Background Nitrogen
Sector misses farmers' perspective in nitrogen policy
It is clear that the government is focusing on quitters with its nitrogen policy. But what is the perspective for stayers? We have not become much wiser about this with the outline letter from nitrogen minister Christianne van der Wal last Friday. The agricultural sector is eagerly looking for an answer. Perhaps the nitrogen debate tomorrow evening will provide some clarity.
LTO notes after the outline letter that the prospects for agriculture remain in limbo, there is not enough room for economic development and PAS reporters have still not been legalized. It is also doubtful whether all this actually helps nature, according to LTO. "After three years of the nitrogen crisis, we are still deep in the legal quagmire. Thousands of farmers are in uncertainty about the future. They do not have a permit, even though they have always acted according to the rules and in good faith. They cannot invest because it is unclear whether and how food production in certain areas will be given space over the long term," said LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak.
De Federation Private Land Ownership (FPG) is looking for the space that should be available for tenants and landowners to continue earning money during and after the transition. In a response, the organization writes: "In the outline letter, the FPG lacks the right preconditions and guarantees to be able to continue investing. In contrast, the cabinet mainly opts for purchases and remediation instead of innovation and renewal. That is a huge economic loss for the national area. The earning capacity of companies, land owners and managers of the rural area that is necessary for investments in a better quality of nature and environment is being affected. Perspective is needed through innovations and space for new revenue models. With purchase and remediation, these economic pillars affected. The cabinet shows little vision for alternatives to agricultural production, such as more space for, for example, combinations with energy production, housing and recreation."
'Big bag of money and quick bite'
Agraction calls on the minister in a written response to take the future perspective and earning capacity of the (young) farmer as the basis for her policy. "Whereas with the publication of the formation agreement there was talk about 'perspective for farmers' and 'kitchen table conversations', the course is clearly heading towards coercion with an enormous stack of tasks. In parliamentary debates and in the media, the thumbscrews are turned towards farmers and provinces; we're holding out a big bag of money for you and I'd just bite the bullet and quit your company!"
Provincial VVD app group explodes
Within the own VVD van der Wal is also critical. VVD Drenthe writes on its website: "Our provincial VVD app group explodes. Many VVD members in Drenthe are angry by the statements of (also VVD!) Minister Van der Wal about the nitrogen approach. is in a bad position with nature and the environment in the Netherlands. That we have neglected nature for twenty years. That this is due to the farmers and that we can fix this by drastically reducing their nitrogen emissions. These positions are all very disturbing to us. They don't add up and again damage our farmers. The verdicts are very unfortunate and our indignation is great."
The Drenthe VVD factions of the province and municipalities further write: "Based on calculations and estimates, far-reaching plans are now being made to reduce nitrogen, measures that largely affect the farmers and therefore our people in the countryside. we still don't know whether, for example, buying up farmers really helps to achieve the goals of those 'poor' natural lands." Let's act on the basis of as many actual measurements as possible, the local politicians request.
Stimuland Foundation, a network organization for the countryside, notes that the focus is too much on establishing statutory percentages and on making, implementing, enforcing and legally safeguarding policy programs and area plans. "If the focus is mainly on stopping companies, then the risk of decline and the risk of crime in the countryside is high," warns Ingrid Jansen, director of Stimuland. The foundation calls on the minister to put the human dimension more central in the further elaboration of the plans and to pay attention to the socio-emotional consequences of far-reaching decisions, such as whether or not to stop your company voluntarily. In addition, Stimuland argues in favor of giving individual residents and farmers a stronger voice in (the further rollout of) the approach. Furthermore, Stimuland finds it worrying that new organizations are being set up, while a number of years ago such organisations, such as Dienst Landelijk Ruimte (DLG), were abolished.
'We've always farmed here'
Agricultural entrepreneurs are also making themselves heard. In a video by RTV East says dairy farmer Marcel Leeuw, who is 800 meters from the De Wieden nature reserve: "What is the perspective for this region? We have always farmed here, with nature and within nature. I don't know if I will still be a farmer in five years. That is a worrying situation and it sometimes wakes me up. If that is actually necessary, I could live with that. But I have my big doubts about what will happen now whether that is actually necessary. I am very afraid that if in five or ten years we really start measuring, that we are going to find out that this was not necessary and irreversible and we are now destroying the countryside, that we are going to take farmers away, take away food security and that in the end it will lead to nothing ."
Van der Wal: 'Perspective part of the approach'
According to Van der Wal, the perspective for the agricultural sector is part of the approach and it is 'important that the perspective for agricultural entrepreneurs is fully included in the area plans'. These area plans must be ready by 1 July 2023. Jan Willem Erisman, professor of environment and sustainability, says to Nu.nl: "The direction is good, but I fear that there will be a lot of delay. She should have indicated very concretely per area how much nitrogen needs to be reduced. We know where the problems are. , we know how much needs to be reduced, but all provinces now have to determine that per area. That leads to a loss of time."
Van der Wal promises that Minister of LNV, Henk Staghouwer, will inform the House before the summer about 'the elaboration of the perspective for agriculture in the broad sense, including the international dimension, the connection with the climate program and the non-binding agreements with the chain on strengthening the position of the farmer'. Tomorrow evening (April 6), the standing committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality will debate nitrogen policy with ministers Van der Wal and Staghouwer. Perhaps the latter can already lift a corner of the veil.
Linda van Eekeres
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