WORKING PARTY "AGRICULTURE and ENVIRONMENT" of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics 11-12 December 2008 Policy needs related to N cycle Samarelli Luisa European Commission DG Environment Unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

New AEI : Why? To better understand nitrogen cycle and transformations between different species To better understand influencing factors To identify best measures for reducing losses Nitrate leaching Ammonia emissions Nitrous oxide emissions To adapt and improve agricultural practices to minimize impact on the environment DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Sectional approach NO3 and Water Framework CAP Natura 2000 Biodiversity 2010 Water pollution NO-3 Cultural heritage Biodiversity Ecosystems Agriculture N- deposition Acidification Eutrophication NEC directive CLRTAP NH3 Health Impact AQ Directives N2O Secondary Particulate matter This chaotic slide gives us an idea of what is happening today and therefore highlights the important of an integrated approach. Emissions coming from the agricultural sector and the industrial one lead to a large number of problems for ecosystems and health. Nitrates, ammonia and NOX affect in a synergic way the environment but are now faced by sectional legislation. One directive or regulation could, therefore, be helped in achieving its objective by others, even if these are not intended for that scope. Climate Change Kyoto Protocol DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil 3

Pollution swapping Pollution swapping to: That’s also because the implementation of one directive could just « transfer » contamination to another environmental sector or to another area. So if we look at the entire cycle, we see that there are inputs of N into the system – manure application, fertilizer application, atmospheric depositions – and there are output from the system – harvested crop and livestock products. Within the system (the pipe) transformations take place and N species may escape. If we block one or 2 holes in the pipe we have as a result an increased fluxes from other holes, unless the input is decreased and/or the total output is increased. Pollution swapping to: other pollutants - generally seen as a response to policies and measures that focus on one N loss form other areas – mostly by the transfer of manure DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Effect of abatement measure for NH3 emissions Antagonistic effects of policies As a first result of the study it should be pointed out that some effects of measures intended to reduce ammonia emissions can lead to increased losses of nitrogen and N2O emission. The best example of this is the « low ammonia application techniques » which promote nitrate leaching. For example the injection of fertilizers into sandy soils leads to leaching of nitrates towards groundwater. Therefore this technique should be applied under certain condition, in order to reach both objectives of reducing ammonia emissions and reducing the leaching risk of nitrates. DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Effect of abatement measure for NO3 leaching Synergistic effects on N input control measures Measures intended for reducing nitrate leaching have a synergistic effect. They are really effective also to reduce ammonia and N2O emissions. That’s because they are intended to reduce the total nitrogen input – balanced fertilization, no winter application…. DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Need for Integration « biodiversity » policies « air » policies « water » policies  « climate change » policies DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Agricultural system What ? Animal feeding strategy When ? Households NO-3 Manure storage NH3 Manure application How much ? N2O This chaotic slide gives us an idea of what is happening today and therefore highlights the important of an integrated approach. Emissions coming from the agricultural sector and the industrial one lead to a large number of problems for ecosystems and health. Nitrates, ammonia and NOX affect in a synergic way the environment but are now faced by sectional legislation. One directive or regulation could, therefore, be helped in achieving its objective by others, even if these are not intended for that scope. Mineral fertilizer application How ? ……… DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil 8

Example: Manure application DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Integrated Approach “Integrated measures to reduce ammonia from Agriculture” (Consortium ALTERRA- University of Bonn, IIASA) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/cafe/activities/ammonia_en.htm Objectives: Assess impact of various set of measures on water, ammonia and green house gases Identify and assess “most promising” measures I will briefly explain the main outcomes of the study carried out for the commission by Alterra and the University of Bonn. This study was intended to assess impact of present measures on water, ammonia end greenhouse gases To analyse the present legislation and international instruments To identify the most promising measures to reduce ammonia To assess the impact of an extension of the IPPC directive DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Nitrate Directive Scenario N losses in ND scenario Nitrate Directive Scenario 14 % 16 % Full implementation Optimization of NVZs designation This graphic shows the effect of the full implementation of the nitrate directive. Compared to 2000, the full implementation of ND – which is intended for the protection of waters - will incidentally cause the reduction of ammonia emissions by 14%!!! (compared to the situation in 2000). This means a half of the objectives of the TSAP. DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Figures – NH3 NH3 emissions in 2000 (for EU 27): 3488 k ton/year NH3 emissions in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented: 2989 k ton/year (-14%) DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Figures – N2O N2O emissions in 2000 (for EU 27): 377 k ton N2O emissions in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented: 354 k ton (-6%) DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Nitrates Directive Objectives Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. Objectives Reducing water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources. Preventing further such pollution. DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Nitrates Directive Obligations for Member States Water monitoring (surface waters, groundwater and marine waters) Identification of polluted waters (or at risk of pollution if measures are not taken) Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) designation Establish a code or codes of good agricultural practice Establish Action Programmes in NVZs (mandatory only in NVZs if designated or to the while territory if NVZs are not designated) DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Nitrate Directive Action Programmes (1) Measures to be included in the Action Programme Closed periods for fertilizers application Minimum requirements for capacity and construction of storage facilities Limitation of land application taking into account: Soil conditions Climatic conditions Land use – crop rotation systems Balanced fertilisation based on crop needs, N in soil, N net mineralisation, N additions from fertilisation (both organic as mineral) Maximum application standard of 170Kg N/ha from livestock manure Involves correct N excretion figures + estimates of gaseous N-losses from stable/storage. DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

The Nitrate Directive Action programmes (2) Land application on water-saturated, flooded, frozen or snow-covered ground Distance rules towards water courses Land application on steeply sloping ground Procedures for land application guaranteeing uniformity of spreading (and reducing losses of ammonia) (Voluntary) Land use management Soil cover crop during winter period Establishment of fertiliser plans Management of irrigation systems DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

N losses in most promising measures scenario Low protein animal feeding (decreasing of N content in manure) Balanced N fertilization Optimal combination (1+2+technical measures to decrease ammonia emissions) 19 % Most promising measures were identified: Low protein animal feeding, which brings to a decreased content of nitrogen in manure Balanced fertilization and therefore a decreased use of fertilizer A combination of the first two plus a set of measures intended for abatement of ammonia emissions. We can see that the optimal combination cause a further reduction of ammonia emission of 19 % compared to the ND scenario. Low protein animal feeding (-10% N content in manure) Balanced fertilization (N surplus = 0) in all farms DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Figures – NH3 NH3 emissions in 2000 (for EU 27): 3488 k ton/year NH3 emissions in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented (and nothing more): 2989 k ton/year (-14%) NH3 emission in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented + NH3 abatement measures + full balanced fertilization: 2416 K ton (another - 19%) DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Figures – N2O N2O emissions in 2000 (for EU 27): 377 k ton/year N2O emissions in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented (and nothing more): 354 k ton/year (-6%) N2O emission in 2020 if Nitrate Directive fully implemented + NH3 abatement measures + full balanced ferilization: 2416 K ton/year (another - 3%) DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil

Possible developments How to better evaluate emissions from agricultural activities (NH3 and N2O) How to improve performances on NH3 / N2O in the implementation of the Nitrate Directive? (..new ceilings…) How to identify the most effective measures for Reactive Nitrogen abatement? Animal feeding strategy Fertilization strategy Application techniques (number of farmers using injectors/precision machinery) Manure storage (% covered storage vessels) and housing DG Environment – unit Agriculture, Forests and Soil