Agriculture and nitrogen: problem or solution?

In the Netherlands, the focus on nitrogen emissions is mainly on agriculture, but the reality is much more complex. Nitrogen is not only released by livestock farming, but also by other human and natural processes. For example, traffic and industry cause high emissions of nitrogen oxides, especially around motorways and industrial areas. Natural processes also play a major role. In swamps and wetlands, such as near the Nile or in Russia, a lot of nitrogen and methane is created by the decomposition of plants. Seasonal changes also have an effect. In the spring, trees and plants absorb a lot of CO2, which reduces nitrogen emissions. In the autumn and winter, when leaves and grass decay, emissions actually increase.

American research shows that grasslands without cattle emit more nitrogen and methane than when cows graze. This is because cows eat the grass, which means less biomass decays in the winter. They also stimulate root growth, which means more CO2 is stored in the soil. As a result, total nitrogen emissions decrease instead of increasing. This is at odds with current policy, in which farmers are seen as major polluters.

Other nitrogen sources that are ignored
In addition to agriculture, there are many other sources of nitrogen that receive little attention. In the Netherlands, for example, there are 7,5 million homes with a GFT bin in which waste decays and nitrogen and methane are released. This is not included in the calculations. Roadside mowing and nature management also play a role. Grass that remains along roads or dead plants in nature reserves also cause nitrogen emissions. In addition, the construction of nature-friendly banks does lead to greater biodiversity, but also to more nitrogen emissions due to organic decomposition.

The nitrogen policy now mainly focuses on reducing livestock and halting construction projects. But if we look at the real causes, the question arises why agriculture is being tackled hard, while traffic, industry and households are hardly restricted. In addition, it is remarkable that natural nitrogen sources are not included in the calculations. This raises the question of whether the current policy is based on a complete and fair picture.

Call to science and politics
Given the impact of the current nitrogen policy, it is essential that a broader scientific approach is adopted. Therefore, a call to science is appropriate to further investigate the above logic. In doing so, it is of great importance that apparent contradictions are examined from multiple angles, instead of mainly funding policy-confirming research. In addition, the government is urgently requested not only to fund research into the damage caused by nitrogen, methane and CO2, but also to pay more attention to the regenerative capacity of nature and agriculture. Provided that they are properly managed by humans, agriculture and nature can contribute to a sustainable balance in the ecosystem.

Instead of seeing agriculture as a problem, farmers can play a role in the solution. By properly managing grasslands, they can help reduce nitrogen emissions. In addition, a broader and fairer policy is needed, in which all nitrogen sources are included. The question is not whether we should do something about nitrogen emissions, but how we tackle this in a realistic and fair way.

Jaap Majoor, Low Zuthem

Boerenbusiness

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