All Drenthe lily growers must prove that they do not harm Natura 2000 areas with their crop protection products. They must be able to demonstrate that with a ‘praise’ before they start growing. If they cannot do that, they must apply for a permit from the province. The province tests that. But he wants to help the growers with a joint prayer.
For the third time, JA21 tried to build a bridge between the political for and opponents of lily growing and the use of crop protection products. So also between campaigners and growers. The new lily breeding policy is about preventing damage to or effects on Natura 2000 areas. That damage must also be prevented on residential, recreation and water extraction areas, was the urgent call from party leader Harry Omlo. His amendment did not make it because the BBB blocked it with the help of almost all right -wing parties.
But a large part of the discussion in the Provincial States revolved. The central question: are we only going to protect nature or people? Agricultural -deputy Schuinder is clear: “This policy is due to risks on nature, but in this policy we also make a trip to the health of people.” But that does not go far enough in PS.
The province has no other choice after a decision by the Council of State. He concluded that it cannot be proven hard that agricultural poison from the lily growing does not end up in Drenthe Natura 2000. That is why that must be tested in advance. Ultimately, in 2026 the province will also maintain if a grower has no test or no permit while it is needed.
Another substantial part of the debate was about how the province, against its own coalition program, comes with extra rules for lily growing. BBB’er Derk Evert Waalkens made minced meat from the Council of State pronunciation because, according to him, it is based on a “scientifically non-supported” report of measuring = knowing. According to the BBB Staten member, the report slides all kinds of poisonous substances have been found in nature and that do not come from agriculture, but in the shoes of agriculture.
Waalkens: “Agrifacts (agricultural investigative journalism, ed.) And scientists from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the College for the Admission of Crop Protection products and Biocides (CTCB)” put very big question marks with that report. “
But according to BBB deputy Gert-Jan Schuinder, the ruling of the Council of State as it is, is a scientific report or not. According to Waalkens, the BBB is ultimately “carefully positive” and with that its own provincial lily policy is a fact, even though that is ‘a mustetje’.
In November, agricultural deputy Gert-Jan Schuinder will come up with a proposal for a temporary ban on expansion of lily growing. Coalition party PvdA and a large number of left -wing opposition parties wanted such a temporary ban almost immediately, but that is not feasible according to Schuinder.
A handful of ideas from the opposition to make the new lily cultivation policy even stricter or stronger, did not make it all, such as having Voorenssen performed independently instead of by growers, a standard for using pesticides and investigations whether the new provincial rules can be legally sustainable.
Only a motion from the VVD to conduct regional research into the effects of pesticides in Natura 2000 areas to be able to take decisions about lily cultivation on that basis in the future.
Extinction Rebellion and grandparents protested for climate during the lily growing debate. According to XR, the province wanted them to keep them out within the building, but they were allowed to protest in the hall and were welcome at the public gallery. Without banners, though.