Environmentally friendly fertilizers will benefit to sustainable farming goals

Sustainable farming, more attention to the condition of the soil, the use of environmentally friendly fertilizers, the introduction of the principles of the bioeconomy and the circular economy in production will help to achieve the Green Deal goals, which are also included in the National Climate Change Agenda.

Under this agenda, agricultural emissions are expected to fall by 11% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.

Resource-saving technologies, such as non-arable farming, the use of renewable energy sources, and the development of short food supply chains will also help to achieve the goals of the Green Deal.

For example, the expected changes in the livestock sector are not aimed at reducing livestock numbers, but at making more efficient use of what it does: livestock manure will become organic fertilizer and raw material for biogas production, with demand in transport, buildings and industry growing in the coming years. The Climate Change Agenda calls for more manure and slurry to be properly managed by 2030, to double them in amount, but at the same time to ensure that a large proportion of pigs, cattle manure and slurry are used for biogas production.

Moreover, there is an aim to reach more efficient use of mineral fertilizers in crop production and to achieve at least 15% reduction of the application of nitrogen mineral fertilizers by 2030. This would also contribute to other efforts to improve the environment, in particular to reduce water pollution.

The agenda envisages doubling the area of ​​organic farming in a decade compared to 2020, increasing the area of ​​perennial grassland to at least 8,000 ha and tripling the area of ​​land used for non-arable technologies. Food supply chains are expected to move closer to consumers, for example through the development of agriculture in cities, in order to reduce the need for transport and shorten distances.

Much attention and support will be given to increasing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change, and to strengthening the capacity and competencies of farmers to adapt to climate change. In addition, collaboration with science will be encouraged: growing plant varieties that are more resilient to climate change, changing farming methods to more sustainable ones and making greater use of financial instruments for risk and crisis management. Investing in environmentally friendly technologies will create new jobs and contribute to climate change mitigation, which will help prevent natural disasters as well as financial losses.

The pursuit of climate neutrality can become a driving force for agriculture if we start to live in real life on the principle of “not against nature, but together with nature”, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture hopes.

“There is still untapped potential in the agricultural sector when it comes to combating climate change, especially by absorbing carbon dioxide. In this case, nature can become the greatest ally of the Green Course, only the opportunities it offers must be used. Terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in absorbing greenhouse gases, so we need to improve their condition, plant more forests, protect and restore meadows and wetlands, and ensure the sustainable use of their resources to create value for both nature and man,” says Donatas Dudutis, Vice Minister of Agriculture.

“The envisaged measures are not intended to introduce new prohibitions and restrictions, but to encourage the change of farming principles, practices and methods to be more environmentally friendly and healthier for humans,” says Deputy Minister of the Environment Gintarė Krušnienė.