From swapping comes crying in the Dutch nitrogen crisis

The judge has ruled: Schiphol and the Amercentrale in Geertruidenberg do not have their nitrogen permits in order. Both must downsize to reduce their emissions. But how do you get nitrogen permits? Only agriculture has them.

The government still wants to expropriate or expropriate the farmers. Billions were earmarked for this in the previous week (Wednesday, December 15) presented coalition agreement. That is convenient, because then Schiphol and the Amercentrale can continue with the nitrogen permits from the farmers. But it is not that simple: agriculture emits nitrogen in the form of NH3 (ammonia) and the greenhouse gas methane (CH4). However, agriculture also absorbs most of the NH3, but also the NOx (nitrogen oxide, from traffic and industry).

Recording is not included
What the agriculture reabsorbs in NH3 and NOx is not included in the calculations. Because the plants absorb NH3 and NOx, they grow better and absorb even more CO2. That will stop global warming. Methane is a greenhouse gas, but is absorbed by nature again after ten years. Suppose you have 100.000 cows and each cow emits ten units of methane per year. That is 100.000 cows per year x 10 units of methane, so 1 million units of methane emissions per year.

After ten years, most of this methane has been absorbed again by agriculture. So over ten years those 100.000 cows will have emitted: 100.000 cows x 10 units of methane per year x 10 years = 10 million units of methane emissions. In the eleventh year this remains 10 million, because in the eleventh year the first year is broken down again by nature. In a hundred years, these 100.000 cows have still emitted 10 million units of methane. The livestock in the Netherlands has shrunk considerably since 1980 compared to today, so the livestock now emits much less methane than in 1980 and remains constant. Furthermore, the NH3 emissions have also been drastically reduced due to various measures and the decrease in livestock.

Schiphol emits NOx and CO2
Schiphol is a different story. They emit nitrogen in the form of NOx and the greenhouse gas CO2, which causes global warming. NOx produces a lot of particulate matter and is harmful to human health. The emitted CO2 takes about a thousand years before nature breaks it down. What does this mean? Suppose: Schiphol emits as much as 100.000 cows, so 1 million units of greenhouse gas per year.

After ten years this will be 10 million units of greenhouse gas. Now the eleventh year: the emissions will not remain 10 million, as in agriculture, but will then become 11 million. After all, it is only after a thousand years that the first greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) have been broken down by nature. After a thousand years, the emissions will be 1.000 x 1 million = 1 billion units of greenhouse gas. A huge difference with agriculture.

Agriculture also absorbs pollution
Simply exchanging nitrogen from our agriculture for nitrogen for infrastructure and industry is therefore the most unwise decision that politicians can take. Infrastructure and industry only give rise to pollution. Agriculture causes pollution, but also absorbs a lot of pollution. Unfortunately, this recording is not included in the calculations. The saying literally goes: from exchange comes crying.

The Netherlands currently has two major problems. The energy crisis and the commodity crisis. The energy crises can be solved if the government wants it. (hydrogen production in countries where the sun always shines, fresh/salt water, ebb and flow, thorium plants and there are still more solutions to be found). The raw materials crisis is more difficult, because raw materials are running out worldwide and are therefore not sustainable.

Agriculture is the only sector that can produce sustainable raw materials for industry in addition to food production. After all, every crop grows again every year and does not exhaust the earth. More and more industries are using agricultural products as the basis for raw materials. China is looking ahead and is buying up large farms worldwide. Agriculture is indispensable if we want to maintain our current consumption pattern. When our politicians use their wits, that is the only conclusion: preserve our agriculture instead of destroying it.

Jaap Major
Low Zuthem

Boerenbusiness

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