,Table of content
Table of content 1
1. Introduction 1
1.1 Research Problem and question 1
1.2 Relevance of the study 3
2. Theoretical background 4
2.1 Socio-ecological transition 4
2.2 Protein transition 6
2.3 Transition flower methodology 7
3. Methodological framework 8
3.1 Research design 8
3.2 Sampling strategy 9
3.3 Data collection 9
3.4 Operationalization 9
3.5 Data analysis 10
3.6 Research quality indicators 10
3.7 Ethical issues: data collection, data handling and data storage 10
4. Background 10
5. Activities and timetable 12
6. Reference list 12
7. Appendix 1: Interview guide 16
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Problem and question
The Netherlands is recognized as a dairy country around the world due to its typical grassy
landscapes with grazing cows. With grassland for dairy production making up more than a quarter of
the total land area, it is an excellent example of how highly intensive agriculture dominates the
environment. However, this historic landscape has led to several challenges. The Dutch dairy sector
has been under increasing pressure in recent years to reduce its environmental impact. It is
inevitable to reduce the overall consumption of animal-based proteins and increase the production
of plant-based alternatives.
The transition to more plant-based protein is essential because the Dutch dairy sector is currently
facing several ecological challenges. They contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to methane
emissions from enteric fermentation. But also, the release of nitrogen and phosphorus, from
1
, fertilisers and manure used on pastures for the production of animal feed and manure management
has irreversible ecological effects (Hörtenhuber et al., 2010; Leytem et al., 2011). Agriculture in the
Netherlands is responsible for about 45% of the nitrogen problem, with the dairy sector as the
largest share (RIVM, n.d.). These excessive nitrogen emissions have adverse consequences for
biodiversity and a healthy living environment (de Vries, 2021; Peel et al., 2012). In the Netherlands,
the critical deposition value for nitrogen has been exceeded on 72% of terrestrial nature. The critical
deposition value is the limit above which there is a risk that the quality of the habitat will be
significantly affected by the acidifying or eutrophication influence of atmospheric nitrogen
deposition (TNO, 2019).
In recent years, there has been a shift toward more sustainable milk flows to minimize these
ecological effects. Nature-inclusive agriculture continues to develop and meadow milk is the rule
rather than the exception (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2022b). Besides, various sustainability
labels and concepts have been added (SMK, 2022). Unfortunately for the dairy sector, this appears
not to be enough. The Dutch government, imposed by European regulations and legislation on
nitrogen emissions, has determined in 2022 that the agricultural sector must change radically
(Remkes, 2022).
There is a significant possibility that the government will get engaged in ensuring more sustainable
production and an altered consumption pattern, particularly in a sector that proved to play an
important factor in the nitrogen crisis. Government engagement can be done through indirect
measures such as information or regulation in the field of the environment. The latter is already
being done in the Netherlands. Governments can also decide to take more direct measures, such as
lowering VAT on plant-based substitutes.
Although sustainability goes beyond dairy alternatives, such as biodiversity and herb-rich grass as
cow feed, the sector must address the protein transition. Especially now that the market for plant-
based dairy alternatives is expanding. Research into the environmental impact of plant-based
alternatives and animal-based foods shows that plant-based proteins outperform comparable
animal products in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other impact categories such as
eutrophication or acidification (Geburt et al., 2022).
Dairy farmers can play a role in the production of alternative products. This can be an attractive
addition to their traditional activities. The technologies for this are in full development with major
sustainability benefits: less pressure on the livestock as a source of protein and less environmental
impact. This research will analyze how dairy farmers can produce plant-based protein and how they
can be facilitated in the transition. This leads to the research question:
“What are the pathways on a national level dairy farmers could take to produce plant-based
protein, and how can this be facilitated?”
To support the research question, it's essential to determine what the current state of the protein
transition is on a national level and how the protein transition will affect the Dutch dairy sector.
