How EU susbisides are wasted on environmentally harmful activities

The Netherlands, a small country with a high population density, has prevailing natural conditions and relatively fertile soils in a flat landscape which favours a varied and productive agriculture. In monetary terms, the Netherlands ranks second, behind the United States, as net exporter of agricultural products. Governmental policy strongly supports the intensive agricultural sector, including the availability of inexpensive natural gas supporting greenhouse horticulture and floriculture as well as the production of cheap fertilisers. The high productivity of the agricultural sector comes at a destructive price to the environment with high levels of external inputs including mineral fertiliser, manure, pesticides and energy, which rank among the highest in the world.

Priority environmental issues for the Netherlands such as loss of biodiversity, climate change and over-exploitation of natural resources reflect pressures on the environment deriving from the Netherlands’ development choices, such as intensive agriculture and transport. These environmental issues have economic consequences for Netherlands and Europe. It will cost the EU EUR 1.1 trillion every year by 2050 for the lack of policy implementation towards halting the loss of biodiversity.