Professor of Environment and Sustainability Jan Willem Erisman of Leiden University is predominantly positive about the nitrogen plans presented by the cabinet on Friday. He expects strong opposition from some of the farmers, while others will see prospects. “It is the first time that a minister has taken seriously,” Erisman told NU.nl.
Erisman praises the fact that Minister Van der Wal is so decisive. “It is very good that she is now continuing,” he says. “This topic has been discussed for decades, and nothing has happened for decades. Buildings have taken place and farmers have been granted permits, without much consideration being given to the impact of nitrogen emissions on nature.”
On Friday, the cabinet announced the elaboration of the proposed 50 percent reduction in nitrogen by 2030. Van der Wal does not rule out the possibility that a number of farmers will have to stop their business.
Farmers’ organizations such as LTO and Farmers Defense Force immediately drew strong criticism. A large demonstration has been announced for Wednesday 22 June. Hundreds of VVD members signed a motion that will be discussed at the party congress today.
For example, in the Gelderse Vallei, right next to the Veluwe, nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 58 percent. Also for Noord-Brabant, the province with the highest nitrogen emissions, there is a huge job ahead.
You previously said in an interview with NU.nl that you fear a significant delay in the implementation of the nitrogen reduction.
“That is still possible. Some of the farmers will see the plans as an opportunity, and will see perspective. They will realize that there is a chance for a real future perspective. They will submit plans. Another part of the farmers will chopping in the sand. They will go to The Hague with tractors on 22 June.”
Are those protesters having a rearguard action?
“That depends on how much parties allow themselves to be carried away by emotions. Farmers as well as administrators and politicians. I see that many farmers are quite willing to change, as long as they are helped, as long as they have perspective. But at the moment those perspectives are still very broadly outlined. That will not remove the uncertainty for many.”
The provinces must come up with plans within a year to reduce emissions per area. Will she succeed?
“There is opposition. You see that among the VVD supporters, you see that among farmers who ran away from an information meeting in Friesland this week. Provincial elections are coming up, that doesn’t help either. But you shouldn’t make it bigger than the The measures that are now being taken are unavoidable, no matter how sour it is for a farmer who lives in an area where 70 percent nitrogen emissions must be reduced.”
“It is very good that there is now finally a map, that farmers know where they stand. And we knew that there would be resistance. The longer you wait with these kinds of measures, the greater the resistance becomes. are all through.”
The plans are drastic. They will lead to many farms disappearing. Can this moment be compared with the announcement by then Prime Minister Joop den Uyl of the closure of the coal mines in the 1970s?
“That was a black-and-white situation: the mines were either exhausted or they were closing. The farmers have many more options. They can close their business, but they can also continue, opt for innovation. They can continue to farm! I would say: create a good plan, make sure you qualify for part of the 24 billion euros that the cabinet is making available for this.
What is still wrong with the government plans?
“There are still some ambiguities in it. What figures should we use? From the measurements in 2019? And does it concern the licensed nitrogen rights or the actual emissions? And there is a pot of 24 billion, but how is it distributed about the provinces? If all farmers in the Gelderse Vallei decide to stop, the pot will be used up in one go, so that’s not possible.”
A day before the nitrogen plans were announced, handed over Erisman Minister Van der Wal’s book The dairy cattle evolution. The lessons of the agricultural transition on Schiermonnikoog†
In recent years, Erisman has followed developments on Schiermonnikoog, where seven farmers from the province were instructed to reduce nitrogen emissions by 20 percent. One of the companies had to stop, or so the plan was, and thirty hectares of land had to be returned to nature.
The farmers were given the opportunity by the province to come up with their own plan, which they succeeded: the seven farmers are still there, have reduced nitrogen emissions by 40 percent and can continue to farm on their own land.
Is this a pilot project for the rest of the Netherlands?
“Yes. Very good that the province gave the farmers the opportunity to come up with a plan themselves. At the same time, there was a big stick. It took five years before the farmers accepted that they had to change. But once that acceptance was there, they also got their own ideas and took matters into their own hands.”