Minister Wiersma of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) responds with joy:

"This is a huge milestone for Dutch agriculture. Farmers have been asking for this for years, and now there is finally relief in the manure issue. With RENURE, we can utilize valuable nutrients from animal manure and become less dependent on fertilizers from outside the EU. It is a smart, innovative solution that is good for farmers, soil, and the environment. This approval did not come easily – it has been worked on hard from the Netherlands for years, together with the sector and European partners. We will now quickly get to work to implement the application in practice."

What is RENURE?

RENURE stands for REcovered Nitrogen from ManURE. It is a processed form of animal manure, where nutrients, such as nitrogen, become available in a more usable form. The end product resembles fertilizer but comes from our own cycle. Because RENURE meets strict environmental requirements, it can be applied safely without risks to water quality and soil.

Why is RENURE important?

The use of RENURE offers several advantages:

  • More space for farmers. RENURE gives farmers more opportunities to use manure on their land, within the applicable regulations.
  • Smarter use of own resources. Valuable nutrients from manure are not lost but reused. This fits into a circular agriculture, where waste is minimized.
  • Less dependence on fertilizers. By using less fertilizer – which is often produced with fossil energy such as Russian gas – the Netherlands becomes less dependent on countries like Russia. This strengthens our strategic position and contributes to greater energy independence.

What’s next?

The vote by the member states is an important step. In the coming months, the European Parliament and the Council will also formally vote on the proposal. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is preparing for a swift implementation. Together with the sector, we are looking at how farmers who already have experience with the RENURE technique can get started quickly and responsibly.