Interview Jeroen van Maanen
'Minister promises a lot, but delivers very little'
The discussions between the Agricultural Collective and Minister Carola Schouten about the nitrogen approach ran on the rocks today (April 1)† Jeroen van Maanen, spokesman for Farmers Defense Force, was there as a member of the delegation of the Agricultural Collective. He tells what it is about. "Should we still put energy into this or should we throw a bomb under it?"
How disappointed are you?
"Heavily disappointed, although the rigid attitude of the cabinet did not come as a surprise. Somehow you keep hoping that an agreement will be reached. We have worked hard over the past few months and put in a lot of time, but unfortunately without result. The talks were sometimes certainly positive, but promises are not translated into deeds. This minister promises a lot, but delivers very little. And that makes you grumpy in the long run."
De commitments made in December have been done, turn out not to be worth a penny. What does it get stuck on?
"On many points. How to deal with external netting, so that no nitrogen space flows away from the agricultural sector. The cabinet has expressed the intention to prevent companies from being bought up unchecked, but in the meantime the province of Noord-Brabant is doing so. the consultations showed that Schouten still wants to make protein-poor feed mandatory for everyone via an Emergency Act. We find that unacceptable. Schouten does not like the three-track policy, as we propose it in dairy farming, either. She raises all kinds of legal objections on this point. The nitrogen reduction that pig farming has already achieved is also is insufficiently rewarded, we think."
Are there any points where you can find each other?
"Yes, there are. Schouten says that she wants to put an end to the licensing obligation for grazing and fertilising. However, even at this point it remains a matter of commitments and intentions. The results are not forthcoming. Unfortunately."
Has it been discussed today that nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands have fallen significantly since the corona measures?
"Yes. The measurements of the RIVM are positive for agriculture. We have therefore asked the minister to use part of this 'corona nitrogen' (estimated 1 kiloton) for the nitrogen problem. This buys you time to make a good plan. Schouten is not enthusiastic about this, however, and warns us that other sectors may then turn against agriculture.
Have the talks finally ended?
"At the moment, yes. The consultations with the provinces will continue. We once started by presenting a total plan. However, the cabinet sees more in 'cherry picking', but in our opinion far too much water will be added to the So the attitude of the cabinet has to change drastically in order to reach an agreement."
Are the 13 parties within the collective still on the same page?
"Absolutely. Everyone is now consulting their own supporters to look for a solution. We do ask ourselves whether we should put more energy into it or whether we should throw a bomb under it. But what next? I would not know."
In the meantime, Farmers Defense Force is considering farmer protests again?
"Certainly. But we do not yet know in what form. The farmer's protests that we have conducted in recent months are not going because of the corona measures. Today, many companies are also in 'survival mode' due to the corona crisis. Many farmers have other urgent needs. things on their minds, so we look at the situation from day to day."
Wouter Job
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