‘Agriculture agreement’ talks on verge of collapse: Telegraaf

Talks between farmers, environmental groups, government officials, supermarkets and other interest groups on the way forward for agriculture in the Netherlands are on the point of collapse, the Telegraaf reported on Tuesday afternoon, quoting ‘well informed sources’.

A last-ditch effort will be made to salvage the talks in the coming weeks but there remain wide divisions on crucial issues such as how to deal with manure and pesticides.

In addition, the nitrogen emissions problem and the government’s deadline for slashing emissions by 50%, remain a thorny issue for many, the paper said.

Farmers in particular have been buoyed by the big wins for pro-farmers’ party BBB in the recent provincial elections. And Sjaak van der Tak, chairman of the main farming lobby group LTO, has said that the government’s strategy to cut emissions needs a major rethink.

‘If that does not happen, there will be no agriculture agreement,’ he told the Telegraaf earlier.

Rather than group discussions, individual members of forum will each have an individual meeting with chairman Chris Kalden in an effort to force a breakthrough. Kalden will then draw up a document which can be used as a final negotiating tool, the Telegraaf said.