Enough of cheers!

Enough screwed up, say scientists. The numbers on nitrogen are clear. no new measurements are needed. Protest farmers, Hoekstra and other populists, and anyone looking for excuses: ready now, time for action. When all these animal species are taken together, the livestock density in the Netherlands is 70 animals per hectare of agricultural land, the highest in Europe. That is 6 X higher than the average livestock density in European countries: 12 animals per hectare.

Don't start questioning again: there is really no escaping those nitrogen targets
Again and again, doubt about the scientific basis of the nitrogen plan sounds in the Chamber and in the media. Han Olff, Wim de Vries and 34 other scientists* explain once again what's going on. Han Olff and Wim de Vries
August 21, 2022, 23:50
Under pressure from peasant protest, opposing parties such as the agro-industry and supermarkets and some politicians, both the timetable and the scientific basis of the cabinet plan for nitrogen reduction are under discussion time and time again. This often gives the impression that the problem can be solved with only technical innovations, without major interventions in agricultural production. This ignores the nature of the nitrogen problem and the need to address it in conjunction with all other challenges such as water quality, drought, climate and nature restoration. Of course, discussion is the cement with which we build scientific progress, but the debate is now starting to look like the movie Groundhog Day. In it, weatherman Phil experiences the same day over and over and steps into the same puddle every morning. Compare that with recent questions from MPs and farmers' organizations for even more research, even harder and finer measurement results, even better models, and with their invariably belief in technical solutions. But we know more than enough, and there is more than enough scientific consensus to act quickly now. Integral approach This is our chance to tackle major societal challenges at the same time. But that requires an integrated approach to the landscape, ie agriculture and nature. First of all, nature restoration through hydrological measures (mowing, natural grazing, pest, dredging and forest felling) cannot simply compensate for too much nitrogen precipitation. Years have been wasted by this idea. The deposition must be urgently reduced; it acidifies the soil, which, among other things, disrupts the balance between nitrogen and phosphate, releases toxic aluminum, plant roots grow worse and worse, good fungi work worse and the nutritional value of plants for insects decreases. In addition, too much nitrogen amplifies the effects of long-term drought caused by climate. It makes trees and plants much more susceptible to water shortage, because they root shallower. Current intensive agriculture also emits too many greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide and affects water quality through the leaching of nitrate and phosphate. Nitrogen reduction, nature and water quality and climate change are therefore closely intertwined. In addition, nitrogen deposition does not work sufficiently if ecological fragmentation is not addressed. Due to increasingly large, intensively used plots, hedges, ditches and overcorners, lifearteries for plants and animals, have often disappeared, both between nature reserves and within agricultural areas. These can actually help in the transition to nature-inclusive food production. Not everything is possible everywhere The current cabinet plan is a major change of course. But the goal is to improve the balance between land use and the quality of landscape, soil, water, air for everyone. After all: not everything is possible everywhere. After 70 years of focus on intensification, scaling up and export profits — with too little regard for landscape and nature — a new, overarching and long-term consistent food and landscape policy is now needed to offer farmers and nature a sustainable future. Things can be done differently and better, provided everyone gets moving. The government will have to lay down the burden of the much-needed transition not only on farmers, but also on consumers, retailers, banks and agro-industry. This can be done through a smart mix of pricing, education, spatial planning, standards, permits, enforcement and change of the food environment. As scientists, we call on the politics and parties involved to finally get to work. As weatherman Phil came out of the misery by refraining from the short-term benefits of repeating moves and getting to the heart of the matter decisively.
*These scientists endorse this opinion contribution: Han Olff, Professor of Ecology & Nature Management (Groningen), Rien Aerts, Professor of Systems Ecology (VU), Liesbeth Bakker, Professor of Rewilding (Wageningen), Frank Berendse, Em. Professor of Plant Ecology and Nature Management (Wageningen), Matty Berg, Professor of Animal Ecology (VU & Groningen), Raoul Beunen, Associate Professor of Environmental Governance (Open University), Koos Biesmeijer, Professor of Natural Capital, (Naturalis & UvA), Roland Bobbink, Researcher Ecology, Research Centre B-WARE (Nijmegen), Christiaan Both, Professor of Animal Ecology (Groningen), Jeroen Candel, Associate Professor of Public Administration (Wageningen), Hans Cornelissen, Professor of Systems Ecology (VU), Gerlinde de Deyn, Professor of Soil Ecology, Wageningen, Han van Dobben, Researcher Ecology and Environment (Wageningen), Jan Willem Erisman, Professor of Environmental Sustainability (Leiden), Tjisse van der Heide, Professor of Coastal Ecology (NWO-NIOZ & Groningen), Ruth Howison, Researcher Spatial Ecology (Groningen), Patrick Jansen. Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (Wageningen), Johan van de Koppel, Professor of Spatial Ecology (NIOZ, Groningen) Hans de Kroon, Professor of Plant Ecology (Nijmegen), Hans Kros, Senior Specialist Environmental Quality (Wageningen), Leon Lamers, Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology (Nijmegen). Theunis Piersma, Professor of Migratory Bird Ecology (NWO-NIOZ & Groningen), Wim van der Putten, Professor of Soil Biology, (KNAW-NIOO & Wageningen), Jan Roelofs, Em. Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology (Nijmegen), Alfons Smolders, Professor of Applied Biogeochemistry (Nijmegen), Chris Smit, Professor of Experimental Conservation Ecology (Groningen), Merel Soons, Professor of Plant Dispersal Ecology and Conservation (Utrecht), Pablo Tittonell, Professor Agroecology (Groningen), Sander Turnhout, Strategic Advisor (University Nijmegen & Species NL), Marcel Visser, Professor of Animal Ecology, (NIOO-KNAW & Groningen), Louise Vet, Em. Professor of Evolutionary Ecology (Wageningen), Wim de Vries, Professor of Integral Nitrogen Effect Analysis (Wageningen), Franciska T. de Vries, Professor of Earth Sciences, (UvA), Wieger Wamelink, Researcher Ecology and Exobiology (Wageningen), Martin Wassen, Professor of Environmental Science (Utrecht), Annemarie van Wezel, Professor of Environmental Ecology (UvA) Also read: Under the leadership of nitrogen mediator Johan Remkes, a complete polder circus has been created Is he a mediator, conciliator or interlocutor? The question is what Johan Remkes intends to do with all those conversations around the nitrogen crisis.

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