Erik Sindhøj
Senior Researcher
Department of Agriculture and Food
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Sweden
erik.sindhoj@ri.se
Background
Despite decades of efforts, eutrophication remains the pressing environmental challenge facing the Baltic Sea. Agricultural is a major source of excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) entering the sea, primarily due to inefficient manure and fertilizer management. Poor manure and nutrient management lead to ammonia emissions and nutrient losses through runoff and leaching, exacerbating water pollution and ecosystem degradation. These losses also represent an economic loss for farmers, as lost nutrients must be replaced with conventional synthetic fertilizers or result in lower yields.
Livestock farming in the Baltic Sea Region has become increasingly concentrated, with fewer farms managing larger herds. This intensification results in significant manure production, making effective management critical to preventing nutrient losses. Poorly managed manure contributes to environmental, economic and social challenges, degrading air and water quality while intensifying climate impacts through greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainable nutrient use begins with recognizing manure as a resource rather than waste. Manure is rich in essential nutrients and, when properly managed, enhances soil health while replacing conventional fertilizers. Minimizing nutrient losses through improved handling, storage, and application techniques is essential for both environmental protection and economic viability. Implementing best practices in manure management can reduce environmental pressures while fostering a more efficient and resilient agricultural system.
Key strategies for sustainable nutrient management
Optimizing fertilization practices
Fertilization planning and nutrient balancing are key to ensuring that N and P applications align with crop needs, soil conditions, and expected yields. Fertilization should be planned annually at the field level to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and reduce overapplication. Given that N and P are crucial for crop production yet primary contributors to water pollution, fertilization strategies must mitigate environmental risks. Additionally, phosphorus is a finite resource, necessitating responsible management.
National or regional fertilization guidelines should be developed to balance economic optimization with environmental protection. These guidelines must be regularly updated based on field trials, new crop varieties, and changing fertilizer and crop prices. Maximum application rates should be standardized across countries to ensure consistency and prevent excessive nutrient accumulation. Soil characteristics should be determined through regular soil analysis to inform application rates and avoid nutrient surpluses.
Record-keeping is essential for monitoring fertilization planning and tracking nutrient application and should be mandatory. Digital tools like the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), part of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), can aid farmers in managing nutrients more efficiently. Adapting these tools or developing new ones for the Baltic Sea Region should be a major focus to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and regulatory compliance. Such tools can facilitate the digitalization of nutrient management, improving efficiency and compliance with environmental standards.
Farm-gate nutrient balancing is a tool that allows farmers to monitor nutrient flows, optimize inputs, enhance farm profitability, and provide insight into potential environmental risks. Annual nutrient balance calculations should assess the difference between nutrient inputs—such as feed, fertilizers, and biological fixation—and nutrient outputs, including harvested crops and manure exports. Establishing national reference values for different farm types can support accurate assessments, and integrating nutrient balance tools within FaST can provide farmers with user-friendly solutions.
By integrating fertilization planning, manure utilization, and farm-gate nutrient balancing, the Baltic Sea region can significantly reduce nutrient runoff, enhance soil fertility, and promote the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. Strengthening record-keeping systems and leveraging digital tools will further enable farmers to make data-driven decisions that optimize nutrient use while mitigating environmental risks.
Stricter minimum standards for handling and spreading manure
Clear national regulations are crucial for improving manure management and sustainability. Establishing national standards for manure quantity and nutrient content across all livestock types will ensure reliable data for effective planning. These standards should be regularly updated to reflect advances in livestock production, feeding practices, and manure processing technologies. Incorporating reference values into fertilization planning will improve accuracy in nutrient application.
Effective manure use within fertilization planning requires that applications be based on the actual N and P contents in manure, as determined by national standards. Furthermore, nutrient losses due to spreading techniques and timing must be accounted for, incentivizing the adoption of improved manure management practices. Only after optimizing manure applications should additional synthetic fertilizers be considered to meet crop nutrient demands.
A key challenge in the Baltic Sea Region is the overapplication of phosphorus (P) due to manure being spread based on nitrogen content rather than crop-specific P needs. This leads to soil P accumulation and increased runoff risks. To address this, crop-based phosphorus guidelines must be adopted, with national fertilization limits set to prevent excessive buildup. A minimum threshold of 25 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for manure-derived P, as recommended by HELCOM, should be enforced to ensure sustainable application.
To further reduce nutrient losses, manure spreading should be limited to spring and summer when crops can absorb nutrients, with autumn spreading restricted to winter crop establishment. Winter spreading on frozen or saturated soils should be prohibited, supported by investments in manure storage infrastructure to allow for better application timing.
