EU fertilizer plan leaves farmers waiting for real cost relief

AVA-ASAJA has criticised the European Commission’s new fertilizer action plan, saying it does not answer the cost pressure facing farms in Spain and across the EU.

The Valencian farmers’ association argues that the plan focuses too much on long-term intentions and support for the fertilizer industry, while offering little immediate help to producers who are already dealing with high input costs. According to the group, the proposal avoids two measures it considers urgent: suspending the carbon border adjustment mechanism on fertilizers and returning emissions trading revenues to the agricultural sector.

AVA-ASAJA says the impact could be especially severe for crops with tight margins. The organisation also criticised the use of already programmed CAP funds as the main support route, warning that this leaves farmers dependent on national decisions instead of a coordinated EU response.

The sector is calling for direct measures to improve farm liquidity, greater flexibility in nitrate rules to allow more use of manure as fertilizer, and immediate use of the CAP crisis reserve for the most exposed sectors. AVA-ASAJA also wants customs duties on third-country fertilizer imports to be suspended, arguing that European farming cannot carry the cost of climate policy without clear compensation.

source and photo: avaasaja.org