28 Geert van der Veer Herenboeren Mission Herenboeren Netherlands is a citizen-driven organization. Its goal is to support citizens in developing nature-driven cooperative farms and thus to grow alternatives to current food and large scale production systems. Herenboeren Netherlands develops a sustainable economic model and provides an excellent way to produce and distribute food along nature-driven, socially connected, and economically supported lines. It also initiates and conducts research, trains farmers, and proposes amendments to laws and regulations. Ultimately, it hopes for a place where food production coincides with the regeneration of the soil, landscape, nature, community building, and economic renewal. Through its initiative, Herenboeren Netherlands raises awareness about people’s consumption habits by using the household’s farmland also to raise cows for beef and milk. This often results in families ultimately changing their diet. Herenboeren empowers consumers to step into the production-to-consumption system and to start making a change. Additionally, it teaches the next generation of farmers and agriculture experts inclusive farming practices. Herenboerens’ approach has led to the landscape being regenerated and to regain its human scale. The landscape is enjoyed and experienced, while both being lived in and lived off. Impact & 4 returns Inspiration Herenboeren Netherlands consists of a learning community (general and subgroups) exchanging experience, knowledge, and wisdom. For instance community members are farmers, farm-board members, researchers, etc. Herenboeren has been the catalyst for a landscape that is cherished and nurtured, where regionally supported investments are made, and where old and new values flourish side by side. Social Capital Herenboeren farms offer a platform for people to socialize and meet new friends by participating in events. Through Herenboeren, the people of the Netherlands, young and old, online and offline, have reconnected in various ways with their landscape and the places their food comes from. The Herenboeren initiative creates job opportunities for people with diverse educational backgrounds and has a social impact on its surrounding community. Natural Capital Financial Capital Herenboerens’ actions result in 20 hectares/ per farm of soil and landscape restoration, biodiversity increase, animal welfare guaranteed, etc. Herenboeren Netherlands is based on a costsharing-model. Thus ensuring it is a longterm financially-stable movement. In the end Herenboeren believes sustainable food being cheaper than food from the regular food system.
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