Netherlands: The goat sector is looking for a future with support

'We aim to unlock dairy goat farming in the Netherlands. In order to maintain support in society, business development must contribute to making our beautiful sector more sustainable,' says chairman Jos Tolboom of LTO's Goat Farming department. To give shape to the desired sustainability of dairy goat farming, the sector is working closely with Wageningen University & Research (WUR). A goat ban has been in effect in most provinces for about five years. Existing goat farms are not allowed to expand and new establishment is not possible. Provincial authorities have closed down the goat sector after research results were published that showed an increased risk of pneumonia for local residents around a goat farm. 'Provinces will not keep the goat sector locked indefinitely. It is also questionable whether this is legally tenable. The sector does realize that public support is badly needed to create room for development,' says researcher Nico Bondt of Wageningen Economic Research. 'As ...