Farmers’ organization LTO announced on Friday after the nitrogen talks “it is ready for now until further steps have been taken”. The ball is currently in the cabinet to restore confidence, according to chairman Sjaak van der Tak.
What is the nitrogen problem about again?
- The government wants to significantly reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia in the coming years. These emissions are a major burden on nature and biodiversity.
- Agriculture is the largest emitter of nitrogen. Farmers fear that the strict targets will lead to a clear cut in the countryside. They also guard against an uncertain future perspective.
- Plans presented earlier to halve nitrogen oxide emissions by 2030 led to major farmers’ protests.
According to Van der Tak, there has been some movement. “But for today the conversation is done.” The LTO chairman will discuss the results of the meeting with his supporters.
According to “independent discussion leader” Johan Remkes, the nitrogen talks between the cabinet and the farmers’ organizations were “extremely constructive”. According to him, there is a “severe crisis of confidence” in the Netherlands.
That crisis is not just about tackling the nitrogen problem, he said. There is said to be a feeling among farmers that “wandering policies” have been followed for years.
According to Remkes, farmers are also angry about the “accumulation of regulations” in recent years. They feel that they are not being listened to, that their questions remain unanswered and that how much they have already done to reduce nitrogen emissions is underestimated.
According to Remkes, “the impasse must be broken”. A second meeting is planned at the end of August, in which all discussion partners will rejoin on Friday, he hopes.
Substantive points elaborated later
Substantive points were also discussed, which will be elaborated on later. These are the nitrogen targets, the 2023 deadline, the regional approach, innovation opportunities and emission ceilings, Remkes reported.
According to Remkes, the much-discussed nitrogen map is not a panacea. Rutte acknowledged after the press conference that the ticket “has led to tension”. “We apologized for that.”
The map shows how much less nitrogen may be deposited per area. Many farmers deduced from the map how much less nitrogen they themselves will be allowed to emit, but “it doesn’t work that way”, according to the prime minister. Rutte promised that the cabinet will “improve communication”.
The farmers and the cabinet agree that the emphasis in the nitrogen debate must be shifted from precipitation to emissions. In other words: what the individual farmer can do about the nitrogen crisis.
A total of ten organizations at the table
Van der Tak has been appointed as spokesperson by eight farmers’ organizations. The LTO chairman had previously been persuaded by Rutte to start the conversation in a telephone conversation, after the prime minister had promised that there would be “no taboos”.
The decision taken without consultation to join the conversation, Van der Tak came under strong criticism from his own supporters. Farmers Defense Force (FDF) called the action treason. Later, FDF leader Mark van den Oever came to his senses: he is also behind the talks.
A total of ten representatives of the agricultural sector sat around the table. In addition to LTO, these were mainly smaller organizations that represent the interests of, for example, organic farmers. The cabinet was made up of four people: in addition to Prime Minister Rutte, also Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen), Minister Henk Staghouwer (Agriculture) and Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management).
The talks will continue next week. The nature organizations are the first to visit, followed by local and provincial authorities and representatives of the business community.