From 3 October 2022 to 2 July 2024, he served as the minister of agriculture, nature and food quality on behalf of the Christian Union (CU) in the fourth Rutte cabinet.

[1] Following the collapse of the fourth Rutte cabinet in July 2023, Adema continued serving as demissionary minister.

Adema's proposal included a buyout program and would lead to a decrease in the livestock population.

The PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB – representing a majority in the House – called on the minister to hold off the plans due to the ongoing cabinet formation.

[2][3] Adema is known for his push for animal welfare, an example of this can be seen in his work on a ban on owning animals with harmful external characteristics, such as a cat with folded ears or a dog with a short snout..[4] Additionally, in 2024, Adema started working on a ban on "puppy yoga".