Inescapable transition to a vital rural area | news item

News item | 10-06-2022 | 14:39

Not everything can be done everywhere. Entrepreneurs and projects – whether in industry, construction, mobility or agriculture – must ensure that their activities fit within the capacity of the area. This requires a different way of doing business and leads to major changes in rural areas and a lot of impact for the parties involved. By cleverly combining nitrogen reduction measures in an area-specific approach with other reduction measures to improve climate, soil and water quality, nature is restored, permits for entrepreneurs and construction projects are restarted and PAS reporters can obtain a permit.

Minister Van der Wal: “A vital rural area with healthy nature. With perspective for entrepreneurs and the economy, whether you work in industry, construction or the agricultural sector. That is the ultimate goal and that is why this radical but necessary transition of the rural area is necessary. What I can offer is clarity and 100% commitment from the cabinet to make this transition a success with all those involved. So that we can balance the economy with nature and pass on a clean and healthy living environment to future generations.”

Minister Staghouwer: “My main priority is that farmers have and keep a future in the Netherlands. I am proud of the innovative strength and adaptability of our farmers and horticulturists. Many are already working on more sustainable production, but more can and should be done. I therefore want to support farmers in the transition to circular agriculture. That is why I ask farmers to work on their future and see what role your company can play in your environment and in a sustainable future. It’s about customization, because every entrepreneur is unique. The farmer cannot do this alone, which is why I instruct chain parties to make non-binding agreements about the earning capacity of the sustainable farmer.”

Guiding nitrogen targets per area

Because areas differ, the approach also differs per area. The reduction targets differ per area, because the quality of nature, water and soil also differs per area. The central government has established so-called directional nitrogen targets and reduction percentages for each area. These increase from 12% to around 70% – to be achieved proportionally by all sectors – in areas close to nature reserves and areas where the water and soil quality must improve significantly. A map of this is available.

Further guidelines for climate and nature will follow in October. By July 2023 at the latest, it will be clear in each area what the goal is and how it will be achieved – where this is clear earlier, an accelerated approach will follow. The ‘what’ (the goals) lies with the central government, the ‘how’ (substantiation of the area plans) with the provinces and the regional parties involved. Together, these regional goals add up to the national goal: three quarters of the nitrogen-sensitive Natura 2000 areas at a healthy level by 2030. The government has made €24.3 billion available for the entire approach, in addition to existing resources (€7 billion). .

Development directions for agriculture

Clarity will now follow for farmers and now is the time to determine whether and how they can continue with their business. The minister sees 3 options for farmers: making (further) sustainability, relocating or ending. In the case of sustainability and also relocation, examples are extensification by, for example, fewer animals per hectare, adding landscape soil or contributing to carbon sequestration, water and nature management. Other possibilities include offering or producing new products, such as protein-rich crops and organic farming. But also offering extra services for the environment, such as a care farm, camping or other form of recreation. Technological innovations, such as high-quality manure processing, precision agriculture and digitization can also be a way to change a company in the future.

Whether a farmer opts for further sustainability (technical innovation, landscape innovation, conversion), relocation or voluntary termination of his or her business, he or she is not alone and can expect support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. For example, there will be resources that farmers can use, such as knowledge and expertise available through the Subsidy Module Agricultural Business Advice and Education (Sabe scheme), subsidy for young or starting farmers (settlement support in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)) and the Conversion Program for Sustainable Agriculture. In addition, €120 million is available in the new CAP for, among other things, the eco-scheme with which farmers can receive compensation for eco-activities that they apply to their farms. This includes extra grazing and maintenance of wooded banks. on the platform’Growing into tomorrow’ you can find a complete overview of support options for farmers.

Agricultural perspective

Agriculture and horticulture are essential for our food supply, our landscape, social cohesion and quality of life in the countryside. A strong agricultural sector, which is economically strong enough to make the switch to circular agriculture, is a precondition and part of the solution for achieving the nature and environmental goals. That is why it is important to embed the perspective of agriculture in the area processes, to provide farmers with clarity about goals and time schedule and to provide them with targeted support in the transition to circular agriculture. The honest story is also that not all farmers can continue with their business, and not always in the way someone farms now.

Agriculture will be fully included (within the set frameworks) in the area plans and it must be clear what the long-term economic perspective is for the permanent farmers. The Minister of LNV calls on agricultural entrepreneurs to participate actively and constructively in the area processes, because this best safeguards the perspective of agriculture as a whole and that of individual companies. In addition, each area plan must contain a socio-economic impact analysis specifically for the agricultural sector.

Where the soil is most suitable for agriculture, the cabinet is working with provinces and municipalities on good spatial protection. In these areas, agriculture is given priority over functions that are less dependent on environmental factors, such as solar parks, distribution or data centers. In areas where nature or the soil and groundwater are under great pressure, agriculture will have to be organized more extensively, with more attention to the management of nature and landscape.

Non-binding contribution from the chain

An important condition for future-proof agriculture is that the entrepreneur also has a sustainable economic perspective. A farmer can only sustainably change his or her business operations if the entire chain cooperates. After all, the real prospects for farmers are determined by the demand for more sustainable products from the market and the right price that the farmer receives for them. That is why the Minister of LNV will commission chain parties this summer to take concrete actions that will improve the earning capacity of sustainable farmers. If this does not get off the ground, legal obligations will follow.

More information at:

• Helpdesk Nitrogen and Natura 2000. For questions about nitrogen, permit granting, AERIUS, Natura 2000 and the area-oriented approach, you can contact the helpdesk of BIJ12, the executive organization of the joint provinces.
  • By telephone on working days between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 13:00 and 16:00 on telephone number 085 – 486 25 90.
  • Via the contact form on the website bij12.nl
• Province. If you have any questions about a specific case, permit or approval decision, please contact your province†
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). For questions about existing laws and regulations for agricultural entrepreneurs, sustainability and the (financial) support in this regard, please contact RFO†