Ahead of the expected publication of the European Union’s Fertilisers Action Plan, Copa and Cogeca have presented a position paper setting out concrete measures at European level to address the fertiliser crisis and ensure long-term market stability. The sector’s message is clear: the EU has the tools to act and decisive measures must be adopted urgently to safeguard the viability of farms and European food security in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.
Following the mobilisation of thousands of farmers in Brussels last December to demand urgent action in response to rising fertiliser prices, Copa and Cogeca have approved the common position of the agricultural sector, which includes a set of short-, medium- and long-term measures aimed at easing the situation and restoring market stability.
Fertilisers are essential for European food and feed production and constitute a fundamental pillar of Europe’s food security. When their costs exceed sustainable levels, the viability of farms is seriously compromised, putting European food sovereignty at risk.
Practical solutions
The Copa and Cogeca position paper identifies several practical solutions at European level that the Commission should urgently incorporate into the forthcoming Fertilisers Action Plan. Immediate measures include the suspension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for fertilisers and the mitigation of its impact on costs, as well as the suspension of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs and anti-dumping measures on fertiliser imports.
To reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers, the document proposes amending the Nitrates Directive without delay in order to allow greater flexibility in the use of manure where agronomically justified, as well as authorising the use of digestate above current limits.
The paper also calls for the harmonisation of rules to boost the use of organic and recycled nutrients, which can replace synthetic nitrogen without compromising yields, while strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. In this regard, RENURE criteria should be aligned with the recommendations of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to ensure full technological neutrality. At the same time, it proposes strengthening the Fertilisers Market Observatory, strictly enforcing competition rules and closely monitoring the market to provide farmers with reliable information on fertiliser availability and fair prices.
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The forthcoming Fertilisers Action Plan must reflect the agronomic and economic realities of the sector, provide immediate relief and establish a credible roadmap towards sustainable nutrient management.
Copa and Cogeca therefore urge the European Commission to act decisively. These measures represent the minimum necessary to address a crisis that farmers have been warning about for years and which could have far-reaching consequences for the European Union beyond the agricultural sector itself.
