'Cabinet must stop virtual nitrogen game'

"This virtual nitrogen game shows the policy of the cabinet. A policy with a lot of ignorance that has sent livestock farming and the country into a crisis. That has to stop," said Jan-Cees Vogelaar, chairman of the Mesdag Dairy Fund, after the presentation of the calculations of the RIVM nitrogen data.

De calculations by the research team Vogelaar gave many new insights on behalf of the Mesdag Dairy Fund, he said. "While I have been working on nitrogen models for 6 to 7 years. The research really shows a completely different picture."

He points out that it is completely unclear how general national nitrogen policy will be developed in the region and on a location-specific basis. "It is a very complex matter. This virtual nitrogen game visualizes the policy of the cabinet. It is all virtual. The effects of this policy are very difficult to calculate. We do not know the results. That is why we must stop it quickly. ."

Parliamentary inquiry
Vogelaar strongly criticizes the cabinet and, in particular, agriculture minister Carola Schouten, who, in his view, has allowed the nitrogen crisis to rise so high because of the actual 'simulation figures' from the calculation models of the RIVM. "This virtual nitrogen game is not the basis for an emergency nitrogen law. So much ignorance has brought farms to the brink and sent the construction industry into a crisis. This cries out for a parliamentary inquiry."

He also criticizes the image that is portrayed in the media of his person and the Mesdag Dairy Fund, which would question the reliability of the research. "Our investigations are sound. We stand for that." He also had a message for D66 and GroenLinks. "If D66 and GroenLinks really care about nature, they should now stop the clamor and whining about halving the livestock. The Agricultural Collective wants to take measures. This year we can further reduce nitrogen by 5 to 8%."

Research with UvA
As previously announced, the Mesdag Dairy Fund will conduct a 3-year study with the University of Amsterdam to actually measure the deposition of nitrogen around livestock farms. This will happen at 2 dairy farms and possibly also a pig farm. RIVM is also participating in this research. "This will be done in great detail, whereby we can also find out the origin of nitrogen. Only when we know all this exactly can we take measures. Now we only row in the dark. In 3 years' time we will know whether the RIVM nitrogen game corresponds. with reality." 

He later adds about the Mesdag research: "We are doing government work here as farmers. The government should have done that itself. Then they would have had the right to speak."

Eric the Thrush

Eric is a member of the editorial staff of Boerenbusiness. As a descendant of an arable family, farmer's blood flows through Eric's veins. He considers himself a generalist, but with a preference for economics, trends, markets and marketing.

e.delijster@boerenbusiness. Nl

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