Stricter regulations on fertilizer use could potentially cause concerns

Since 2020, German fertilizer regulations have tightened under pressure from the EU Commission. However, recent calculations by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) suggest that Germany, along with the Netherlands, is falling short of the targeted 50% reduction in nitrogen surplus as required by the EU's Farm-to-Fork strategy.

The UFZ research team analyzed the annual nitrogen surplus in Europe between 1850 and 2019, and their findings indicate that no EU countries are currently on track to reduce their nitrogen surplus in the soil by half by 2030. The uniform fertilizer reduction policies seem insufficient to meet this target.

The researchers categorized countries based on their nitrogen usage. Predominantly Northern European countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland fall into the "Natural Landscapes" category due to less mineral fertilizer and manure application. On the other hand, countries like the Netherlands or Denmark fall into the "Economic Fertilizer" category due to high livestock density and manure input. Central European countries like Germany and France fall into the "Artificial Fertilizer" category due to more mineral fertilizer usage.

Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic can potentially halve their nitrogen surplus according to UFZ calculations. Yet, even with these improvements, the maximum reduction achieved by the strategy is only 10 to 16%.

The UFZ researchers recommend reducing N fertilizer by 20% and halving manure application in Germany. If the trend continues, Germany will achieve its target of reducing the nitrogen excess to 70 kg/ha on average over five years. However, if not, the required reductions could be even greater, up to 67% less manure, according to Masooma Batool, UFZ data analyst.

It is worth noting that the Farm-to-Fork strategy's EU-wide 20% reduction in mineral fertilizer does not achieve the hoped-for 50% decrease in nitrogen surplus. Reducing mineral fertilizers alone is not enough to meet the EU's goal of halving soil nitrogen excess by 2030. Farmers would also need to apply modern fertilizer technologies and farming practices.

Despite the challenges, the UFZ research provides valuable insights into the current state of nitrogen surplus in Europe and offers recommendations for countries to meet the EU's Farm-to-Fork strategy targets. The data suggests that a comprehensive approach, including the adoption of modern farming practices and technologies, will be essential to achieving the desired reductions in nitrogen surplus across Europe.