Upcoming in September: policy panel on nutrient recycling in agriculture
Part of the Finnish EU Presidency event the European Days for Sustainable Circular Economy – EDSCE19, BSAG and SuMaNu project will organize a seminar and panel discussion titled
Circular economy in agriculture – how to advance nutrient circulation, soil quality and healthy environment
Focus on the HELCOM Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy and EU level policies
Across Europe, we find regions with imbalance in the production and consumption of nutrients in agriculture due to segregation of animal and crop production. Nutrients are not efficiently recycled in the food system and the excess nutrients run off to watercourses. It is evident that more sustainable nutrient use is an absolute cornerstone of economic and ecological food production in the long run. Nutrient recycling would benefit both the climate and our waters, while also decreasing our dependence on imported mineral fertilizers. European Union has enabled the development of a market for recycled fertilizers through a new regulation on fertilizer products which harmonizes the playing field for mineral and organic fertilizers. The regulation will not, however, solve all issues or create a market on its own. How can we build demand for the products and ensure that they meet the needs of the farmers? How do we make sure that the relevant other policies support this shift? In the upcoming policy panel, we will explore where the problems lie, how we can solve them and what we potential gains there are. The invited eminent speakers and panelists will provide insight from policy, business and research perspectives and the audience will have a possibility to address them with questions.
The event is organized before the main event on the first day and features presentations of topical issues in agricultural nutrient recycling from SuMaNu and the HELCOM Nutrient Recycling Strategy. As speakers and panelists, the event will convene
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of European Parliament
Saara Bäck, Head of Unit, Ministry of the Environment of Finland
Jean-Franҫois Soussana, Vice President for International Policy, INRA
Juha Nousiainen, Senior Vice President, Carbon Neutral Milk Chain, Valio Ltd
Sari Luostarinen, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Programme and registration to the event is open on the EDSCE19 website under Side Events.