News Cabinet
Ministers: '30 percent shrinkage possible, but no target'
Livestock can shrink by about 30% with the government's plans to reduce nitrogen emissions. This is also acknowledged by Minister Henk Staghouwer of LNV and Christianne van der Wal for Nature and Nitrogen. "This is what the PBL has calculated", said Van der Wal this afternoon (Wednesday 16 February) during a webinar by LTO Nederland and the NAJK. She emphasizes: "The effect can be that there is that much percent shrinkage, but that is not a goal at all."
This morning, both RTL Nieuws and the NOS announced that livestock is shrinking by 30% due to the cabinet plans. Van der Wal: "I read that news this morning and think: damn it, it is nothing new. The PBL has said this before: these are the effects of, among other things, the area-oriented approach and measures, including source measures, that we are taking. not something we focus on, where we say: that's what we're going for. We're going for nitrogen reduction and nature restoration."
"To tackle the nitrogen problem, we work on an area-specific basis and we will map out targets for each area. Conduct nature target analyzes and determine targets together. We have to achieve those targets," explains Van der Wal. "That applies to the agricultural sector, but it also applies to industry, mobility and greening of inland vessels, all sectors must do their part. The effect may be that there is a shrinkage of the livestock by that much, but that is not our goal. established."
In September, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) was commissioned by the previous cabinet to analyze the effect of two policy packages to reduce nitrogen emissions from agriculture and improve nature. he largest decrease in the number of animals in the scenarios was 30% in 2030, whether or not through forced sale.
No percentages of shrinkage in coalition agreement
In the coalition agreement and the government statement no percentages were mentioned for the reduction of the livestock. It was announced that a nitrogen fund will be created, in which €2035 billion will be made available until 25 to achieve the legal nitrogen target of 74% below the critical deposition value. In addition, a climate target of 5 megatons of CO2 reduction by 2030 must be achieved with this fund.
A policy memorandum, which was drawn up on request before the formation of the cabinet (and was published as a result of a Wob request), contains a calculation per 10% of shrinkage. The purchase cost per 10% contraction would amount to €2,4 to 3,9 billion. Including land, this would be €6,3 to €7,7 billion (of which €5,4 to €6,5 billion for dairy cattle). "There must be a willingness to take painful decisions now. Several studies support that targeted reduction of livestock is necessary to achieve the nitrogen targets," according to the policy memorandum.
The targets in the Nitrogen Reduction and Nature Improvement Act have been brought forward by the new cabinet from 2035 to 2030, in line with the advice of the Remkes Commission. The policy memorandum that has been published states that bringing the 2035 target forward means 'that purchasing will become even more central'. Both packages fell short of meeting the 2035 target in the quick scan, officials said. "It is important to realize that the reduction of nitrogen deposition is fastest and most effective through the purchase of companies: technical measures and extensive agriculture require a longer lead time and relatively lead to less reduction."
Area-oriented approach
Staghouwer gave this afternoon that one of the goals is the perspective of agriculture. "If you are in an area process, you will also see that there are farmers who do not want to continue. But it is really not a goal in itself to reduce the livestock. No, the goal is very clearly future-oriented, also for those farmers, for the stayers.
According to Van der Wal, innovation is also part of 'the basket of the area-oriented approach'. "The nitrogen approach is area-oriented and every area is so different - take an area in the Gelderse Vallei, or in Groningen, or in South Holland, that is incomparable. So you have to have an analysis per area and then you actually look at each entrepreneur: what is your future. And that could be extensification, that could be a transition or nature-inclusive. That could be innovation or relocation. That could be anything.But you cannot say: in that area we will mainly do that. also depends on the entrepreneur."
Linda van Eekeres
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