The agricultural sector was mentioned in the Speech from the Throne for the first time in years. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality even got a separate chapter in the Budget Memorandum. What do the plans mean for the farmers, and how exactly will the budget be allocated?
The ministerie of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality strives for a fair and responsible agricultural and fishing sector. Economic perspective, sustainability and animal welfare are linked in this package. The Netherlands wants to contribute to tackling the world food issue through knowledge and innovation.
Smallest budget for agriculture
Of all the departments in the Rutte III cabinet, the agriculture ministry receives the smallest budget. At approximately €882 million, this is 0,27% of the total Dutch budget. Of this, 16,6% (approximately €146 million) goes to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) receives 19,1% (approximately €168 million) and 12,3% (over €108 million) has been earmarked for its own civil service.
In addition, the €120 million for the warm remediation of pig farming in livestock dense areas 13,6% of the budget. Wageningen University (WUR) receives more than €92 million, which amounts to 10,5% of the budget.
Eliminate negative effects
The plans are full of ambition. In addition to healthy soil, healthy insect populations and keeping animals in a natural way, the ministry states that the agricultural sector ideally no longer has a negative impact on air quality. The effect on the health of local residents must be minimal.
The implementation of the above-mentioned goals corresponds to those recently presented agricultural vision from Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten. The emphasis is on circular agriculture, less fertilizer and healthy soil. The ministry strives for a stronger position of the farmer in the chain.
- Carol Schouten
How the ministry wants to achieve this is not stated in the budget. This must be further developed in separate programs, such as the Soil Program (which is already being worked on).
Warm renovation of pig farm
The ministry also announced that it will tackle odor nuisance from pig farms through a two-pronged policy: remediation and sustainability. The ministry has allocated €2 million for the remediation. This means that locations in livestock-dense areas, or companies that want to close down, will be remediated. At the same time, this will lead to an improvement in the quality of life in these areas.
The focus is on source-oriented sustainability and innovation in stable and livestock farming systems. €60 million has been reserved for this, of which €40 million for pig farming. These two tracks will be developed in the second half of 2. A total of €2018 million will be allocated for pig farming. The expectation is that the package of measures can be published in early 160.
Revision of manure policy
For the implementation of the Sixth Nitrates Directive action program €60 million reserved. In 2019, the ministry will reconsider its fertilizer policy. The aim is to achieve a robust and less fraud-prone fertilizer policy, which will reduce the administrative burden on entrepreneurs and implementation costs for the government.
In 2019, attention will also be paid to reducing stable fires and improving animal welfare. The ministry indicates that it strives for a level playing field (in Europe and beyond). To strengthen supervision, the NVWA will receive an additional €2019 million on a structural basis from 5. €75 million has been made available for business takeovers by young farmers, this money will go into a 'business takeover fund'.
Farmer-to-citizen connection
Finally, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is looking for a connection between agriculture and nature. It strives for a better balance and more use should be made of each other's potential. This ambition will be fulfilled in 2019 with the 'Vital Countryside' programme.