Livestock farmers are all gradually given their own nitrogen target and can choose how to reduce their nitrogen emissions. This is stated in a proposal from the Provincial Executive that has been released. With this step, the council is overhauling its own stable policy and farmers are getting what they have been asking for for a long time.
According to the Provincial Executive’s plan, every livestock farmer will soon work gradually towards their own nitrogen target. They can decide for themselves how farmers meet their goals. The province creates a ‘menu’ with measures based on ‘scientific consensus’ from which farmers can choose. This list includes, for example, innovative systems, feeding and stable measures, nature-inclusive work and keeping fewer animals.
Livestock farmers must report to the province before July 1, 2026 how they will comply with their nitrogen assignment. Brabant livestock farming as a whole must emit an average of 46 percent less nitrogen in 2035 compared to 2019. In 2030, the province will check whether it is likely that the targets will be achieved. If that is not the case, the province will tighten the policy, it can be read.
Not all types of livestock farming have the same opportunities to become more sustainable. That is why different branches of the sector also have different goals.
Insecurity
Nitrogen is causing nature to deteriorate and the nitrogen problem hinders the construction of homes and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure. That is why nitrogen emissions must be reduced. Livestock farming has the largest share of these emissions and must therefore be significantly reduced.
The province tried to achieve this by requiring farmers to make their outdated stables more sustainable. They would prefer to do this with an innovative stable system. Examples of these systems are air scrubbers or floors that keep liquid and solid manure separated.
There is a lot of discussion about the operation of these types of systems: the judge has repeatedly struck down several systems in recent years. This often played a role in the fact that farmers took more animals to finance their newly purchased innovation. The additional emissions were lower on paper thanks to the innovation, but in reality this could not be said for certain.
Legal certainty
The Provincial Executive expects the new approach to resolve the current impasse, because farmers no longer have to apply for a permit for measures to reduce their nitrogen emissions. This is no longer necessary, because the province is switching from a system of licensing to one of measures that contribute to improving nature. You do not need a permit for these measures.
It is important that farmers who work in this way are not allowed to take additional animals. More animals do not contribute to improving nature, so a permit remains necessary.
In their own words, the Provincial Executive gives ‘confidence to livestock farmers’ with this plan.