EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has offered tentative support to creating an EU-wide fertilisers strategy to help protect farmers against potential future shortages.
A potential initiative to boost domestic production of fertilisers to reduce reliance on third countries – particularly Russia- was discussed in August during a meeting between Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas and his French counterpart Marc Fesneau.
At the time, the French stressed the need to set up “an EU strategy for fertilisers like the energy strategy,” concerning the REPower EU plan to limit reliance on Russian fossil fuels. At the same time, Planas highlighted the importance of regaining strategic autonomy in the production of fertilisers.
The topic was again in the spotlight during the informal meeting of EU-27 agriculture ministers in Prague on Friday (16 September), where calls to address the issue holistically were reiterated.
“We need to seriously consider this strategy,” the Commissioner told reporters ahead of the informal meeting, calling the prospect “very interesting”.
He added the situation is “now so complex,” and there is a problem with ensuring an adequate supply of fertilisers and substitution mineral fertilisers while reducing livestock numbers and changing animal production.
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A representative of the EU farmers’ association COPA-COGECA backed the move in a press conference on 12 September to help secure a steady supply of fertilisers across the EU.
According to data from the industry association Fertilizers Europe, Russia and Belarus provide 60 per cent of the EU’s fertiliser. Sanctions introduced in March on imports of potash from Belarus and interruptions to trade with Russia have put significant pressure on supplies.
This has left the sector scrambling for other sources, prompting mines in Eastern Germany to start test drilling for additional potash and look to alternative suppliers, such as Morocco.
Source: EURACTIV.com
