Spanish government approves new regulations to promote sustainable soil nutrition

The Council of Ministers has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for a royal decree that incorporates new regulations and the simplification of some measures of the royal decree on sustainable nutrition of agricultural soils of December 27, 2022.

This new regulation responds to the Government's commitment to advancing the rational fertilization of crops and increasing or maintaining the productivity of agricultural soils. At the same time, it seeks to reduce the environmental impact of applying fertilizers and other sources of nutrients or organic matter.

After more than a year of application, the reform of the Royal Decree on sustainable nutrition of agricultural soils seeks to facilitate the implementation of specific technical aspects, reinforce coherence with other regulations (such as the Law on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy), or sectoral regional provisions and clarify certain provisions. To do so, the articles relating to the farm logbook, the fertilization plan, and manure and organic fertilizers have been modified. Specifically, certain incentives for the use of the digital logbook are included since it will not be mandatory, and the information on the fertilization plan that must be included in the farm logbook is detailed, one of whose key points is the determination of the dose.

In addition to incorporating clearer wording of the provisions relating to the reduction of ammonia emissions, other technologies, such as the extraction of a substance from a solid material, are taken into account that can reduce the risk of leaching.

The obligations related to the use of manure, fertilizers, and other organic materials are also made more flexible. New waste is added to the list of those that are accepted, and their requirements are modified to be in line with the market and the criteria of safety and agronomic efficiency. In this regard, the extension of the period during which the stacking of manure is permitted from five to ten days is noteworthy, which can reach twenty days in the case of composted or digested material. The period for burying manure and other organic materials is also extended to 24 hours.

These last two issues are part of the 43 measures approved by the government to support the agricultural sector in improving the situation of farmers and ranchers, which were agreed upon with the organizations Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA) and Union of Farmers and Ranchers Unions.

The ministry noted that rational soil fertilization ″is not only important for improving the environmental performance of agriculture but is essential for the efficiency and profitability of agriculture, in a context of high fertilizer prices.″