loans to farmers, but the company refused. 4/19
nos.nl/artikel/243648…

🚫Several outlets and commentators described the regulations as unnecessary and unscientific.

In a Newsweek opinion piece, @Raphfel of @WebsterVienna called the Dutch government’s fertilizer reforms the “luxury beliefs” of the elite ruling class. 5/19
newsweek.com/popular-uprisi…

🔍The Netherlands has a pollution problem, locally referred to as #stikstofcrisis.

A major cause of the crisis is the nation's massive livestock sector. Until recently, farmers were exempt from EU rules limiting the amount of #manure they can spread. 6/19
taketonews.com/farmers-will-b…

🔍#Nitrogen levels across the Netherlands' ecosystems exceed limits set by the EU.

The new #ClimateTargets aim to draw down those emissions and bring them in line with the EU’s pollution targets. @erikstokstad reports via @ScienceMagazine. 7/19
science.org/content/articl…

🚫Other news outlets mischaracterized the protestors as small family #farmers.

In a @SkyNewsAust segment, host @rowandean declared that the European Union was imposing “arbitrarily-decided” #nitrogen pollution limits on Dutch “mum and dad” farms. 8/19

🔍Most Dutch animal farms are intensive feeding operations.

With a population of 3.8 million cows, 11 million pigs, and ~100 million chickens, the #Netherlands has the highest density of #livestock in Europe, more than 4x that of the UK. @tom_levitt 9/19
theguardian.com/environment/20…

🚫Other outlets sparked fears of a #FoodCrisis.

In @LegInsurrection, @Mutnodjmet wrote that “anyone who likes to eat regularly should be deeply concerned about the load of regulatory nonsense that has just been dumped on Dutch #agriculture.” 10/19
legalinsurrection.com/2022/07/is-nit…

🔍The report misses the point that the countries importing Dutch #meat and milk consume far more than is recommended.

Germany, the UK and China are the main recipients of Dutch meat. Almost 75% of Dutch #milk goes to European countries. @DairyGlobal 11/19
dairyglobal.net/world-of-dairy…

🔍During a recent workshop about the food crisis, @_RajPatel of @IPESfood explained that the current crisis is a price crisis.

Climate writer @thinink urged journalists not to endorse the argument that "we need to produce more food at all costs." 12/19

🚫Some outlets spread anti-immigrant #misinformation.

On @FoxNews, Dutch commentator @EvaVlaar said the Dutch government is stealing the farmers’ land “under the guise of a made-up #nitrogen crisis” because “they want it to house new immigrants.” 13/19

🔍In 2019, the Netherlands' highest administrative court ruled that the Dutch strategy for reducing #nitrogen conflicted with EU law.

As a result, the government suspended permits for housing projects that cause nitrogen pollution. @Dutchreviewing 14/19
dutchreview.com/expat/housing/…

🔍The suspension affected ~18,000 building projects. Dutch lawmakers aren’t offering up animal farms as a solution, though.

The government has proposed building one million new homes, which is estimated to take up just 1% of national land. @NOS 15/19
nos.nl/regio/brabant/…

The media needs to acknowledge that the #boerenprotest is not a simple tale of ‘the people’ resisting an uncaring regime.

Many #farmers are caught between a government belatedly trying to tackle environmental problems and powerful agribusinesses blocking climate action. 16/19

“It is very important to scrutinize much more who is behind the protests,” says @FrankMechielsen. "What are the interests of the big industry?

A majority in the @2eKamertweets recently passed a motion requiring big agribusinesses to contribute. 17/19
sentientmedia.org/what-the-media…

The Netherlands serves as a critical example of the challenges involved in downscaling #AnimalAgriculture.

Writers covering these transitions need to better understand farmers' positions, the reasons for food crises & the role of #BigAg interests. 18/19

At @Sentient_Media, we strive to create transparency around food system operations. If you'd like to learn how to better report on our #food system and those within it, consider joining our Writers' Collective 19/19 sentientmedia.org/writers-collec…