Livestock farming is the sector with the most #stikstofemissie in the Netherlands. Is ecological farming with fewer animals the solution?

The stables in the Netherlands are crowded. With 115 million cows, pigs and chickens, our country even has the highest livestock density in Europe. This huge amount of animals on a small surface leads to a lot of damage to nature, the environment and our environment. For example, livestock farming is responsible for most nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands. The sector therefore has a large share in the current nitrogen crisis. Fortunately, many farmers choose fewer animals combined with more ecological farming. And research shows: that pays off!

Commissioned by Greenpeace, independent research firm Ecorys made a societal cost-benefit analysis of the change to ecological farming with fewer animals. The researchers compared the cost and feasibility of different scenarios. What turned out? The change to ecological farmers with a significantly smaller livestock is not only feasible, but even yields to society 1 billion euros annually.

Fewer animals, more biodiversity
A shrinkage in livestock results in less nitrogen emissions, but according to the researchers, it also leads to less emissions of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and manure. This avoids many (hidden) costs of nature, - climate and health damage caused by intensive livestock farming. Combined with more ecological agriculture, this change also makes an important contribution to achieving the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement, the Urgenda judgment, and improves biodiversity.



Ecological farmers? Hole in the market!
The societal cost-benefit analysis of independent research firm Ecorys shows that the switch to ecological farmers is feasible and affordable. In fact, it yields an average of over 1 billion euro to the company every year.

When you pay social costs to society
5 billion to clean up nitrogen pollution by livestock farming and to buy out livestock farms that should never have been licensed.

And then this is not enough

Cabinet cleaves: 5 billion for nitrogen approach
The cabinet has decided on a package of measures to reduce nitrogen precipitation and restore nature. As a result of the decision, permits can be issued for construction, among other things, writes Agriculture Minister Schouten in a letter to the House of Representatives.

Environmental organisations go back to courtdue to nitrogen plans 25 April 2020 03:30
The environmental organisations Mobilisation for the Environment (MOB) and Vereniging Environmental (Environmental) are going to court because of the government's plans to reduce nitrogen precipitation. Mob chairman Johan Vollenbroek reports this Friday in a press release.




Source:For the world of tomorrow.
Greenpeace press conference

These farmers show the way out of the nitrogen crisis