Netherlands: Cattle and manure are peak polluters, we will destroy by a third

The Netherlands is undertaking a far-reaching transformation of its agricultural sector, pushing to reduce nitrogen emissions and revitalize natural lands. The country, known for being one of the world's biggest exporters of agricultural products, no longer wants to prioritize exports, Nature and Nitrogen Policy Minister Christian van der Waal-Zegelink said in an interview in his office in The Hague. The Netherlands has been engulfed in farmer protests for months after the government in June presented a nitrogen reduction target based on European Union regulations. If implemented, the government's plan would require cutting emissions by up to 95% in some provinces, halving total emissions by 2030. The plan could reduce livestock in the Netherlands by a third over the next eight years. In November, van der Waal-Zegelink outlined plans to buy 2,000-3,000 "peak polluters" near nature reserves in a bid to quell the fury of local farmers. This "one-off buyout plan" will run from ...