Organisation - September 13, 2012
Dijkhuizen moves debate on intensive farming up a gear
Criticism from Wageningen researchers. Dijkhuizen bemoans emotional response.
Dijkhuizen's statements led to a debate about the issues on Twitter, Foodlog and trouw.nl. His argument met with both declarations of support within Wageningen UR and fierce opposition: nine scientists wrote a letter to Trouw, there was a small demo by students in Forum and resource.wur.nl was inundated with 40 comments. Many of these critics felt that, as the head of an academic institution, Dijkhuizen should have emphasized the diversity of views, given that the scientific jury is still out.
Dijkhuizen had not expected this response. He is pleased to see a debate, but preferably one that keeps sentiments out of it. 'I am surprised to see how difficult even scientists find it to stick to facts in debates rather than emotions. That is rather a cause for concern.'