News Nitrogen crisis
Fire letter about nitrogen to Minister Schouten
A group of 9 agricultural advocates once again expressed their concerns to agriculture minister Carola Schouten about the current nitrogen policy in a fire letter. The organizations urge the minister not to pass them by again and to enter into discussions about a strong foundation for the policy and the extent to which agriculture can contribute to this without being the victim of it.
The group, consisting of LTO Nederland, NAJK, Netwerk Grondig, POV, Agractie, NMV, NVP, BoerenNatuur and Biohuis, has indicated that it wants to contribute to solving the nitrogen problem. With the letter of fire, the companies want to prevent measures from being taken that will create an even greater gap between the government and the agricultural sector. The fire letter comes at a strategic time, because Schouten's letter to parliament about the nitrogen dossier is expected in the middle of this month.
The organisations, which partly already worked together within the discontinued Agricultural Collective, are critical of the minister's current approach. According to the group, its solutions on the various themes entail major risks for the future of family businesses that are characteristic of the Dutch agricultural sector. In addition, they stand in the way of company takeovers, which means that the prospects are not rosy.
Make balance
According to the group, the current approach is too diverse. The rejected Nitrogen Program Approach (PAS) entails the most difficulties, which the government says in some cases is trying to respond in a laborious manner. For example, solving problems is shifted to the responsibility of companies that do have a license, because the government wants to legalize companies without a license with licensed space from existing companies. As a result, the responsibility for legalization is shifting from central government to the agricultural sector in particular. The advocates think this is unfair.
In addition, there is a lack of prospects for legalization, which makes it impossible, among other things, to take over a company. Furthermore, the current area-oriented approach does not fit in well. As a result, it actually has no chance, according to the advocates. There is also a mishmash of registration systems. The group states that there should be a registration system in which all nitrogen reduction can be labelled, monitored and guaranteed.
The advocates also conclude in the letter that the strength of the agricultural sector is insufficiently utilized with the current approach to solving the nitrogen crisis. They indicate that the sector is willing and able to further reduce nitrogen emissions. They do, however, impose a number of preconditions for this. For example, these entrepreneurs must provide a positive incentive to invest in reduction measures, with an appropriate payback period. The measures must also be cost-effective, proportionate and technically feasible, and take forerunners into account without affecting the financial capacity of future-oriented family businesses.
Utilizing a strong agricultural sector
The advocates therefore again call on Schouten not to pass them by, but to start the conversation. They request that this meeting be held before the minister sends her planned letter about the nitrogen dossier to the House of Representatives. "We would like to use our innovative strength to get the Netherlands out of the nitrogen crisis," said the formation in the letter.
Jorine Cosse
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