The Dutch government presented its long-awaited effort to entice the country’s biggest nitrogen polluters into agriculture to sell their farms, giving some 3,000 farmers near nitrogen-sensitive nature reserves the chance to be eligible to receive compensation. Got permission, if they give up their business.
Farmers can verify whether they are eligible for the program on the website launched on Monday.
“From today, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to start within the ‘peak pollutant’ approach. Together with their community, they can think about the future of their business,” said Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Policy Christiaan van der Waal (VVD/ Renew) said, which was quoted by Nos.
“It’s never been so attractive in a financial sense, it’s really a one-off, and we hope to gain momentum with it,” she said.
The buy-out plans were previously shrouded in uncertainty after the European Commission cited concerns about their viability in relation to the bloc’s state aid rules before giving them the green light last month.
A case manager will assist farmers who agree to participate in the program to determine whether they should relocate, change to more innovative and sustainable farming methods, or stop farming – which In such a situation, the government will buy them.
Although the earlier two methods still need to be given the green signal by the EU, farmers can currently only opt to be bought.
Farmers who agree to be bought out will receive a payment equal to 120% of the value of their business, as well as emitting at least 2,500 moles of nitrogen annually to “qualify” for measurement.
The bulk of eligible farmers – around 60% – are from Gelderland, a province where the agrarian protest party BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) recently entered the provincial government.
The party, which made headlines in March when it won the most votes of any single party during Dutch regional elections, is skeptical about the new measures.
“BBB finds it unfortunate that termination plans are being opened much earlier than plans where protection of farms and thus food production is guaranteed. As far as we are concerned, the safety of food production in our country is of paramount importance. should be a priority,” the party said in a press release.
“Farmers do not become millionaires overnight by selling a farm. Those who shout that they have no idea about the number of loans and mortgages lying on farms and have no real picture of entrepreneurship.
Farmers can apply for the program till April next year.
(Benedict Stockl | EURACTIV.com)
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