Focus on the foundation of nitrogen policy

The wise builder in the parable Matthew 7 already knew. Before you start building, a good foundation must be laid. Without a good foundation, the built house will sooner or later collapse.

This also applies to the nitrogen issue. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the foundation of the nitrogen policy, the KDW (critical deposition value) and the calculation model linked to the permit granting, are not sound. On this foundation, you can reduce nitrogen until you weigh an ounce, and the sector can shrink considerably in many areas, but in the end nature will hardly do anything with it. We are about to build on this rotten foundation. By means of the National Program for Rural Areas (NPLG) and the Area-oriented Approach (GGA), The Hague wants to achieve the legally established reduction targets from the very foundation. The cabinet ignores all scientific criticism and wants to continue building, blind to the lesson from Matthew 7.

Well-Found Political Distractor
The agricultural sector (parties) must be wiser. You cannot build on a foundation that is not sound. That is why the foundation, the KDW and the calculation model must be separated from the policy and from the permit granting. In our view, this is the only way out of this impasse and move forward. A shift from deposition to emission will also not help the sector, because it will continue to build on the same foundation and the same legal objectives. It is a well-found political distractor, which cannot provide a solution. Because it is still being tested by means of the erroneous model against the KDW, which says nothing about the real state of nature.

How can it be? There should be reports of all individual N2000 habitats like the wiedeweerga. How is the area? What are the pressure factors? (Think of soil, moisture, acidity, competition, mineral status, nitrogen, etc.) What is needed to improve the area? Based on these reports and management plans, we set to work to improve nature and reduce nitrogen. And we have to accept that in certain areas the goals are probably not achievable. In addition, there must be a threshold value in accordance with the TNO advice, which corresponds to the reality to be measured (200 - 2000x the current of 0.005 mol/ha). In order to prevent unrestrained growth in various sectors, including industry and aviation, agreements must be made about this. In the agricultural sector, most sports are already limited by production ceilings or rights.

No farmer who does not want to do his best to emit less nitrogen
In this way, the radicalized KDW and the model are virtually superfluous and the real state of nature is central. And I don't think there is a farmer who doesn't want to do his best to reduce nitrogen emissions. After all, you cannot use all the nitrogen that goes into the air for your crops. The point remains that in some areas the density of companies is very high and the number of natural quitters (too) high. In those areas, voluntary schemes can help to increase the prospects for farmers who do want to continue, provided these schemes are designed in the right way. And a stop must be put to price-increasing speculators with agricultural land.

Our appeal to all farmers and agricultural parties: keep the focus on breaking down the foundation! Because until a good foundation is laid, we cannot start building!

Bart Kemp
President of the Netherlands Agriculture

Boerenbusiness

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