Danes divided over contested nitrogen law

Danes are divided over a contested fertiliser law that was expected to be approved by a majority in Parliament, with farmers warning of lost jobs and fewer Danish-produced foods while researchers and environmental organisations say reduced nitrogen runoff is the only way to combat oxygen depletion in fjords and marine environments, DR reports.

DR spoke to citizens across Denmark about whether the country’s agriculture needs to change. Their views ranged from strong support for new restrictions to concern that farmers could no longer produce enough food.

Sten calls for change

On Samsø, pensioner Sten Petersen said agriculture must adapt.

“Agriculture has to adjust to some changes now. One hundred per cent. We can see the consequences, particularly in the water environment,” he said.

Petersen criticised parts of the farming sector for questioning university researchers’ models for calculating nitrogen emissions.

“These are totally highly educated people who are doing the calculations. And they have people out investigating everything for them. To me, this looks like what happens in a big kindergarten,” he said.

Gitte says farmers are needed

In Jebjerg outside Skive, Gitte Vistisen said the new nitrogen regulation would harm farmers.

“It will ruin things for the farmers. I think it is a shame. We cannot do without them. Then they cannot produce food for us,” she said.

Although researchers maintain that nitrogen emissions have serious consequences for Denmark’s water environment, Vistisen said she trusted farmers.

Karina sees a difficult balance

Karina Aaby from Ringkøbing said she had not made up her mind about the law.

“It is a difficult balance. We clearly need clean drinking water and a better marine environment, but it must also be possible for farmers to continue to exist,” she said.

“We need to look after both, but how to do that is difficult to see,” Aaby said.

Sarah favours a strong farming country

Sarah Christensen from Ringe on Funen said the marine environment should improve, but questioned whether agriculture alone was responsible.

“Of course our marine environment should get better. But whether it is only the responsibility of agriculture, I think is difficult to say,” she said.

Asked to choose, however, Christensen said Denmark should remain “a strong farming country”.

Pia wants green vegetables, fish and meat

Pia Loven from Frederikshavn said she and her husband had discussed the law extensively. They wanted access to meat, vegetables and fish.

Her husband fishes regularly, and she said he could clearly see the impact on the marine environment.

“We believe it has to do with agriculture emitting too much,” Loven said.

Lars feels responsible to future generations

In Aarhus, Lars Fournais, chairman of the football club AGF, said agriculture could adapt to new nitrogen rules.

“We can have plenty of agriculture here at home that can live in harmony with nature. But we need more food production and must move away from, for example, having as many pigs as we do now,” he said.

Fournais said people also had an obligation to future generations.

“We owe it to them that they can also stand and fish in coastal areas,” he said.

Holger is catching fewer fish

Back on Samsø, public school teacher and recreational angler Holger Nielsen said it made sense to adjust nitrogen emissions from agriculture.

“We have streams crying out for help,” he said.

Nielsen said fishing had become more difficult.

“I think it is clear that there is an impact,” he said.