“There is room within the frameworks of Brussels, perhaps more than expected.”

There is scope within the Brussels framework for a fertilizer policy that works for Dutch farmers. This is the conclusion that the eleven farmer organizations returned from Brussels after a conversation with the team of European Commissioner Virginius Sinkevicius (Environment).

On Tuesday, in Brussels, the eleven parties drew attention to the fertilizer crisis resulting from the exception decision. After the demonstration, the group entered into discussions with a delegation from European Commissioner Sinkevicius' team, which was itself in Greece.

That conversation provided starting points, says Agractie's Alien van Zijtveld. There is room within the Brussels framework, perhaps more than expected. Space to consider different manure policy which is also beneficial for farmers.

Providing new or better data on water quality would lead to reconsideration, the committee said. “We agreed that there should be a good long-term plan. If so, some form of derogation could also be discussed,” Van Zetveld sums up the conversation. “This is up to the new government. We are now also calling on the problematic parties to address this matter urgently.

Make it difficult

According to van Zetveld, the European Commissioner's delegation also pointed out that the Netherlands had made things very difficult for itself because the then Minister of Agriculture, Carola Schouten, had already abandoned the exception in 2021 on the basis of the proposed enlargement.

Part of the protest was to make a statement. In it, the united agricultural parties in Brussels demand the suspension of the exception decision, including the designation of areas contaminated with nutrients, buffer strips, orthodontic farming, and reducing the amount of animal manure that may be placed. In this case, suspension means a return to 2022 mode.

Policy move

The parties believe that the turn has now come for European and Dutch politics. “They are responsible for the misery that farmers suffer,” says Van Zetveld. There's no time to waste. Suspension means: returning to 2022 mode, creating space and air in the agricultural sector, and in the meantime working on a supported plan that takes into account environmental goals, soil quality and crops.

This document is signed by Agractie Nederland, Dutch Dairy Board, North-East Region of LTO, Dutch Agricultural Youth Contact, Dutch Federation of Arab Farmers, Dutch Federation of Dairy Farmers, Dutch Federation of Poultry Farmers, Netwerk Grondig, Pig Breeding Producers Organisation, Wealth Animalism. Dutch Logistics and Calf Farmers Association.