Farm management, tech could slash nitrogen by 30%, but costly buyouts still needed
Management changes and in-stable technology could reduce nitrogen emissions from Dutch dairy farms by up to 30 percent, according to new research from ABN Amro and agricultural consultancy CLM. But the report also emphasizes that more drastic solutions, such as farm buyouts and relocations—though effective—are costly.
ABN Amro and CLM reviewed the available nitrogen reduction options and divided them into three categories. First are management-based actions that farmers can take independently—such as sending cows out to pasture more often or providing a lower-protein diet. These are considered “low-hanging fruit,” according to the report. They are generally free or low-cost and easy to implement. However, enforcement remains an issue, and authorities have no reliable way to verify compliance. As a result, these measures currently do not qualify for permit benefits.
The second category involves technical solutions that reduce emissions inside barns. These include systems like the Lely Sphere or a cow toilet. In a barn in Veghel, for example, a manure robot vacuums up waste before the Lely Sphere filters ammonia from cow urine. According to the researchers, these systems cost between 5 and 31 euros per kilogram of reduced nitrogen per year. They are labeled “second best” in the report. Due to doubts about their effectiveness, these technologies also do not currently grant farmers additional environmental permits.
The third group of measures is described as structural: buying out or relocating high-emitting farms. These approaches guarantee actual reductions in nitrogen emissions and can free up space for new environmental permits. However, participation is voluntary and extremely expensive. According to the study, farm buyouts cost between 43 and 49 euros per kilogram of nitrogen reduction annually. ABN Amro and CLM refer to these options as a “strong but costly lock on the emissions door.”
The researchers recommend that farmers pursue a combination of management changes and technology to achieve reductions of 20 to 30 percent. “Farmers are resourceful and often know best what works for their business,” said Pierre Berntsen, director of agricultural business at ABN Amro. With proper government support, a 30 percent reduction in emissions is “realistic,” he told de Volkskrant.
