News Nitrogen crisis
LTO nitrogen plan hard to find support
Support in the agricultural sector for the nitrogen plan launched by LTO Nederland with Natuurmonumenten, Natuur&Milieu, Bouwend Nederland and VNO-NCW is hard to find. Outside of LTO, almost every other farmers' organization disapproves of the plan. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency also does not want to calculate it.
The organizations POV (pigs), NMV and DDB (dairy cattle), Farmers Defense Force and Stichting Stikstofclaim have openly referred the plan to the trash can in recent days. Not only are major comments on the content of the proposal, LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak is also accused of acting solo.
For example, the POV indicated that the nitrogen plan has 'no mandate whatsoever' and states that Van der Tak 'imposed this plan on the farmers'. For that reason alone, the representative for pig farming, in which the past LTO Varkenshouderij and the NVV have merged, cannot agree with the plan. The POV therefore states that it 'assumes that the nitrogen plan 'A sustainable balance' does not apply to pig farmers.
No connecting qualities
The Stikstofclaim Foundation also calls the approach 'not an example of unifying qualities' in a statement on Sunday evening (30 May) by Van der Tak. Nevertheless, the organization calls the content of the nitrogen plan a 'bigger divisive fungus.' Nitrogen Claim finds that the plan is absolutely not balanced, pointing to the more than €17,5 billion that the plan must cost over the next 10 years. "A great sacrifice is asked of farmers, they have to give up a large part of their rights and development space. A great sacrifice is also asked of society: they pay the bill through taxes."
But no hard results obligation is required of nature organizations in the field of biodiversity, concludes Nitrogenclaim. "Without such guarantees, there will be no Sustainable Balance. The benefits of this plan, which improvement of nature we can expect, are completely missing." Nitrogen claim expects that there is a good chance that 'this precious package will soon have no measurable effect on biodiversity'. The organization fears that the agricultural sector can expect another package of measures.
Pay yourself at
In the short term, the measurable effect will not come from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). According to the planning office, the nitrogen plan is not detailed enough and the goals and measures still offer room for interpretation. The PBL places in a reflection on the nitrogen plan some critical remarks. For example, according to the planning office, it is not clear on what the 5 participating organizations in the plan settle themselves, in view of the billions of investment that is requested. "What substantive adjustments do they foresee if the goals are not achieved?"
The PBL calls the proposed pace of the plans high. She calls the bureau a risk to introduce technical innovations widely in stables, because some of these still have to prove themselves in practice. The pure focus on nitrogen is also a danger, because the reduction of other greenhouse gases can also come into the picture later when the climate targets are tightened. "It cannot be ruled out that the proposed technical investments will have to be written off more quickly at a later date if the climate targets are tightened."
Legally vulnerable
The relocation of companies also requires a considerable effort from the land use plan. The PBL also points to the pace at which nature must be restored and expanded. "The speed is being increased, while there are signals that the provinces are already faced with significant implementation tasks due to the extra investments already planned." According to the PBL, the intention to first use the nitrogen gain for economic development (such as housing construction) and only later to invest in nature may be legally vulnerable.
Eric the Thrush
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
