Dutch farm group says revised nitrogen package still leaves key questions unanswered

The Netherlands’ revised nitrogen package has drawn cautious approval from the country’s main agricultural organisation, but farmers still lack key details about how much they must cut emissions and when permits will be issued.

Ger Koopmans, chair of LTO, said the plans were “less bad, but still nowhere near good enough” in response to letters sent to parliament by the agriculture minister. LTO says the changes have not ended the uncertainty farmers have faced in recent months.

The government wants to bring forward by six months a change that would allow projects with low nitrogen emissions to proceed without applying for a permit. It also set out a package of measures to reduce nitrogen emissions.

LTO remains opposed to the proposed targets until the government publishes a dashboard showing how much emissions must be reduced, and where. Koopmans said it was “unacceptable” that the dashboard was still missing.

The organisation was more positive about raising the calculation threshold used to determine whether projects need permits, saying the proposal was better than the version outlined in the coalition agreement. But it said further details were needed, including a clear timetable for permit decisions. LTO expects “tough” and “intensive” talks with the government.

The Dutch Agricultural Young People’s Contact, an organisation representing young farmers, also criticised the package. It said the plans had improved on fundamental points but that their detailed implementation would determine whether they met its requirements.

NAJK chair Gerben Boom called the package “hard” and said it would have a major impact on young farmers. The government, he said, must show that its commitments will be delivered in practice.