Over the last week, there have been announcements of severe cutbacks in agro-chemicals by the world’s largest firms, and also more farmer protests in Europe.
On July 26 in the Netherlands, farmers blocked major roadways by dumping manure on the pavement and setting fire to bales of hay. Traffic was halted for hours, and clean-up in some places took two days.
Their protest target is the new package passed by the Dutch parliament in June, demanding reductions in crops, livestock, and other measures in the name of cutting nitrogen and carbon compounds in emissions and runoff. The new edicts set deadlines for 2023, and by 2030, there is to be a 30% reduction in livestock.