Animal welfare suffers under nitrogen policy

The government's fragmented nitrogen policy is failing both farmers and animals, according to Professor Frank Meijboom of Utrecht University. He believes there is a lack of an integrated approach: nitrogen is the focus, while animal health, animal welfare and the landscape are being pushed into the background.

In the fight against nitrogen, billions have been invested in low-emission stables, air scrubbers and modified animal feed. Not only are these measures ineffective, they also endanger the health of cows, pigs and chickens, warn various experts, including in last week's edition of De Volkskrant. One of the experts quoted is Arjan Stegeman, professor of farm animal health at Utrecht University. He describes the aspect of “animal welfare” as a blind spot in nitrogen policy.