Holland: Rotterdam ‘floating farm’ criticised after cow falls into the water

‘The fireman told me that this [rescue technique] is for them good to learn because this is the new way of sustainable farming in times of climate change. Until now they have only rescued cats from trees in the city.’

By Senay Boztas
Dutch News
May 3, 2021

Excerpt:

Concerns about animal welfare have again been raised after two cows on an experimental ‘floating farm’ in Rotterdam’s harbour fell into the water.

The local Partij voor de Dieren, which campaigns for animal rights, told DutchNews.nl that it had tried and failed to get a majority in the city council to withdraw the farm’s operating permit, calling the project ‘madness’.

In 2019, the experimental farm opened in Rotterdam harbour, claiming to be the world’s first floating platform housing a herd of cows and a dairy, and generating headlines around the world.

It aims to be ‘sustainable’, recycling the animals’ waste on site, and giving an example of urban farming that could produce more food within cities of the future.

But the PvdD, which has long opposed the experiment, has started a social media campaign raising its concerns about animal welfare, after a second cow fell into the water and had to be rescued on King’s Day. It is believed that the animal was crossing from the floating platform to a small area of grassland for the cows on the dockside, and could not climb out.

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