In recent weeks, Dutch farmers have denounced sweeping nitrogen emissions cuts.
NOS reports that the leader of the Farmers Defence Force (FDF), Mark van den Oever, has called on video for farmers to once again take mass action against the Dutch government’s nitrogen policy. He claims farmers are reaching a limit and that only large-scale resistance can prevent the disappearance of more agricultural businesses.
Van den Oever states that the government is engaged in what he describes as “state-legitimized theft of the farming livelihood.” He believes farmers should no longer wait but must mobilize together.
According to the FDF, farmers are being hit disproportionately hard by the nitrogen measures. Van den Oever states that many agricultural entrepreneurs are facing forced buyouts and they are uncertain about their future.
The Dutch cabinet wants to reduce nitrogen emissions to meet European nature targets. To achieve this, far-reaching measures have been announced that primarily affect the agricultural sector.
Critics of the policy, including the FDF, doubt the scientific basis of the official approach to nitrogen. According to them, the need for space for housing, industry, and other developments also plays a major role in the buyout of agricultural land.
