On Thursday 9 April, during a debate in the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, the European Commission lifted a corner of the veil on the content of the future European Action Plan on Fertilisers.
During the debate on the effects of the crisis in the Middle East on the agricultural sector, many MEPs deplored the rise in fertiliser prices and the lack of availability of these products (see EUROPE 13839/4).
In response to MEPs’ questions on the future action plan, Brigitte Misonne, Head of Unit for Animal Products at the European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Agriculture and Rural Development, began by saying that a high-level dialogue with all the stakeholders - farmers, industry, researchers and academics - would be held next Monday, before the plan is finalised.
She explained that the plan has four main focuses:
- reduce dependence on imports from third countries;
- increase European fertiliser production while promoting the decarbonisation of the fertiliser industry;
- encourage farmers to use fertilisers more efficiently (precision farming and more rational use of fertilisers);
- promote bio-based and low-carbon fertilisers, including the use of manure by-products.
The Commission stressed that fertiliser requirements for spring applications are largely covered, and that attention is now focused on the next harvest, in 2027.
On the subject of State aid, Brigitte Misonne pointed out that the Commission’s DG Competition is examining temporary flexibilities to support the sector. Several Member States have already introduced measures to help their farmers, particularly with regard to fuel.
As far as a shortage of fertiliser is concerned, “our data shows that, apart from sporadic cases, most requirements for spring applications are covered and available to farmers. The focus is now on the next harvest, in 2027, to ensure that fertiliser requirements are covered”, added Ms Misonne.
The European Fertilisers Market Observatory publishes monthly price and stock trends to improve transparency in the sector, she added.
The institution recalled the measures already taken before the war in Iran: opening duty-free tariff quotas for ammonia, urea and certain nitrogen fertilisers from countries other than Russia and Belarus, and applying a fixed mark-up of 1% to the default values for integrated emissions from fertilisers, much lower than that applied in other sectors affected by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
“We agree that this crisis in the Middle East shows once again how crucial it is for Europe to develop this open strategic autonomy”, also emphasised Brigitte Misonne. She also warned that increases in energy and fertiliser prices would be passed on to food prices, and mentioned other possible risks, including shortages of packaging, food contact materials, food-grade carbon dioxide and feed additives. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)