To restore nature and make agriculture more sustainable, D66, VVD and CDA want to invest heavily. The parties presented their plans on Friday, including a substantial package of nitrogen measures. For example, money will be made available to farmers who want to become more sustainable or want to stop voluntarily, nitrogen targets will be set per sector and area and young farmers will receive support. The parties want to reserve a total of 20 billion euros for the nitrogen package.
At first glance, this seems like good news for Brabant. As a province with a lot of intensive livestock farming and vulnerable nature reserves, we are suffering greatly from the nitrogen crisis. In Brabant, for example, permitting has in practice been at a standstill for years, which causes problems for housing construction, infrastructure and economic development.
Outgoing Agriculture Minister Wiersma (BBB) has hardly taken any measures in recent years, leaving the province on the hook to combat the nitrogen crisis.
Making choices
“Politicians must make the choices necessary to solve the nitrogen crisis in a coherent package that is convincing for the sector and to create space for
relaxation in the economy”, it is not without reason that this is stated in the coalition agreement.
And D66, VVD and CDA make those choices. For example, nitrogen targets per sector will be included in the law and specific targets per area will also be drawn up in consultation with provinces. Ultimately, these goals must be broken down per livestock farmer, so that every farmer knows exactly how much less nitrogen he needs to emit. By 2035, the agricultural sector must emit between 42 and 46 percent less nitrogen compared to 2019.
Voluntarily stopping, adjusting or moving
Termination arrangements must remain in place for farmers who want to quit. The intention is that these buyout schemes will be aimed at outdated livestock farms or farmers who have their farms close to over-congested nature. An additional 2.75 billion euros must be made available for this up to and including 2035.
Before the summer, the new cabinet must make agreements with provinces about zones around the most vulnerable nature reserves, such as the Peel. Nitrogen emissions around these areas must be significantly reduced. To achieve this, livestock farmers must innovate, switch, extensify (have more land per animal), move or stop. The parties want to allocate 9 billion for this. There should also be 2 billion in subsidies for making farms more sustainable.
Coercion
D66, VVD and CDA do not shy away from coercive measures in their plans. If the nitrogen targets are not achieved, additional measures will be necessary, they write in the coalition agreement. ‘As an ultimate remedy’, the future government could withdraw animal and phosphate rights. These rights determine how many animals a company can keep. The parties want to skim these rights anyway when a company is transferred to a new owner outside the family.
Furthermore, the future minority cabinet will pay for nature restoration and management: 2.2 billion euros must be allocated for this until 2035. After that, 200 million will become available annually. Farmers who practice nature management will receive 1.2 billion euros until 2035 and 165 million euros annually thereafter. When implementing the new Nature Restoration Regulation, which revolves around restoring damaged ecosystems, the parties now want to make a broader assessment of other interests such as the economy and space.
