New resolution from the European Parliament concerning the availability of fertilisers in the EU

An opportunity for organic/bio fertilisers, biostimulants and new technologies of soil health management?

The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution urging the Commission to draw-up a long-term EU fertiliser strategy and a soil nutrient strategy by June 2023.

According to the Parliament, the EU is highly dependent on third countries when it comes to mineral fertilisers and raw materials used to produce fertilisers. This dependency cannot be completely ended in the short term and potential conflicts or issues may arise in the future in other territories.
So how to end this dependency and build a self-sufficient sustainable system in line with the EU Farm-to Fork strategy?

Now more than ever, the key may be to promote the development of alternative means such as organic/bio fertilisers, biostimulants, and new soil management technologies to increase soil biology and fertility.

The resolution from the Parliament is clear in this respect:

• Point 13: "Reminds the Member States of the possibility to develop […]measures to stimulate the development of alternatives to mineral fertilisation, to support joint and cooperative approaches to shortage scenarios, and to apply innovation and technology to reduce fertiliser use;".
• Point 41: "[…] a stronger research focus […] spread and sharing […] of agro-ecological knowledge, methods and innovations, in order to develop new fertilisers or other alternatives and foster precision farming;".
• Point 45: "[…]highlights that the EU must develop the supply of organic fertilisers and agro-ecological techniques in the long term to reduce dependency on nitrogen fertilisers;".
• Point 50: "Emphasises the need to support soil and trace element testing at farm level".
• Point 53 "Encourages the increased use of biostimulants to optimise fertilisation by improving nutrient absorption and efficiency […] improve the speed at which new biostimulants can be assessed and approved.".
• Point 57: "[…] the INMAP should focus on improving nutrient use efficiency, encourage the development of green fertilisers and optimise the use of mineral and organic-based fertilisers via precision farming […]".

This urgent request from the Parliament may be a catalyst for the adoption of new Regulations and Directives in the short/medium-term promoting and facilitating the use of these biological alternatives and cutting-edge technologies.

It will be important to follow closely the development of legislative proposals currently under discussion and new proposals that may be published in the coming months.

The full text of the resolution from the European Parliament is available here: https://lnkd.in/eMh-pwrs