EU backs Dutch government’s farm buyout plan to cut nitrogen pollution

Farmers have been protested against the plans (Peter Dejong/AP)

Dutch government plans to cut nitrogen pollution have cleared a key hurdle after the European Union’s executive arm gave the green light to farm buyout schemes worth nearly 1.5 billion euros (£1.32bn).

The plans to reduce nitrogen deposits — mainly by livestock farms — on EU-designated areas of vulnerable nature have sparked heated debate and widespread protests by angry farmers in a nation that is a major producer and exporter of farm products.