The German upper house, Bundesrat, has approved a bill, previously approved by the Bundestag, to reduce crop areas by up to 45%. The bill determines an expansion of the Red (nitrate polluted) and Yellow (phosphorus polluted) areas. It will increase the volume of red areas from the current 2.0 million hectares up to 2.9 million ha, an expansion of as much as 45%. Also off the table is the assessment of nitrate pollution based on actual emissions. That means that it is no longer possible to take account of whether a farmer’s practices are particularly aquifer-friendly. The new calculation also requires the states to significantly expand the monitoring network for nitrate in groundwater by December 31, 2024.
In Red areas, farming will be prohibited, even if farmers can prove zero-emission practices.
