With its own nitrogen plan, farmers’ organizations present almost halving emissions. In certain cases, mandatory measures are not taboo.
The plan comes from LTO, the Dutch Agricultural Youth Kontact (NAJK), provinces (IPO), Municipalities (VNG) and Water Boards (UVW). By reducing nitrogen emissions, there must be room for permits and nature restoration.
According to NAJK chairman Roy Meijer from Witteveen, the plan is an elaboration of what outgoing minister Femke Wiersma (Agriculture, BBB) has devised. “We want to think along together because we all have different concerns. As a sector we have been standing still for six years. Our entrepreneurs also want to continue. If the minister does not use it, then this plan can still be included in the election programs that are now being written.”
Meijer mentions the most important point that the organizations present a nitrogen reduction of 42 to 46 percent in agriculture and horticulture. That goal must have been achieved in ten years, among other things by capturing how much nitrogen may still be expelled per company in 2030 and 2035. Companies that do not achieve the goals can in the extreme case lose their permit or rights.
For example, entrepreneurs must be rewarded who have already invested a lot in the reduction of nitrogen emissions. In addition, companies must be able to use national schemes to be able to innovate, scale, move or buy it up. The organizations emphasize that companies only have to be settled on their own nitrogen emissions and not on the state of nature in the neighborhood.
“But we also want a number of things in return,” says Meijer. For example, the organizations want, among other things, that the space that is created for permits is used to help so-called PAS-Melders, for example, to a valid permit. And entrepreneurs who are in a buy -out scheme must be helped as well as possible by the outgoing cabinet when stopping.
“As young farmers and gardeners, we never really spoke with a taboo about shrinkage. Because the sector is aging enormously,” Meijer knows. “More than half of the farmers over the age of 50 have no successor. There are quite a few. And from Brussels our manure space is limited, so we actually expect a contraction of the livestock. We can improve the rest through sharper management and better techniques.”
According to Meijer, the nitrogen plan has been discussed with its own supporters. “We have ten provincial departments and they have made the decision as a collective. We are pleased that we have convinced provinces, municipalities and water boards of our content. They support our position and thereby strengthen the future -oriented interests of young farmers and gardeners in The Hague.”
“The permit is now largely locked. The provinces would like to continue,” says a spokesperson for the province of Drenthe about involvement in the plan. “This is a first building block, with which we hope to take further steps in the coming period. In Drenthe we are already very far with the policy approach, so this fits in well with what we are already doing.”