Little information is available on this in the literature, even though the dairy sector needs to respond
to the transition. Additionally, it is being studied which stakeholders are involved in the protein
2
Table of content 1
1. Introduction 1
1.1 Research Problem and question 1
1.2 Relevance of the study 3
2. Theoretical background 4
2.1 Socio-ecological transition 4
2.2 Protein transition 6
2.3 Transition flower methodology 7
3. Methodological framework 8
3.1 Research design 8
3.2 Sampling strategy 9
3.3 Data collection 9
3.4 Operationalization 9
3.5 Data analysis 10
3.6 Research quality indicators 10
3.7 Ethical issues: data collection, data handling and data storage 10
4. Background 10
5. Activities and timetable 12
6. Reference list 12
7. Appendix 1: Interview guide 16
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Problem and question
The Netherlands is recognized as a dairy country around the world due to its typical grassy
landscapes with grazing cows. With grassland for dairy production making up more than a quarter of
the total land area, it is an excellent example of how highly intensive agriculture dominates the
environment. However, this historic landscape has led to several challenges. The Dutch dairy sector
has been under increasing pressure in recent years to reduce its environmental impact. It is
inevitable to reduce the overall consumption of animal-based proteins and increase the production
of plant-based alternatives.
The transition to more plant-based protein is essential because the Dutch dairy sector is currently
facing several ecological challenges. They contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to methane
emissions from enteric fermentation. But also, the release of nitrogen and phosphorus, from
1
, fertilisers and manure used on pastures for the production of animal feed and manure management
has irreversible ecological effects (Hörtenhuber et al., 2010; Leytem et al., 2011). Agriculture in the
Netherlands is responsible for about 45% of the nitrogen problem, with the dairy sector as the
largest share (RIVM, n.d.). These excessive nitrogen emissions have adverse consequences for
biodiversity and a healthy living environment (de Vries, 2021; Peel et al., 2012). In the Netherlands,
the critical deposition value for nitrogen has been exceeded on 72% of terrestrial nature. The critical
deposition value is the limit above which there is a risk that the quality of the habitat will be
significantly affected by the acidifying or eutrophication influence of atmospheric nitrogen
deposition (TNO, 2019).
In recent years, there has been a shift toward more sustainable milk flows to minimize these
ecological effects. Nature-inclusive agriculture continues to develop and meadow milk is the rule
rather than the exception (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2022b). Besides, various sustainability
labels and concepts have been added (SMK, 2022). Unfortunately for the dairy sector, this appears
not to be enough. The Dutch government, imposed by European regulations and legislation on
nitrogen emissions, has determined in 2022 that the agricultural sector must change radically
(Remkes, 2022).
There is a significant possibility that the government will get engaged in ensuring more sustainable
production and an altered consumption pattern, particularly in a sector that proved to play an
important factor in the nitrogen crisis. Government engagement can be done through indirect
measures such as information or regulation in the field of the environment. The latter is already
being done in the Netherlands. Governments can also decide to take more direct measures, such as
lowering VAT on plant-based substitutes.
Although sustainability goes beyond dairy alternatives, such as biodiversity and herb-rich grass as
cow feed, the sector must address the protein transition. Especially now that the market for plant-
based dairy alternatives is expanding. Research into the environmental impact of plant-based
alternatives and animal-based foods shows that plant-based proteins outperform comparable
animal products in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other impact categories such as
eutrophication or acidification (Geburt et al., 2022).
Dairy farmers can play a role in the production of alternative products. This can be an attractive
addition to their traditional activities. The technologies for this are in full development with major
sustainability benefits: less pressure on the livestock as a source of protein and less environmental
impact. This research will analyze how dairy farmers can produce plant-based protein and how they
can be facilitated in the transition. This leads to the research question:
“What are the pathways on a national level dairy farmers could take to produce plant-based
protein, and how can this be facilitated?”
To support the research question, it's essential to determine what the current state of the protein
transition is on a national level and how the protein transition will affect the Dutch dairy sector.
Little information is available on this in the literature, even though the dairy sector needs to respond
to the transition. Additionally, it is being studied which stakeholders are involved in the protein
2
