Top-down meets bottom-up in nitrogen impasse

The national media opened yesterday with a major announcement of a "breakthrough" in the nitrogen impasse. Farmers, provinces, municipalities, and water boards are introducing a package of measures to lift the Netherlands off the nitrogen lock.

One involuntarily gets the impression that the plan by the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO), LTO Nederland, the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), the Union of Water Boards and the Dutch Youth Contact (NAJK) bypasses Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma, but what we see here is in fact an expression of democracy at its finest: a national government that sets the course, determines a new direction on the basis of which the field arrives at a practical implementation.

Inappropriate
Criticism of Wiersma is inappropriate in this context, as she initiated this transition, in which, until recently, the interests of nature significantly outweighed those of food producers. This realization has now also dawned on the provinces and municipalities, which want to work on smoothing the permit process.

The question is raised whether Wiersma could have done more. Undoubtedly, no one is infallible. However, it was Wiersma who questioned the critical deposition value and transformed the threat of a generic reduction into a goal-oriented approach, with room for individual entrepreneurship and innovation. Wiersma brought common sense back into policy, with the principle of "measuring is knowing."

Encouragement
The national government continues to play a major role in the implementing bodies' plan. Billions are needed to make this possible. Wiersma can therefore consider this breakthrough an encouragement rather than a criticism. The Netherlands wants this: parliament can support her by approving the necessary investment in the Netherlands' future.

It would behoove the national media to see this 'breakthrough' as ​​a shared success that benefits people, animals, and nature.

Wim Groot Koerkamp

Founder ReMarkAble, co-founder BBB, founder AT THE TABLE!

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