Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Finland - Estonia - Latvia - Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2023-11-11

Description

Description (EN):

The eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea is still unsatisfactory, despite decreased nutrient loads in recent decades. Agriculture is one of the sources of nutrients eventually entering from surface waters to Baltic Sea. This problem is recognized by farmer’s organizations challenged to do the best to amend the situation. New restrictions in management of organic fertilizers will be established in Estonia and Latvia in 2015 because of the unsufficient implementation of EU Nitrates Directive. Capability of agricultural sector is not sufficient for implementation of new technologies and practices in everyday farming enabling to comply with new restrictions and maintain current level of production and competitiveness. Farmers need neutral information for implementing new innovative solutions most applicable for project area which reduce nutrient losses and benefit the long-term fertility of the soil at the same time. Project objective is reduced nutrient losses from agriculture in Baltic States through introducing and testing innovative and efficient practices in management of organic fertilizers. 20 farmers from Est/Lat pilot areas invest to most appropriate technologies/methods using their own financial resources. Data about nutrient runoffs will be gathered from pilot areas and analysed by experts and researchers. Farmers receive well-founded information about the efficiency of different solutions demonstrating real results in reducing nutrient losses. It’s the first time when testing of different technologies in manor management will be arranged in wider area using financial resources and intellectual capital of Estonian/Latvian farmers, farmers organizations and research institutions. Project creates working method for beneficial co-operation between farmers’, governmental and environmental organizations supporting the achievement of targets set for improvement of the eutrophication status of the BS and for addressing other environmental problems.

Achievements (EN):

GreenAgri reduced the leaching of nutrients from agriculture to surface water and Baltic Sea: GreenAgri introduced and tested environmentally-friendly management of organic fertilizers in Estonia and Latvia. The project worked in several fields: Increased the knowledge, awareness of farmers, governmental agencies in Estonia and Latvia. Project developed a number of reviews and studies analysing manure application technologies, manure storage and also manure handling economic aspects of the various stages. The documents developed can be accessed in our programme project results database and also project partners websites. Introduced new methods and technologies to reduce nutrient runoffs. 22 farms were selected to participate in the test programme in both countries. The opportunities for improving soil fertility, productivity and also to reduce nutrient losses were explored in test farms in cooperation with experts. The farms carried out soil, water and manure analyses, organized crop rotations and prepared manure application plans. Farmers also had possibility to be acquainted with best practices Denmark and Finland. The entrepreneurs participated also in a whole series of trainings. Manure and soil analyses were performed in demo fields from the spring of 2017 until the end of 2018. The main finding of the evaluation of the activities of the demo farms was the fertilization plan is key to the efficient management of manure, both environmentally and economically point of view. Improved co-operation between farmers and governmental organizations in development and implementation of environmental regulations Interested parties (legislation creators, paying agencies, supervisors, consultants and farmers) met at joint events to cover all relevant issues. The impact of implemented project activities to the nutrient content in the soil reveals during longer period of time. It can be concluded that in most of the pilot farms the improvements were achieved or are likely to be achieved in regard reducing the inflows of nutrients into ground water. For more information, visit the project website: www.epkk.ee/greenagri

Website: http://centralbaltic.eu/

Expected Results (EN): R2.4. The amounts of nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflows into the Baltic Sea

Expected Outputs (EN):

Project main result is reduced nutrient inflows from 20 pilot farms from Estonia and Latvia to surface water entering to the Baltic Sea. It will be achieved through implementation of innovative technology and methods in pilot areas in two countries. The impact of implemented measures to the nutrient content in the soil reveals during longer period of time. First results can be obtained from a minimum 18 months after implementing new measures and practices. Possible measures:works on the field (catch crops,drainage,tillage,nutrient balance etc) and outside the fields (wetlands,dams,drainage etc),buffer zones, ploughing, flooding fields,new technology in manure storage/treating/spreading,precision farming,fertilization planning,treating fields with fiber clay/gypsym/biochar etc. According the information from previous projects, literature an expert opinions the nitrogen inflow from fields can be reduced ca 30% in average.In general losses of phosphorus are not an issue in Estonia and Latvia.Long-term results of agricultural runoff monitoring show that on average only 0.20 kg/ha of phosphorus are lost annually. The sustainability will be ensured through dissemination of results and new knowledge received during the testing period to ca 300 farmers. The existing national rural advisory systems will be strengthened ensuring that project results have lasting effect beyond project duration. Advisors who receive sufficient knowledge and experience during implementation of GreenAgri project are able to support farmers from both side of the border.Project results support the achievement of targets set by the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen input in Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Riga aiming at reaching good ecological and environmental status by 2021. Project contributes to the achievement of country-wise provisional nutrient reduction requirements set for Estonia (220t phosphorus and 900t nitrogen) and Latvia (300t phosphorus and 2560).

Thematic information

Sustainable management of natural resources Waterways, lakes and rivers Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Specific Objective: Reduced nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflows into the Baltic Sea

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06f) promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Eesti Põllumajandus-Kaubanduskoda

Department: Not relevant

Address: J.Vilmsi 53G, 10147 Tallinn, Estonia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.epkk.ee

Total budget: EUR 431 396.50

ERDF budget: EUR 366 687.02

Biedriba "Zemnieku saeima"

Name: Biedriba "Zemnieku saeima"

Department: Not relevant

Address: Republikas laukums 2-916, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.zemniekusaeima.lv

Total budget: EUR 428 095.00

ERDF budget: EUR 363 880.75

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

NGO "Farmers Parliament"

Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

Partners and Projects info

Eesti Pollumajandus-Kaubanduskoda MTÜ

Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

Project acronym: GreenAgri

Project start date: 2015-09-01

Project end date: 2019-08-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 859 491.50

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 730 567.78

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 730 567.78.

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Finland - Estonia - Latvia - Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-11-11

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

137 / 137 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

663 / 663 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://centralbaltic.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-08, 2023-01-12 and 2024-03-08.

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Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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