Farmers must be able to invest in innovation, without having to recoup that investment by expanding their livestock. Many dairy farmers now link investments in, for example, low-emission dairy barns to economies of scale. “That is logical, because otherwise they will not be able to get the financing, but I really think this is a system error,” says Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen).
In her opinion, farmers should have such an income, so that they can make investments without the need for an increase in scale (more livestock), according to the minister. In the plans that the cabinet is now making to offer farmers perspective, “we have to look closely at this”, said Van der Wal. The cabinet wants nitrogen emissions to be halved by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019.
In addition to reducing livestock, the government is expressly looking for innovative solutions, such as low-emission stables, to achieve this goal. However, it is uncertain whether in practice they do what they promise. According to European nature conservation rules, this certainty is a hard condition when granting nature permits, the Council of State stated in a number of rulings this week. That is why the highest court has ruled out the expansion of a number of dairy farms, realizing that “this will further complicate licensing in the dairy sector.” But because the Netherlands has committed itself to European nature conservation rules, this must be acted upon, the highest court emphasized.
Permits that have now been issued to expand the livestock – because there is a low-emission barn – are irrevocable, says Van der Wal. In the case of permit procedures that are still ongoing, farmers must consider whether they want to continue with them. “It is a very large investment.” According to the minister, there are many considerations that now play a role, such as the area where the farmer has his business, and also whether there are already specific plans for this.
She warns farmers against divestments, now that at least two types of low-emission stables emit more nitrogen than the manufacturer says. Farmers need to be sure that the emission reduction can actually be recorded and that the targets set for water and climate are also achieved, Van der Wal emphasizes.
Despite the judgment about low-emission barns that emit more than promised, the minister is convinced that “there remains a lot of room for innovation, also in the approach to the nitrogen dossier.”