The Belgian dairy industry supports the nitrogen targets that the government has set itself, but cannot live with the way in which the Flemish government wants to achieve the target set there. This approach has a destructive effect on dairy farming, according to Catherine Pycke, president of the Belgian umbrella organization BCZ/CBL.
The organization's criticism focuses on four points, according to Pycke, who spoke at the annual meeting of the trade association.
No room for development
The current proposal from the Flemish government to limit the nitrogen problem deprives dairy farms of the necessary space to develop and innovate. The reason is that the milk (production) volume released by retiring dairy farmers (3% to 4% per year) may not be transferred to the companies that remain. In addition, nitrogen emission rights are not tradable.
Reference year back to 2015
Another point is that the reference year for dairy farming was set back eight years, in 2015. Pycke calls this a form of improper management, because eight years is far too far back for a normal industry. Finally, the government has failed to make a socio-economic analysis of the expected consequences of its policy.
Sustainable energy and by-products
Pycke also stated that the government now appears to pay little attention to the sustainability efforts of dairy farming. For example, four in ten companies currently already produce sustainable energy. In addition, around 60% of dairy farms already use by-products from the food industry, products that might otherwise be disposed of as waste. The dairy industry itself is also working hard on sustainability, by working more efficiently in energy, water and CO2.
More fundamental criticism
Lode Ceyssens, chairman of the Belgian Farmers' Union, has more fundamental criticism of the nitrogen plans. He is bothered by the fact that the Flemish nitrogen policy focuses almost exclusively on agriculture. "But agriculture is only responsible for 29% of nitrogen emissions. The rest comes from other sectors. What also feels special is that this week a large chemical company in the port of Antwerp will receive a new permit, while agriculture will receive this don't get opportunities."
Ceyssens also thinks the image of the Flemish nitrogen approach is incorrect. "It is portrayed as if they want to tackle a number of major emitters in agriculture and then that's it. The reality is different. Companies are affected in every municipality."