In order to reduce the disastrous nitrogen emissions, the authorities of the Netherlands prescribe a radical reduction of the livestock stock. This has brought the local farmers to the barricades and is preoccupying this country, which is one of the agricultural superpowers.
On Monday (July 4), the radical protests of farmers in the Netherlands could reach their peak. A mass blockade of the approaches to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and the airports in Eindhoven and Maastricht has been announced.
The matter went so far that the police announced that they would use all means to break the blockades, and that the army was also on standby. "I will say very clearly: we will not tolerate tractors around Schiphol," Defense Minister Kasja Olongren said.
Tension in the country can be cut with a knife after weeks of farmers' protests. Highways have already been blocked, there are tractors and cows on the streets and in front of government buildings in The Hague, bales of hay have been set on fire, manure has been sprayed in front of politicians' houses.
Last Tuesday, angry protesters arrived in front of the apartment of Christiane van der Waal, the minister responsible only for the subject of "nature and nitrates".
The site was introduced at the beginning of the year to tackle a problem plaguing this agricultural nation - too many nitrogenous compounds that are poisoning nature. Seventy percent of them come from cattle breeding, and the Government sees the only solution in a radical reduction of livestock - which brings the peasants to the streets.
Between two evils
"I know the huge consequences this has for farmers," Van der Waal said, presenting the plan in parliament in mid-June. "It's terrible. But we have no choice. Nature cannot wait".
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government has a clear majority in parliament to push through the plans, and it doesn't appear to be giving up on them. Karoline van der Plas, a member of parliament who represents the interests of farmers, harshly criticizes: "We are one step away from the agricultural sector being cleaned out of the Netherlands. This will of course have consequences for the citizens".
This small country belongs to the agricultural colossus, where in the southern parts, for example, the number of pigs per square kilometer is by far the highest in the world. Only the United States exports more agricultural products than the Netherlands, by value.
That's why the agricultural lobbies prevented changes for a long time, and then they almost came in the way.
Because the Netherlands is under pressure not only from the problems of poisoned soil and damaged biodiversity due to the mass use of nitrates and ammonia, but also from the decisions of European (2018) and domestic courts (2019) according to which the use must be limited.
Who is the scapegoat?
According to the Government's plan, by 2030 nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 70 percent in some provinces, especially in regions that are recognized as protected nature areas in the EU. Experts say that for livestock farmers this means a reduction in emissions of at least fifty percent.
It has long been clear that this can only be done with less livestock, which would destroy the livelihood of many peasants. The authorities have not yet specified the plan or whether, for example, they will pay compensation to those who give up livestock farming or decide to move their properties to other regions.
As Zidojce Zeitung writes, the peasants think they are scapegoats. "They ask themselves, what about the consumers who want the cheapest possible meat? What about the traders of animal feed, manufacturers of fertilizers and pesticides, slaughterhouses, banks, everyone who makes money in the system"?
According to this newspaper, this is echoed in the media, while the comments warn that society should not believe that there are simple solutions.
"Abandon these disastrous plans, talk to us about a fundamentally different policy," demanded Bart Kemp, one of the most famous protest leaders. "Don't let the farmers' peaceful actions turn into a farmers' revolt".
However, according to the description of the Dutch police, the protests have not been peaceful for a long time. "We see that the actions are no longer organized," says police chief Viljem Velders. "Agricultural associations say: anything can happen, but we are not responsible for it".
A demonstration of citizens in Eindhoven in support of peasants and farmers can be seen on Twitter. (Sunday, July 3).
A problem elsewhere in the EU?
In one comment of the newspaper Noje rur Zeitung from Essen, it is reminded that the judgment of the European Court on protected nature areas is valid for the entire EU, but it seems that they have not yet realized this in Germany and elsewhere. The commentator warns that the relationship between agriculture and nature protection will define our life in the future.
In that case, the newspaper writes, it is not helpful if the problem is first ignored, and then the farmers are put in front of a fait accompli.
"They are backed into a corner with their properties: take it or leave it! Take the money offered by the government and shut down production or die slowly. Farmers will do neither. Such a brutal approach to the problem is not appropriate," the comment concludes.
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