Stable innovation falls by the wayside in the Provincial Rural Area Program

222 million euros will flow to the province of North Brabant in the coming period for the first projects in the context of the Provincial Rural Area Program (PPLG). But for the time being, the government is not providing money for innovations to reduce nitrogen emissions on farms.

© Mariska Bloemberg-van der Hulst

Nationally, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has allocated 1.28 billion euros for this. North Brabant had asked for 252 million euros for the leading projects in the field of nature and agriculture.

Together with the province of Utrecht, North Brabant claims almost 40 percent of the total budget. Limburg is expected to receive 55 million euros, while this province had submitted 150 million worth of projects.

In North Brabant, the money will go to Pouwels Water Landscape for the design of a collection area for excess water from Tilburg, the revitalization of Brabant forests, the green-blue veining of the rural area and better water quality in the Markiezaatsmeer near Bergen op Zoom.

Carbon sequestration

In the field of agriculture, the province may invest in projects that capture carbon in agricultural land – in addition to trees, forests and nature – the extensification of agricultural businesses in and around Natura 2000 areas and the Brabant Nature Network and the development of a biodiversity monitor for arable and horticultural businesses.

The province had also requested financial support for innovations that reduce nitrogen emissions by adapting stables, management measures and manure processing. But that request has not yet been honored by the government.

The picture is the same in Limburg: there is money for nature projects, but no for innovation in agriculture. While this has been a fervent wish of the sector for years. In an interview with Nieuwe Oogst that will be published next week, Limburg deputy Léon Faassen (BBB) ​​does not hide his frustrations. ‘Innovation on agricultural companies should be an important part of the nitrogen approach.’

Faassen calls the current one-sided focus on nature ‘demotivating for all parties in Limburg who want to get the area process off the ground, shoulder to shoulder.’

The provinces must submit a new package of projects to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality by 1 April at the latest. These ‘no-regret measures’ will be subject to a new assessment round by the central government.