This Monday, the main organizations that have to conclude the Agricultural Agreement sat down at the table. It should be the last time, but even now the parties did not come to an agreement. The deadline for the final plan is moved forward another week and must now be completed on May 17th. But what about the Agriculture Agreement again? We have listed the five most important questions and answers for you:
Why is an Agriculture Agreement necessary?
The plan for an Agricultural Agreement comes from Johan Remkes. He was asked by the cabinet in the summer of 2022 to mediate between farmers and the cabinet about the nitrogen plans. Much will be asked of the agricultural sector in the coming years, in the areas of nature, climate and water. Farmers need clarity about what agriculture will look like in 2040. Only then can they make decisions about adapting their farms.
Something is also expected from all parties around the farmer. Think of feed suppliers, the food industry, supermarkets and banks. They too must help so that farmers are able to become more sustainable.
Who is sitting at the table to talk to?
The discussions take place at the ‘main table’ and at various sector tables. The main table consists of the Ministry of Agriculture, four agricultural organizations (Agractie Nederland, Biohuis, LTO Nederland and NAJK), the provinces, two clubs representing the supermarkets or the food industry (CBL and FNLI) and a nature organization (LandschappenNL).
The six sector tables are intended to be able to participate in discussions per sector. For example, dairy and veal farming, pig farming, poultry farmers and arable farming, field vegetables and bulb cultivation.
Why does it take so long?
Parties have difficulty reaching an agreement. Earlier, farmers’ organization Agractie already left the negotiating table. Arguments about ‘landscape land’ were the reason. The cabinet wants to designate more land as so-called landscape land. Agriculture is possible on such land, but only in combination with nature. Something that has gone down the wrong way with Agractie.
In addition, there is dissatisfaction with the various government schemes to help farmers relocate or innovate. Farmers’ organizations want all schemes to be opened up at the same time in order to be able to make a good choice.
And agreements about the revenue model, including the agreements with banks and supermarkets, are not yet clear.
When will that clarity be there?
The final round of talks was scheduled for Monday. The negotiators at the main table then had to be out (or not). The documents then go to the sector tables for approval or any minor adjustments. But it also appears on Monday that the parties cannot agree and therefore need an extra week to come to an agreement.
Everyone happy? Then the pieces go to the reflection table. He must judge whether everything that has been devised at the main or partial tables is also feasible. The ten members of the reflection table are experts with an economic, ecological, legal, social, biological or agricultural background.
What if, unexpectedly, no agreement is reached?
Suppose the parties at the main table cannot agree, then we have a problem. The Agriculture Agreement does not mention nitrogen, but it is all interrelated. The failure of the Agricultural Agreement may cause another considerable delay in the nitrogen approach. Only when there is more clarity for farmers towards 2040 can they make a proper assessment of whether or not they want to stop.
Only then can provinces make good plans for their various areas and calculate how they can reduce the nitrogen deposition on nature. These plans must be submitted to the minister on 1 July 2023.