Does kitchen table conversation help in nitrogen reduction?

Kitchen table discussions with advisors do not offer policymakers any legal guarantee in advance that sufficient nitrogen is reduced via the feed track, nationally or on a location-specific basis. But once they have taken place, it can certainly help to get permits to be granted smoothly.

This is what the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) writes in the report 'Nitrogen reduction via concentrates'. This is an analysis in the context of the Chamber motion for a reduction of 3% crude protein content in concentrates.

Parliamentary debate at the end of June
The ministerial feed measure is off the table, thus avoiding summary proceedings. Meanwhile, the PBL published the requested calculations of the feed measure and the alternative sector plan. This shows that neither plan offers sufficient legal certainty, compared to the relatively small nitrogen reduction that they could deliver.

The calculation was carried out in response to the Harbers (VVD) and Geurts (CDA) motion, when the ministerial feed measure was discussed in the House of Representatives at the end of June. The motion by SGP member Roelof Bisschop, with which the ministerial feed measure could have been off the table by then, did not make it due to the dissenting vote of the governing parties.

Who doesn't work with it?
An important factor in achieving sufficient nitrogen reduction for the road network and housing is the willingness of livestock farmers to actually implement the feed measures. In Minister Schouten's plan, it was calculated from the start that 1 in 6 livestock farmers would not have actually implemented the ministerial measure this year.

In any case, the alternative plan of approach for the agricultural sector is based on voluntary participation. Only on the basis of discussions at the kitchen table between the compound feed supplier and the livestock farmer is an action plan drawn up (which in the vast majority of cases will actually be partially or fully implemented).

Link permit to result
If the granting of permits for housing and road construction were to be made dependent on the start of these discussions and the moment that emission reductions actually take place, then there is indeed a good handle that offers legal certainty.

That is one of the conclusions of the PBL after studying the alternative plan of approach. With regard to the ministerial feed measure, uncertainties remain as to whether the effects are sufficiently location-specific, even though an approximate estimate can be made in advance with AERIUS.

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