The EU Commission has adopted a Fertiliser Action Plan, with support for farmers facing rising fertiliser costs and scarcity, reinforcing domestic production and reducing Europe’s dependency on imports.
With supply disruptions and price volatility putting farmers across Europe under increasing pressure, and exposing Europe’s vulnerability to external shocks in fertiliser supply, the EU’s new plan combines immediate support measures aimed at supporting affordability and security of supply, with longer-term action to strengthen domestic fertiliser production, improve supply resilience and accelerate the transition to bio-based, low-carbon and circular fertilisers.
“The European Commission recognises the difficulties the agricultural sector is facing as a result of rising costs and volatility in international markets”, said EC executive vice-president Raffaele Fitto: “With this Action Plan, we are putting forward immediate measures to support farmers, including through the mobilisation of available cohesion policy resources, while also setting out medium- and long-term actions to strengthen the sector’s resilience, reduce external dependencies, and make European agriculture more robust and competitive.”
Únder the plan, the Commission will deliver targeted exceptional support to the European farmers facing high fertiliser costs through existing instruments under the EU’s agricultural policy. It is looking to mobilise the EU budget to reinforce the agricultural reserve by a substantial amount. The financial package it is due to present before the summer would provide immediate liquidity relief for farmers ahead of the next production cycle and help sustain agricultural production. There would be a new liquidity scheme to help with cash flow, greater flexibility for advanced payments, and stronger incentives for more efficient farming practices that reduce and optimise fertiliser use, shift to bio-based fertilisers and invest in farm resilience where needed.
Other actions to support farmers will focus on better nutrient management, support for the development and uptake of nutrient-efficient farming practices and a stronger emphasis on Farm Advisory Services within the CAP.
To promote the circular economy and decarbonisation, the EU will support its domestic fertiliser industry, to prevent deindustrialisation, guarantee stable supplies, and reduce European dependence on imports. Use of European alternatives will be encouraged, including wider use of organic, bio-based fertilisers and alternatives to traditional mineral products. Other pathways include algae biomass, other soil enhancers, microbial solutions, biostimulants, and recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from the sewage sludge.
The Commission will also ensure that the fertiliser sector does not lag behind other sectors in access to funding for green innovation and modernisation. Existing funds will be mobilised to support biogas and biomethane production and wastewater infrastructure investments which can scale up sludge valorisation and nutrient recovery.
To strengthen martket transparency, the Commission will launch an EU fertilisers value chain Partnership, bringing together fertiliser producers, farmers and Member States to determine a shared pathway to overcome these challenges and safeguard continuous food security at affordable prices across the EU.
The Commission will also strengthen market monitoring, early-warning capabilities and propose a proportionate framework to ensure the availability of regular up-to-date data on fertilisers in the EU.
Fertilisers – Agriculture and rural development (Fertilisers Market Observatory)
