#learn #live #derogation
After hours of debate, the House of Representatives last week approved the fertilizer plans of Agriculture Minister Piet Adema. He wants to allocate billions to offer livestock farmers who have to or want to stop a financial safety net.
The plan must ensure that pressure on the fertilizer market decreases. After 2026 the derogation. An era then comes to an end. Dutch livestock farmers were able to spread more manure than the Brussels standard for exactly twenty years.
The political decision to tackle the manure crisis shows a change in policy. Politicians want to settle the manure dossier that has been dragging on for years.
Instead of expanding the manure application rules, renure may be applied from 2025: the recovery of nitrogen from animal manure that is comparable to artificial fertilizer in terms of effect on crops and leaching. In this way, more animal manure can still be placed on top of the standard via a technological detour.
Let’s not get stuck in time that will never come back
Esther de Snoo, editor-in-chief Nieuwe Oogst
But that’s a long way off. To make production scalable, significant steps must be taken in many areas. Government, business and knowledge institutions would do well to join forces to embrace this new opportunity with all the innovative power that the sector has. The manure chain will be partly overhauled and a new manure economy will emerge.
Eighth Nitrate Directive action program
The same applies to the implementation of the eighth Nitrate Directive action program as of 2026, the basis for a new manure policy. A great task for the new BBB agriculture minister to work with the sector to draw up a smart and implementable plan that fits the agricultural practice of the future.
So, let’s look ahead now instead of longing for a time that will never come again.
