Fertilizers Europe Annual Overview 2019 -2020
Foreword Director General
The European Green Deal poses a major challenge for all energy intensive industries, including the mineral fertilizer sector. But if well-orchestrated, the Green Deal can also become an opportunity to position the fertilizer sector in the centre of Europe’s long-term plans. Focusing on nutrient use efficiency can help EU agriculture to become more sustainable and resilient.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 in the spring 2020 had an immense impact on the entire society, leading to important and necessary emergency measures taken by EU Member States.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise a fantastic effort of our member companies to ensure safe working environment and keeping production going,
and I want to thank all colleagues across Europe for their dedication and professionalism that allowed our industry to play its part in ensuring food security for the next season.
The future of the European fertilizer industry in the light
of the EU Green Deal
Fertilizers Europe considers the European Green Deal a priority and supports the development of policies that enable the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, whilst keeping EU industry competitive. Under the right legislative framework, the European fertilizer industry can play a vital role in delivering on the EU’s ambition to lead sustainable agricultural production as well as contribute to the transition towards low-carbon economy.
Reconciling agriculture with environment
The ‘Farm to Fork’ and ‘Biodiversity’ strategies aim to pave the way towards a more sustainable food production and reinforced food security in Europe. Fertilizers Europe accepts the challenge to reduce environmental impact of nutrients but calls for a thorough impact assessment to identify realistic objectives and understand the implications of such policies, as well as points at nutrient use efficiency and applying more knowledge per hectare as the main drivers of change.
Policy Priorities
Engaging in a constructive dialogue with EU institutions, Member States, industry, academia and the agriculture sector at large on the evolution of the fertilizer industry and EU agriculture remains a priority for Fertilizers Europe. The second part of the Annual Overview testifies to the efforts and activities carried out by Fertilizers Europe committees over the past twelve months.
