EU proposals to cut the use of fertiliser by 20% by 2030 aim to “limit the over-fertilisation of agricultural land”, according to Wolfgang Burtscher, the head of DG Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission.
The Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies have proposed that fertiliser use across the EU be cut by 20% by 2030 and pesticide use by 50%.
On Thursday he told an Irish Farmers Journal and European Commission representation in Ireland webinar that the cut in fertiliser use is a very important issue. In response to a question from Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly whether the 20% cut would mean the end of the nitrates derogation, Burtscher said: “I think, again, this ... is a very important issue because what we are promoting or what the targets in the Farm to Fork strategy are promoting is not the pure reduction of fertiliser.
“It’s about reducing the overdose of fertilisers that is really harmful for the environment and it’s not about damaging soil fertility. I think there is a specific text now that says that this reduction of fertilisers is without prejudice to soil health.
“So it’s really to limit the over-fertilisation of agricultural land.
“But I think on this basic principle that we really need to do something about soil health. I think this is really crucial,” he said.
CAP plans
Burtscher said that each member state’s national CAP plan should address the reduction in fertiliser and pesticide use.
He said that while the cuts in fertiliser and pesticide use “might be less important for Ireland”, the country also faces the question of livestock and its contribution to greenhouse gas methane emissions.
He said the European Commission will have a big interest in that issue.
“But again, I think it's, first and foremost, up to Ireland to identify their strengths and weaknesses and then we will have a dialogue with them,” he said in the context of the country’s CAP strategic plan.
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EU proposals to cut the use of fertiliser by 20% by 2030 aim to “limit the over-fertilisation of agricultural land”, according to Wolfgang Burtscher, the head of DG Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission.
The Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies have proposed that fertiliser use across the EU be cut by 20% by 2030 and pesticide use by 50%.
On Thursday he told an Irish Farmers Journal and European Commission representation in Ireland webinar that the cut in fertiliser use is a very important issue. In response to a question from Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly whether the 20% cut would mean the end of the nitrates derogation, Burtscher said: “I think, again, this ... is a very important issue because what we are promoting or what the targets in the Farm to Fork strategy are promoting is not the pure reduction of fertiliser.
“It’s about reducing the overdose of fertilisers that is really harmful for the environment and it’s not about damaging soil fertility. I think there is a specific text now that says that this reduction of fertilisers is without prejudice to soil health.
“So it’s really to limit the over-fertilisation of agricultural land.
“But I think on this basic principle that we really need to do something about soil health. I think this is really crucial,” he said.
CAP plans
Burtscher said that each member state’s national CAP plan should address the reduction in fertiliser and pesticide use.
He said that while the cuts in fertiliser and pesticide use “might be less important for Ireland”, the country also faces the question of livestock and its contribution to greenhouse gas methane emissions.
He said the European Commission will have a big interest in that issue.
“But again, I think it's, first and foremost, up to Ireland to identify their strengths and weaknesses and then we will have a dialogue with them,” he said in the context of the country’s CAP strategic plan.
Read more
Farm to Fork will be subject to impact assessment on farm incomes
Possibility of payments on scrubland in next CAP
Farm to Fork: the EU plan for farming revealed
Watch: the new CAP and the EU Green Deal
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