The Dutch government intends to buy and shut down as many as 3,000 farms around environmentally sensitive areas to comply with the European Union’s environmental rules.
The announcement follows a government plan to reduce nitrogen emissions by 50 percent by 2030, which led to protests earlier this year by farmers who felt the agricultural sector was being unfairly targeted.
The agricultural sector is reportedly responsible for the largest portion of nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands, according to The New York Times.
Nitrogen Minister Christianne van der Wal announced the government will conduct a “compulsory purchase” of large nitrogen emitters as part of a voluntary, one-time offer, and said farmers will be provided with a deal “well over” their farm’s value.
