News Fire letter Nitrogen
Nitrogen approach of the cabinet can be much better and fairer
The current nitrogen policy must be seriously adjusted. The bet is ineffective. Emissions for ammonia have not decreased since 2006. It doesn't do much for the rest either. In addition, the policy is unfair, because the burden is disproportionately heavy on agriculture. The agricultural sector can do more than reduce nitrogen emissions if it were allowed to innovate. That is the only proven approach, good for ultimately zero emissions.
This is stated by emeritus professor Rudy Rabbinge and Lubbert van Dellen, director of food & agri at the advice and accountancy firm Accon avm, in a letter to ministers Christianne van der Wal (Nitrogen) and Henk Staghouwer (Agriculture). According to them, the current approach is a dead end. Billions have been set aside for an unclear result. The recommendations of the Nitrogen Problems Committee (Remkes Committee), in which Rabbinge was also a member, are not or only marginally used. The authors are also disturbed by the fact that the mobility and industry sectors are treated differently from the agricultural sector. These two sectors, the main sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx), are given the scope to reduce their nitrogen emissions through innovation, while the agricultural sector does not get this and is obliged to shrink.
Rabbinge and Van Dellen point out that Dutch livestock farming can greatly innovate by separating the liquid (urine) and solid fraction (manure) in the barn, which can drastically reduce ammonia emissions. Such an innovative measure can be applied on a tailor-made basis from company to company, with a limited part of the financial resources that are currently being used for buy-out, Van Dellen and Rabbinge argue.
Buying out farmers brings no reduction
In this way, the entire Dutch livestock sector can contribute to nitrogen reduction. Because buying out agricultural companies in a radius of 10.000 meters around nature reserves overshoots its target and is ineffective, the two explained in the letter. "Buy-out of farmers makes almost no contribution to the reduction of direct deposition close to these farms and a very small contribution to the reduction of the total nitrogen blanket. Only by helping all farms with livestock to switch to an almost emission-free operation will a We have made a very significant contribution to the emission reduction and thus to the reduction of the total nitrogen blanket. We will also then maintain a healthy agricultural sector for the Netherlands, with a substantial contribution to our economy."
For many decades, the Netherlands has been an international leader in reducing the emissions of nitrogen compounds, write Rabbinge and Van Dellen. They refer to Minas, which was introduced in the 2006s, in which farmers had to comply with target regulations. Until 60, this led to a reduction in emissions of approximately 70 to 2020%, write Van Dellen and Rabbinge. They suggest the Accountable Substances Balance, which was proposed by the Remkes Committee in XNUMX. "The elaboration of these renewed target regulations is in line with the working method in the agricultural sector, where problems have always been solved with innovative techniques and methods. For example, the separation and processing of the manure can not only significantly tackle the emission problem, it can also make a major contribution to reduce the use of fertilizer. The regulations and legislation that currently oppose this - use of processed manure as a replacement for fertilizer or, rather, food for plants - must be adapted to that end."
Stop the decontamination of arable farming and livestock farming
Rabbinge and Van Dellen therefore ask the ministers "urgently to backtrack from the chosen path. Stop the decontamination of arable farming and livestock farming in the agricultural sector and fully focus on an innovative approach that builds on the knowledge and insights of the industries and the avoiding the false security of a restructuring buy-out, which can make a substantial contribution to food security and the often advocated sustainable development." In an interview with Boerenbusiness Rabbinge also expresses his concern about caked thinking at the RIVM, the scientific institute that guides the cabinet for advice on nitrogen policy.
Klaas van der Horst
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