Netherlands: Dutch Ministry Abandons Controversial Feed Measure to Limit Nitrogen Emissions

  |   Attaché Report (GAIN)

A proposal by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Quality to limit the addition of proteins in feed concentrates for dairy cattle in an effort to reduce Dutch nitrogen emissions led to strong opposition from the farm sector. In May 2020, Dutch Agriculture Minister Schouten announced that she intended to temporarily limit the use of proteins in feed as of September 1 (until the end of 2020) in order to attain a reduction of 0.2 kilotons in nitrogen emissions. Through this measure, the Ministry hoped to create space for the construction of 75,000 new homes this year (which also generates emissions). In the end, however, the Ministry elected to scrap the feed measure due to a recent period of drought in the Netherlands. Research from Wageningen University indicated that the feed measure would not have successfully reduced nitrogen emissions as more protein would need to be added to cows’ diets in order to make up for lower levels of protein in grass and ensure animal health.

Netherlands: Dutch Ministry Abandons Controversial Feed Measure to Limit Nitrogen Emissions

Related Reports

The biotechnology regulatory system in Ukraine is still not fully developed, but the country is gradually adjusting its domestic policies to align with European Union regulations.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Tunisia: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

Tunisia is continuing to postpone non-urgent matters in front of major political and economic reforms. As a result, Tunisia’s biosafety framework, which was drafted in 2014, remains on hold with no timeframe for a review and parliamentary vote.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly

Export prices of white and parboiled rice rose one percent from the previous week as exporters reportedly continued to secure the rice supplies to fulfill contract shipments.