Abstract

In the Netherlands agriculture is confronted with several environmental threats like climatic change, acidification and air pollution, eutrophication, desiccation and dispersion of toxic substances. In this report the impact of these stresses on agriculture in the Netherlands is described. Impacts may directly concern agricultural productivity or the quality of agricultural products. The study also focusses on indirect effects on agriculture like loss of suitability and fertility of soils, affection of materials and health risks for farmers. Cause, magnitude and expected future trend of the various effects on agriculture are classified. This overview of actual and potential effects has recently been published in the second national environmental survey.