‘Broad Sense of Frustration, Anger, Despair’: Dutch Farmers Protest Against Nitrogen Cuts

‘Broad Sense of Frustration, Anger, Despair’: Dutch Farmers Protest Against Nitrogen Cuts

Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Organization's Wytse Sonnema says there’s a broad sense of “frustration, anger, even despair” amongst farmers amid proposals for nitrogen reduction target plans.

Farmers are protesting around the Netherlands over the government’s new policy which would see the country slash nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

“There’s a map now outlining nitrogen reduction targets of 50 per cent nationally, 70, up to 95 per cent in certain areas,” Mr Sonnema told Sky News Australia.

“And imagine if you’re a fifth-generation farmer living on your land, making a living, being part of a local community, and you see a map saying that basically there’s no future.

“No future for farming, but also no future for the economic, social, cultural fabric of the countryside.”