WEAVING FOR A THRIVING PLANET 29 System Change As a result of the Herenboeren Netherlands initiative, consumers become farmers by taking care of the soil and the environment and farmers become community-members. Additionally, the soil, nature, biodiversity, and landscape become an integrated part of the community. Food is being produced in ecosystems that provide communities with their actual needs, and it develops circular chains rather than linear ones. Some Herenboeren farms have become part of a nature conservation area, thus exempting them from the standard policy guidelines. Frame Change: Mindset Shift Focus Herenboeren Netherlands wants people to be directly involved with food production, as this raises the awareness that we all depend on nature, water, soil, sunlight, and biodiversity. When one is aware, one will make reasoned and informed choices in one’s life, hopefully becoming more respectful towards the beautiful, tiny, and vulnerable planet we live on. Community-based Approach At Herenboeren Netherlands, each farm is a result of a local bottom-up process in the sense that it starts with an action-group of at least 6 people that work towards a cooperative of 200 households per farm. The cooperative then hires a farmer to do the farm’s daily work, but it is the cooperative that makes decisions on how animals are treated and how vegetables are being grown. The cooperative must follow the three principles of 1) nature-driven, 2) socially bonded, and 3) economically embedded. Up till now, Herenboeren Netherlands has developed 9 Herenboeren farms, and over 20 initiatives are being serviced towards setting up their own farm over the following years. Collectively, the Herenboeren farms set up the national plan for lobbying, learning, and investing in areas. Scaling & Replication Scaling & Replication Strategy: Herenboerens’ initiative is based on the belief that people’s lack of connection with their natural surroundings - primarily agricultural land - should be restored. People’s social responsibility is vital to inspire change. By developing a closer relationship to their natural surroundings, people understand their food production position and their role to play in making this system more sustainable and nature inclusive. Scaling & Replication History: Herenboeren Netherlands was founded in 2012 and up till now, Herenboeren Netherlands has developed 9 Herenboeren farms, and over 20 initiatives are being serviced towards setting up their own farm over the following years. Also collaborations are established in Belgium and Sweden, as an orientation towards setting up new farms. Scaling Interest: Herenboeren has an interest in scaling up to reach consumers from regular supermarkets. Also interest in scaling to other countries; France and Germany in particular. Scaling & Replication Needs: To implement its actions, Herenboeren needs additional funds and partnerships with diverse institutions and organizations. Challenges Herenboerens’ challenges are the need for network and collaboration with researchers, scientific communities, politicians, the private sector, and financing institutions to scale the initiative’s impact.
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