King Willem-Alexander briefly discussed agriculture in his Speech from the Throne. This concerned the €5 billion that the cabinet has made available for the nitrogen approach. "It is necessary for a healthy and innovative future of the Dutch agricultural sector, which also ensures a reliable food supply in times of crisis."
The king, who expresses the government's vision for the coming parliamentary year in the Speech from the Throne, also immediately took nature with him in the same passage. "The money that is now available can be used, among other things, for nature restoration and the adaptation of stables." Willem-Alexander also implies that agriculture is the only sector for the time being where the cabinet sees nitrogen gains in the short term. "And it is necessary to enable spatial developments in the field of housing and infrastructure."
Heavy economic setback
No new policies or measures were announced for agriculture itself. The speech from the throne was largely about the impact of the current corona crisis on the economy and society. The king warns our country must brace itself "for the consequences of a severe economic setback, which also affects the economy and public finances in the long term." He points to economic figures and estimates that are "unprecedented in peacetime."
The Dutch economy will shrink by 5% this year, the national budget is heading for a deficit of 7% and unemployment has doubled in 1 year. Exports are also under pressure, warns the king. "Our main trading partners in Europe and worldwide are faced with an economic downturn that is often even greater. For an open country like the Netherlands, which is open to trade and export, this is an extra complication, especially after Brexit."
Climate note coming
The climate in the form of the Climate Agreement and the Climate Act was also discussed. The cabinet will present a Climate Memorandum this autumn, Willem-Alexander announced. The goal remains a reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 49% by 2030 and a climate neutral Netherlands by 2050. "Various measures are in the pipeline for the coming year, such as a CO2 tax for industry, a smaller share of coal-fired power stations in the electricity production and measures to stimulate the circular economy, in which waste becomes a raw material again," said the king.
The government wants to make a flying start with the National Growth Fund, for which an amount of €5 billion is available over the next 20 years. With the fund, the government wants to invest in knowledge development, innovation and infrastructure (including digital and energy). "The unique scale and duration of the fund make it possible to transfer the Netherlands more prosperous, cleaner and more sustainable to today's young people."
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