The ‘Landbouw Collectief’ reached the agreement on Monday evening
Translated by Thomas Ansell
As reported in the Leeuwarder Courant, the agreement was reached in Nijkerk (Gelderland) about how livestock farmers can help contribute to a reduction in nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands.
The agreement says that livestock farmers must reduce their nitrogen output via technical measures, stopping the need for any reductions in numbers of animals. The group will request a subsidy from the government to help pay for these new technical measures.
The final agreement will be presented this afternoon in The Hague at the Nieuwspoort by the head of the ‘Landbouw Collectief’, Aalt Dijkhuizen, whereafter it will be presented to the Dutch cabinet.
The ‘Landbouw Collectief’ is a collaboration organisation that brings together 12 pressure groups that represent livestock farming and agriculture interests. Its goal is to bring people together around a common policy regarding nitrogen emissions, and to prevent infighting within groups that represents agrarian interest.
The Netherlands must reduce its nitrogen emisions to protect vulnerable areas, and the Dutch government has already stopped approving permits for new building and road projects. Other short-term measures have included reducing the national speed limit during daylight hours to 100 km/h. In December, the Dutch cabinet will meet to discuss longer-term reforms.
Livestock farming is responsible for around 46 percent of all nitrogen emissions into nature, but this figure is disputed by various agricultural organisations.
