The Dutch government has introduced a new grant program, titled 'Nature Inclusively' with a budget of €165 million, aimed at encouraging innovation and relocation among farmers and livestock producers to combat nitrogen pollution in Natura 2000 areas. The initiative targets farms that contribute significantly to emissions, encouraging them to invest in technologies that reduce nitrogen output and maintain their animal numbers over the next five years. The program will offer two distinct paths:
1. Innovation: A €60 million fund will be available for farms to adopt technologies that combat nitrogen emissions, with a focus on dairy cattle, pig, and beef calf farms.
2. Relocation: A €105 million voluntary relocation scheme has been designed to help agricultural holdings, especially those near environmentally sensitive areas, to shift to less impactful locations, either within the EU or internationally. This scheme includes subsidies for the transfer of livestock, construction of new facilities, and consultation services.
The innovation grants will be available from October 2024, while the relocation subsidy details are expected to be released by the end of September. This initiative marks a significant effort by the Dutch government to address environmental concerns while supporting the agricultural sector.