The VEL and VANLA Environmental Co-Operatives as a Niche for Sustainable Development

The modernisation paradigm has, for many years, dominated the shape and direction of Dutch agriculture. This resulted in the prevalence of the agro-industrial model, characterised by industrialisation, productivism and economies of scale (see Marsden 2003; van Huylenbroeck and Durand 2003; Wilson 2001). In the last decade an alternative competing rural development paradigm has emerged. These two different paradigms co-exist, compete and evolve at different levels: in farming practices as well as in policies and sciences. The emerging rural development paradigm not only entails a new approach to agricultural and rural development practices but also calls for a new approach to scientific practices and policy making, steering and control. Key elements of this approach include regional diversification of rural policies and citizens' and stakeholders' participation in science and policy making. The emergence of the rural development paradigm was induced by a growing societal concern over the negative side effects of the modernisation paradigm. Examples of these side effects include environmental pollution through the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and increasing dis-connections between agriculture and its social and ecological environment.

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