About: fertilisers

Agrifood Brief: Fertile ground for a ruckus

Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. This week: EURACTIV’s agrifood team digs deeper into a controversial vote in the...

Agri Commissioner backs call for polluter pays principle in farming

The farming sector should be made financially responsible for pollution, especially water pollution, according to a new report by the European court of auditors, an idea welcomed by the EU's Agriculture Commissioner.

Digital tools needed to help apply fertiliser targets to national level, say stakeholders

EU-wide targets for the reduction of fertilisers, as outlined in the Farm to Fork strategy, must now be translated to country-specific targets, and for this farmers need access to the latest tools and technologies to allow them to reach these targets and get an accurate picture of the situation, stakeholders have said.

Lifting the haze: Why air pollution action doesn’t stop at cars

As Germany faces a national lawsuit on air pollution, Ugo Taddei asks: should other countries worry?

Spain’s circular economy says ‘adiós’ to countryside and city waste

The common goal of Spain’s circular economy implemented both at city and countryside level is to reuse waste, yet local agri-food companies and organisations are aware that this model needs to be adopted gradually in the sector. EURACTIV's partner Efe Agro reports.

LEAK: EU’s Farm to Fork strategy will be based on five key targets

In addition to longstanding objectives like the reduction of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the European Commission envisages setting three more targets in its new flagship food policy, EURACTIV can reveal.

Nitrate pollution linked to agriculture, says new study

While Germany is set on tightening its fertiliser regulation after the EU Commission sued the country for excessive nitrate levels in groundwater, a new study has linked agriculture and particularly animal fattening with groundwater pollution. Could the European Commission drop its lawsuit against Germany? EURACTIV Germany reports.

EFSA chief interview, realistic targets for pesticides, cheap honey

Welcome to EURACTIV's AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. In this edition: EFSA chief interview, Commission plans for pesticides, struggling European beekeepers, common data spaces for agriculture and health, and much more...

Italy welcomes bioeconomy, kisses agricultural runoff goodbye

In 2017, Italy’s entire bioeconomy sector had a total turnover of €300 billion and, within 13 years, employed two million people. The country’s Bioeconomy Strategy was taken up a notch and made even more ambitious at the start of 2019. EURACTIV’s partner Agronotizie reports.

Climate crisis reducing land’s ability to sustain humanity, says IPCC

The climate crisis is damaging the ability of the land to sustain humanity, with cascading risks becoming increasingly severe as global temperatures rise, according to a landmark UN report compiled by some of the world's top scientists. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.

Germany may have to pay €850,000 per day for exceeding EU nitrate levels

The European Commission criticised Germany for its excess nitrate levels in groundwater. If Germany's environment and agriculture ministries fail to put proposals on the table quickly, high fines could be imposed. But this is not the only warning from Brussels. EURACTIV Germany reports.

EU close to fining Germany over nitrate pollution

The European Commission will tomorrow adopt (25 July) an infringement decisions package against Germany for continuously breaching the EU’s nitrates directive, an EU spokesperson has told EURACTIV.com.

German farmers denounce poor management of nitrate pollution case

The energy transition is bringing major changes to the agricultural sector. EURACTIV Germany spoke to secretary-general of the German Farmers' Association (DBV) Krüsken about Germany’s approach to reducing nitrate levels, droughts, and expanding grids.

Groundwater: Nitrate pollution will continue to be an issue across generations

For years, the EU Commission has warned Germany about illegally high levels of nitrate in groundwater. The European Court of Justice even ruled on the issue in June. Now, the German government is working on a new Fertiliser Regulation. However, the groundwater is expected to remain contaminated for many more years. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Biogas in Germany: Maintaining momentum

With the European Parliament backing a net zero emissions target for 2050, EU member states will need to further develop their biogas markets to continue to reduce emissions from waste, energy, and transport, write Benjamin Budde and David Newman.

The EU finally provides legal framework for organic and recycled fertilisers

The Commission, Council and Parliament have agreed to facilitate the use of organic fertilisers, for which there has been no regulatory framework so far. Fertilisers will also have to contain less heavy metal in the future.

Fertiliser industry vows to feed one ‘extra Germany’ per year

The EU fertilisers industry published its 2030 vision on Wednesday (21 November), stressing the need to optimise fertiliser use across Europe and improve production in order to adjust to the principles of the circular economy and feed a growing world population.

Customised nitrogen fertilisation saves money and the environment, Yara says

Referring to a case study in France, Norwegian multinational fertiliser and crop nutrition company Yara says that nitrogen fertiliser efficiency generates additional income for farmers and reduces ammonia’s climate and environmental impacts.

Hogan: New technologies ‘very important’ to reduce agricultural emissions

Agriculture has to modernise to take account of the new technologies that are coming on the market as this is a “win-win situation” both financially and environmentally, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com. According to the EU agricultural outlook...

Vella: Ammonia emissions is an ‘enormous’ problem that needs to be tackled

In order to fight air pollution, an integrated approach is needed, according to Karmenu Vella, the EU Commissioner in charge of environment, maritime affairs and fisheries.

Tackling ammonia emissions from agriculture

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Agriculture generates around 94% of all ammonia emissions in the EU, the vast majority of which comes from livestock excreta. Greenpeace estimates the livestock share at almost 80%, while mineral fertiliser application accounts for approximately 20%.