Nitrogen experts D66: no need to shrink livestock

Emeritus nitrogen professors Han Lindeboom and Johan Sanders want to achieve the cabinet's nitrogen targets for livestock farming through innovation and without reducing livestock numbers. This is stated in a plan that they will present on Texel to VVD MPs Sophie Hermans (group chairman) and Thom van Campen.

This reports The Telegraph. Lindeboom and Sanders are members of the Focus Group Stikstof, which was previously associated with D66. Member of Parliament Tjeerd de Groot distanced himself from them because, according to Lindeboom, there was a difference of opinion about the goals. "We can easily support the government's goal of achieving a 39.000-tonne nitrogen emission reduction by 2034," says Sanders in De Telegraaf. He and Lindeboom propose using much less nitrogen from artificial fertilizers and imported animal feed and still achieving the same level of innovation through innovations. yields in livestock and arable farming.

In their report, they put forward nine innovations to reduce nitrogen emissions. This includes the use of more essential amino acids in feed for pigs and chickens, which significantly reduces the nitrogen content in the manure. This is a proven technique. Other proposals include the use of beet tops as animal feed and growing more grass with leguminous plants (clover). Good results have already been achieved in Ireland, according to Sanders.

Lindeboom is also critical of RIVM's nitrogen calculations and points to a study by TNO, which also questions this. The cabinet has now asked members of parliament Caroline van der Plas and Pieter Omtzigt why the cabinet has not taken note of this and has not included this scientific criticism in its policy.

Klaas van der Horst

Klaas van der Horst is a passionate follower of the dairy market and everything related to it. He searches for the news and interprets the developments.

k.vanderhorst@boerenbusiness. Nl

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