Until April 2015, he was a part-time deputy, and he was also treasurer of the Dutch Bread and Pastry Bakers Association NBOV, and advisor to the PUM, Program Broadcast Managers.

[6] In November 2021, Deputy Staghouwer came under fire because of a letter he sent on his own initiative in June to outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Stef Blok as chairman of the Groningen Reinforcement Consultation (VOG).

These amendments adopted by the House of Representatives (changes to a bill) were intended to support Groningen residents who are dealing with the consequences of gas extraction by means of legal assistance, and to offer them the opportunity to take control of the reinforcement process themselves.

Minister Blok wanted to ignore this amendment to the law because members of parliament Paul van Meenen (D66) and Agnes Mulder (CDA) accidentally voted for one of the two proposals on behalf of their group, resulting in a majority in the House.

[10][11][12][13] Staghouwer was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the fourth Rutte cabinet on 10 January 2022, succeeding party colleague Carola Schouten.