Dutch farmer’s organisation reasserts desire to conclude Agricultural Accord

The farmers’ union Land-en Tuinbouworganisatie Nederland (LTO) expressed commitment to concluding an accord on agricultural sustainability after negotiations with the government stalled over fundamental disagreements.

The accord, which has been stuck in the negotiation stage for months, aims to make the country’s agricultural sector more sustainable in the future, as it needs to drastically reduce its nitrogen emissions to comply with EU directives.

“We want the cabinet to deliver!”, the statement reads, adding that “working towards a new cooperation between government and farmers” is one of the organisation’s “most important demands”.

“Part of this system change is that the government will not impose any new livestock unit standards, grassland standards or other regulations lecturing farmers on how many cows they can keep per square metre,” it adds.

Squabbles between the cabinet and farmer’s organisations concerning the former’s intention to introduce a cap of 2.5 – 3 cows per hectare was among the main reasons for negotiations stalling.

Negotiations between the two sides had met a dead end on Wednesday after LTO Nederland left the negotiating table, demanding that the government give farmers a better perspective for the future and concretise potential incentives for farmers to transition to more sustainable farming methods.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) and several other ministers joined the negotiating parties on Wednesday to try and save the accord.

LTO also denied reports about disagreements within the organisation.

“We are negotiating an agricultural agreement to achieve a credible and workable future perspective for our farmers and horticulturists. We are doing that together. There is no difference of opinion within LTO organisations, between provinces or between different areas and regions,” thy wrote in a statement.

“We ask only one thing from the cabinet, and that is: to put on paper within one week the crucial steps promised,” the statement closed.

The negotiations are set to continue this week.

(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)