News Nitrogen crisis
'Role stroke shocked by LTO nitrogen deal'
The requirements in the nitrogen plan that LTO has concluded with nature organizations and business associations are too high and legally untenable. Moreover, LTO does not have a mandate to decide on behalf of all Dutch farmers, various parties are cracking critical notes. "I was shocked by that nitrogen deal."
This is how Mark van den Oever, chairman of Farmers Defense Force (FDF), reacts: in a video message on the nitrogen plan 'A sustainable balance' that LTO presented this morning (Tuesday 25 May) with Natuurmonumenten, Natuur & Milieu, VNO-NCW and Bouwend Nederland. According to FDF, the nitrogen reduction of 177 mol that LTO aims for in this plan is equivalent to a 60,51% reduction in 2030. The newly adopted nitrogen law of outgoing agriculture minister Carola Schouten is based on a 26% reduction. "Where has LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak been with his head lately?", Van den Oever wonders.
No legal security
Jan Cees Vogelaar, who has been refined in the nitrogen dossier from the Mesdagfonds Foundation, also sees a lot of snags in the plan. Especially in a legal sense, he writes on bulletin board. "There is no legal certainty, so the existing permits continue to come under fire from the MOB (Mobilization for the environment). Nothing has been arranged for the Pas-notifiers either, which means that the permit is delayed even longer."
It also disturbs Vogelaar that, with the plan, LTO implicitly commits to the calculation models (Aerius) used by the Ministry of Agriculture. "There is no critical note about the underpinning of the Critical Deposition Values (KDW) and about the applied calculation models."
Representation of supporters
Both the Farmers Defense Force and the Nitrogen Claim Foundation have considered at length whether LTO Nederland is allowed to conclude such a nitrogen deal with nature organizations and employers' associations on behalf of the entire agricultural sector. "You have not received a mandate from the FDF members to reduce so far. If you want to reduce 60%, then do that with the few LTO members that are left." Incidentally, Van den Oever stated that FDF does want to comply with the nitrogen law. "26% reduction is really the max and not a percent more."
John Spithoven, chairman of the Nitrogen Claim Foundation, also comments on the representation of LTO. Especially because LTO does not disclose the exact number of agricultural entrepreneurs it represents. "For a universally binding declaration, more than 66% of the supporters must be represented. Then you can speak on behalf of the sector. I very much doubt whether LTO today represents more than 66% of all livestock sectors. I like to see that in black and white. "
Growing subcutaneous suspicion
At Van den Oever, Spithoven and Vogelaar there is a subcutaneous suspicion that more is already going on than just the nitrogen proposal presented, which is submitted as a discussion paper to the formation. Between the lines, they allow it to be suspected that the nitrogen plan has already been discussed and probed further politically than is now indicated. "I feel this is a kind of harbinger for the formation", Van den Oever says.
"Just like before with the Agricultural Collective, the government will shop around in the plan, there will be measures with much less money and there is no legal tenability of permits," writes Vogelaar. When asked, Spithoven also states that he believes that the nitrogen plan has already been discussed in cabinet circles. "All the stakes are huge and the parties won't come up with a proposal if they don't expect it to have a chance of success." He sees a preconceived scenario unfolding in the coming period, in which all stakeholders are prepared with news and information for further nitrogen measures.
Eric the Thrush
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