What are the consequences of the nitrogen agreement for the agricultural sector? And how will people be compensated after the construction shift? Jan Jambon answers all questions | VTM News

For agriculture, the nitrogen agreement means, among other things, that about 40 ‘red’ companies that emit a particularly large amount of nitrogen – the so-called ‘peak loaders’ – must close by 2025. “This concerns 40 companies, of the many thousands of agricultural companies. These people knew they had a ‘red’ company where sooner or later the ax would fall”, Jambon begins.

It is of course annoying that these people will soon see their life’s work lost, on the other hand, it concerns the biggest polluters in Flanders. “And we have a major nitrogen problem in Flanders,” says Jambon. “We have to do something about that: the biggest polluters have to get out.”

And what about the farmers who – with the help of Flemish subsidies – have tried to comply with the latest emission standards?

“If they were to fall under the standards, they would no longer be ‘red’ companies. It is only when you far exceed the standards that you are a ‘red’ company and must stop. Again, these are 40 companies out of many thousands of farms, but they are the most polluting companies.”

“If we don’t solve the nitrogen problem in Flanders, we will soon experience what happened in the Netherlands. Then Europe will impose on us that permits are no longer allowed in Flanders.”

The livestock must also be reduced. With how many?

“The agricultural sector emits too much nitrogen,” Jambon repeats. “That has to be addressed. We help with this, for example by imposing stricter standards.”

Is there still room in Flanders for large-scale livestock farming?

“There is room in Flanders for livestock farming that adapts to the standards. The standards imply that technology must be used to reduce emissions. With regard to the pig and poultry sector, we impose standards for stables that do not meet technological standards: they must reduce 60 percent through technology or by reducing livestock. We leave the choice to the farmers.”

Isn’t the intention anyway to reduce the livestock by 30 percent?

“That only applies to pig farmers, because they are already having such a hard time and no longer see a future in the sector.”

“There are many solutions, including technological solutions.” Compensating farmers who stop is also a good solution, according to the Flemish Prime Minister. “Just think of pig farmers. Buying out pig farmers would be a double solution because the Chinese market has disappeared; a solution to the farmer’s economic problem and a solution to the nitrogen problem.”

Jambon is also clear about the construction shift – which says, among other things, that no more open space may be taken up in 2040: “Nothing will be taken away”. “The local government will first look at whether there is still a need for housing in the municipality or city. If there is no longer a need for housing, residential expansion areas that have not yet been ‘trimmed up’ can be converted into agricultural or forest areas.” In that case, the municipalities or cities receive financial support from the government.

How will people be compensated with land?

“There are five land commissions in Flanders for each province. They will determine the venal value or real market value of the land on the basis of a few parameters. People should be properly compensated, no theft should be committed by a government decision. People should be reimbursed 100 percent.”