It does not take one golden egg to achieve the necessary nitrogen reduction in livestock production. We need to put several eggs in the basket. That those eggs are there, became clear on Oct. 6 during a meeting at the Dairy Campus Leeuwarden.
Low-hanging fruit. Under that designation, northern provinces promised subsidies for management measures that help solve the nitrogen problem in an "easy way. More than a thousand applications came in, millions in aid money were provided. But did that prove a worthwhile use? That was essentially the key question at the well-attended meeting.
The honest answer? We won't know until a few years from now, when all the tests, experiments and trials have proven themselves. Or not. That it looks good is certain. Some of the ideas worked out - and now put into practice - promise much. Up to 50 percent reductions in emissions are sometimes achieved on paper. In practice, these good inventions must be used side by side to have a real impact. 'In 2035, this problem will be solved. Thanks to stacking the inventions we have heard about here, but also because there are promising new techniques on the way,' says soil scientist Wim Bussink. He is project manager at the Nutrient Management Institute (NMI).
Salt
Measures that farmers should be able to take quickly were reviewed at the Dairy Campus. Like rationing protein in cattle feed. This could save ten percent in emissions. Or spraying barn floors clean with water. This is expected to reduce emissions by up to 25 percent. More grazing is an idea that is being tested. That could result in a nitrogen emission reduction of up to 20 percent. Magnesium chloride spraying over manure has the potential to achieve some fifty percent reduction. These are some of the promising initiatives about which a room full of interested people heard more.
To start with the latter: Nedmag and Farmin have been experimenting with the use of magnesium for several years, in collaboration with NOM and WUR (Wageningen University & Research). It works like this: magnesium fixes ammonia in the crystal struvite, so the nitrogen does not go into the air but remains available for the crop in the field.
By 2035, this problem will be solved. Thanks to stacking the inventions we've heard here, but also because there are promising new techniques on the horizon.
Wim Bussink, project manager Nutrient Management Institute (NMI)
'We need time, then I am sure we will achieve 50 percent reduction with less material than we are using experimentally now,' says Anko Vos. He is involved in the project on behalf of salt producer Nedmag.
WUR researcher Hendrik Jan van Dooren is also optimistic. 'The reduction in barn emissions is substantial. We expect the same on the land. Now we need to continue experimenting with increasing the frequency with which magnesium is sprayed on manure and also with lowering the dosage.' Van Dooren does not see the project with magnesium as the Golden Egg, but rather as a readily applicable option in the range of measures that can or should be taken.
Another project already achieving results is that of spraying barn floors clean with water. By simply dripping water over the grates, or spraying from above, emission reductions of up to forty percent can be achieved. In the latest trials, thirteen liters of water were flushed per square meter per day. Jeanet Brandsma (WUR): 'We have already done a lot of testing and are seeing good results. Now it's a matter of finding out about animal health and figuring out what kind of water we can best use.' Because the amount of water required for this can lead to other challenges.
Rain
Every three quarters of an hour it rains for three minutes in the barn of dairy farmer Arjan Schrijver. He is one of the farmers participating in this project. 'I just want to think about ways to reduce emissions, and this seemed like a nice, simple solution. At first glance, my cows are not affected. But because of the large amount of water required, I sometimes have to think about how I store the diluted manure.'
And then quite a bit of subsidy went to manure robots, the results of which seem a bit disappointing at first. Then reducing protein in cows' rations is a better idea, it seems. Dairy farmer Jan Roelof Jalvingh from Ruinerwold has experience with it. 'It works logically: what doesn't go in, doesn't come out. It is now a matter of steering to the right ratio.'
Researcher Paul Galama (WUR) continues the experiments. 'You have to take a lot into account. Different types of soil, different types of grass, it all affects the minimum amount of protein a cow needs. But in the meantime we have managed to fall below the national lowest average when it comes to feeding protein. And that means fewer emissions at the end of the process.'
None of these fancy solutions are going to solve the nitrogen problem on their own, it became clear. We have to look for it in a combination. Less protein in the feed, rinsing with water or spraying with magnesium chloride and then a manure robot over it. Something like that. Maybe experimental mergers are something for the next tranche of the investment scheme. 'That's what farmers want: to invest and innovate. If we can contribute something to that, we should. Also to keep the farmers' earning model afloat,' Groningen agriculture deputy Henk Emmens believes. He wants the new subsidy round to be reopened as soon as possible.
22.5 million
That arrangement exists only in the northern Netherlands, by the way. The chances of an extension are high, Marieke Mossink of the Ministry of LNV says. 'The interest in the North is great, a lot has been signed up, so I have high hopes that we will continue. You can sign up again from February.
Many innovations, many experiments, many researchers, companies and farmers actively working on ideas to reduce nitrogen emissions. That is at least one result of the investment scheme in the northern provinces. The awareness that something must be done is there, the knowledge that things can be done is quickly added.
'We have now made 22.5 million available in the first two tranches,' says Pieter Helfferich of the province of Fryslân. 'To that will soon be added the third. I hope that by the middle of 2024 we can see what that has yielded numerically. Then we will know how much each kilo of reduction has cost us. Just encouraging farmers to develop and innovate with this is something I find worthwhile, by the way.'
'In short, if we agree with all benevolent parties to go the extra mile, then with a mix of the measures presented today, we will take a big bite out of nitrogen emissions and kick a big dent in a packet of butter from the Northern Netherlands,' concludes day chairman Alex Berhitu of the NOM.
NOM is actively participating
That NOM plays an active role in the issue of nitrogen emissions is obvious. The Netherlands is almost locked in by the regulations around nitrogen. Building and renovation plans are being considerably delayed, and with that the growth of industry is also slowing down. Existing companies are having trouble with expansion plans, and new companies are running into difficulties. In short, something needs to be done, and fast. NOM strives for good solutions to get out of the nitrogen crisis. For that reason, it is betting on the technology ERAMM (magnesium chloride to reduce ammonia emissions). This is a wonderful northern Dutch development with plenty of economic potential.