Hold EU mulls fertilizer cut to curb farming emissions: draft

The European Commission is mulling targets to cut fertilizer use in the European Union over the next decade to bring the agriculture sector into line with its climate policy aims, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.

The draft proposes EU rules on sustainable food production and consumption which the Commission said would help drive the sector’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. It would cut its contribution to climate change and curb the EU’s rising obesity rates, it said.

“A shift to a sustainable food system can bring environmental, social and health benefits, offer economic gains and generate a ‘bounce forward’ out of the current crisis onto a sustainable path,” it said.

The proposal will include targets to cut use of fertilizers and sales of antibiotics for animal and fish farming by 2030 – although the specific numbers for these targets were left out of the draft document.

Overuse of fertilizers contributes to soil and water pollution and has reduced biodiversity in rivers and lakes, the draft said.

Synthetic fertilizers emit nitrous oxide and account for just under 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the OECD.

The Commission’s proposal aims to bring agriculture – which contributes around 10% of EU greenhouse gas emissions – in line with its target to reduce the bloc’s net emissions to zero by 2050.

The Commission declines to comment on unpublished drafts, which are working documents and are subject to change until they are adopted.

The draft also includes plans to revise EU animal welfare legislation and curb the environmental impact of animal farming, which makes up about 70% of EU agriculture emissions.

The Commission will help grow the market for “innovative feed additives” that cut emissions from livestock farming and require food product labels to disclose the origin of milk or meat ingredients.

Reporting by Kate Abnett and Marine Strauss