Minister of Agriculture announces €2.2 billion investment to reduce nitrogen emissions

The Minister of Agriculture, Femke Wiersma, is going to spend 2.2 billion euros on a starting package of nitrogen measures. The Cabinet is going to start with a regional approach surrounding the nature areas in the Veluwe and De Peel.

The BBB minister hopes that this will get the stalled permit-granting process moving again. Wiersma wants the industrial sector, mobility sector, and construction sector to reduce nitrogen emissions in 2035 to be half of what it was in 2019. In the agriculture sector, the drop will be from 46 percent to 42 percent less emissions.

The 2.2 billion euros is a starting fee. This includes more than 600 million euros for a voluntary scheme for farmers who want to keep fewer animals or purchase land. There will also be a voluntary quitting scheme. Around 750 million euros has been spent on this part.

Wiersma is also pushing for a new permit-granting system. Details of this are expected to be released in the summer. The system will be based on the state of the natural area in question.

The agriculture minister wants other harmful factors for nature, like droughts, to be taken into account other than just nitrogen. The minister has set aside 100 million euros for the repair of the nature areas.

The Cabinet is focusing its attention on making waste incineration plants more sustainable in the industrial sector. Speed traffic controls near natural areas will be implemented to ensure that cars drive more slowly and, therefore, emit less nitrogen.