Central Baltic Project Database

Programme Priority: P2 Sustainable use of common resources

Programme Specific Objective: 2.4. Reduced nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflow into the Baltic Sea

Sub-programme: Central Baltic

Duration: 01.09.2015 - 31.08.2019

Total funding: 859.492 EUR

ERDF funding: 730.568 EUR ERDF

Project Summary:

The project GreenAgri aims at reducing nutrient losses from agriculture in Baltic States by introducing and testing environmentally-friendly management of organic fertilizers. As agriculture is one of the sources of nutrients eventually entering from surface waters to Baltic Sea the project’s idea is to amend the situation.

The project is a joint effort of farmers from Estonia and Latvia contributing to the improvement of eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea. During the project period 20 farmers from Estonian and Latvian pilot areas implement innovative technologies and methods in real life using their own financial resources. Experts and researchers gather and analyse nutrient runoff data and provide the farmers with information about the efficiency of different solutions demonstrating real results in reducing nutrient losses from farms. 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 main result is reduced nutrient inflows from 20 pilot farms from Estonia and Latvia to surface water entering the Baltic Sea. The sustainability is ensured through dissemination of new knowledge to approximately 300 farmers. The advisors who receive knowledge and experience during the project implementation are able to support farmers from both sides of the border. Additionally, the project results support achieving the HELCOM targets for reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen input in Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Riga, aiming at reaching good ecological and environmental status by 2021.

Map of Partners

Partners

Lead Partner

Eesti Põllumajandus-Kaubanduskoda

Country: EE

www.epkk.ee

Partner budget: 431.397 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 366.687 EUR ERDF

Project Partners

Biedrība “Zemnieku saeima”

Country: LV

www.zemniekusaeima.lv

Partner budget: 428.095 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 363.881 EUR ERDF

Results

Expected results

Achieved results

Project result in category -

Reduction of nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflow into the Baltic

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.

The project has developed and uploaded following material:

Comparative Survey of Manure Spreading Technologies
GreenAgri brochure (In Estonian)

For more information, visit the project website: www.epkk.ee/greenagri

Project page in database

Environmentally-friendly Management of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture

At a glance

Increased the knowledge, awareness of farmers, governmental agencies in Estonia and Latvia
Introduced new methods and technologies to reduce nutrient runoffs
Improved co-operation between farmers and governmental organizations in development and implementation of environmental regulations

Files