14 November 2025
Extinction Rebellion’s agriculture team staged a protest in Enkhuizen, a historic town on the IJsselmeer whose prosperity once stemmed from the VOC and its trade with the East Indies. The town’s heritage was not the focus of the demonstration; instead, the march targeted three local companies that manufacture agricultural pesticides. Some of hese pesticides are forbidden in the Eruopean Union.
The situation reminded me of the synthetic‑drug market: when one compound is prohibited, manufacturers simply tweak its structure and release a new, technically legal variant. Exporting these poisons is akin to how China handles fentanyl—while the substance itself cannot be sold domestically, its precursors and finished products can be shipped abroad.
The agriculture XR group organized a march to visit these companies. First stop was the ‘Sow to Grow’ museum, which is sponsored by the industry. Although they should be open according to their opening times and were willing to be handed the manifest… they kept their doors closed.
The march, which was a funeral procession with four dead bees carried to their final resting place, while being mourned by the green rebels and followed by the band playing sad music, went through the historical center to Syngenta Seeds B.V.. The organization had the impression they could not handover the manifest personally, but… surprise… a representative from Syngenta did come out and talk to the protesters. They are willing to talk with XR.
Next stop was Incotec Europe. This company coats seeds with poison to protect it. This uses a lot less poison, but still… poison. When the protest march arrived the representatives of the company came out to listen to the speech of the beekeeper, who sees on a day to day basis how the bees are doing (not good). They also received the manifest and were willing to talk with XR.
Last company to visit was Bayer Crop Science. A member of the XR scientists, who is also a professor, gave an update about the subject. DDT is found on the North Pole, still after many years the product is forbidden. New to me was the story about rain… we had acid rain in the past. You don’t hear about that anymore, but you also don’t hear about the 30 types of pesticide found in rainwater. Bayer Crop science was also handed the manifest in person and they are willing to talk to XR.
Did I mention we had a slight drizzle all day?”
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