Additionally, acceptable manure handling and spreading technologies must be defined, while outdated methods are phased out. Broadcast spreading without incorporation should be replaced with precision techniques such as trailing hoses, injection methods, and acidification, which reduce ammonia emissions and improve nutrient retention. National policies should provide financial incentives for adopting best available technologies (BAT) to make improved practices both accessible and economically viable. By enforcing stricter manure management standards, the Baltic Sea region can significantly reduce nutrient losses, enhance soil and water quality, and optimize manure as a fertilizer resource. Aligning these measures with national regulations and financial support will further drive the transition toward sustainable manure management.
Enhancing nutrient reallocation
Even with improved nutrient management, nutrient surpluses in livestock-dense areas will persist, particularly for P. Instead of redistributing livestock operations, excess nutrients should be processed into concentrated, transportable fertilizers for redistribution to nutrient-deficient regions. This approach reduces reliance on mineral fertilizers and minimizes environmental impacts of surplus nutrients.
Business models and incentives must support manure-based fertilizer production to facilitate large-scale nutrient reallocation across the Baltic Sea Region. Large-scale manure processing plants can efficiently refine manure into nutrient-dense fertilizers, but smaller-scale solutions—such as mechanical slurry separation and on-farm processing—can also help manage nutrient surpluses locally. Technologies that separate nitrogen and phosphorus into distinct products improve precision application and transport feasibility.
Assessing regional nutrient availability and crop demands is essential for effective reallocation. Data on manure and recyclable biomasses, soil nutrient levels, and crop nutrient needs should inform national and regional strategies. Investment incentives for manure processing and regional redistribution, financial support for transportation logistics, and policy mechanisms encouraging recycled fertilizer adoption will be key to success.
Manure-based fertilizers must be economically competitive with mineral fertilizers. Supporting technology development, demonstration projects, and market creation for processed manure fertilizers is crucial. Coupling nutrient recycling with renewable energy production, such as biogas generation, can further enhance economic feasibility by providing energy, improving nutrient concentration, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
By developing regional nutrient reallocation strategies and advancing manure processing technologies, the Baltic Sea Region can reduce nutrient losses, improve soil fertility, and promote circular nutrient use. Implementing supportive policies, investment frameworks, and technical innovations will be key to enabling this transition.
Conclusions
Achieving sustainable nutrient use in the Baltic Sea Region requires a comprehensive approach integrating mandatory fertilization planning, stricter manure management standards, and effective regional nutrient reallocation. Aligning manure application with crop needs, enforcing phosphorus limits, and adopting better technologies will minimize nutrient losses while maximizing its value as a fertilizer. Yet, surpluses in livestock-dense areas require manure processing and redistribution to balance nutrient use. Investing in manure-based fertilizers and supporting transport to crop-deficient regions will improve efficiency and reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers. A coordinated effort among policymakers, farmers, and industry is essential to achieving environmental protection, agricultural productivity, and long-term sustainability.
Despite decades of efforts, eutrophication remains the pressing environmental challenge facing the Baltic Sea. Agricultural is a major source of excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) entering the sea, primarily due to inefficient manure and fertilizer management. Poor manure and nutrient management lead to ammonia emissions and nutrient losses through runoff and leaching, exacerbating water pollution and ecosystem degradation. These losses also represent an economic loss for farmers, as lost nutrients must be replaced with conventional synthetic fertilizers or result in lower yields.
Livestock farming in the Baltic Sea Region has become increasingly concentrated, with fewer farms managing larger herds. This intensification results in significant manure production, making effective management critical to preventing nutrient losses. Poorly managed manure contributes to environmental, economic and social challenges, degrading air and water quality while intensifying climate impacts through greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainable nutrient use begins with recognizing manure as a resource rather than waste. Manure is rich in essential nutrients and, when properly managed, enhances soil health while replacing conventional fertilizers. Minimizing nutrient losses through improved handling, storage, and application techniques is essential for both environmental protection and economic viability. Implementing best practices in manure management can reduce environmental pressures while fostering a more efficient and resilient agricultural system.
Key strategies for sustainable nutrient management
Optimizing fertilization practices
Fertilization planning and nutrient balancing are key to ensuring that N and P applications align with crop needs, soil conditions, and expected yields. Fertilization should be planned annually at the field level to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and reduce overapplication. Given that N and P are crucial for crop production yet primary contributors to water pollution, fertilization strategies must mitigate environmental risks. Additionally, phosphorus is a finite resource, necessitating responsible management.
National or regional fertilization guidelines should be developed to balance economic optimization with environmental protection. These guidelines must be regularly updated based on field trials, new crop varieties, and changing fertilizer and crop prices. Maximum application rates should be standardized across countries to ensure consistency and prevent excessive nutrient accumulation. Soil characteristics should be determined through regular soil analysis to inform application rates and avoid nutrient surpluses.
Record-keeping is essential for monitoring fertilization planning and tracking nutrient application and should be mandatory. Digital tools like the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), part of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), can aid farmers in managing nutrients more efficiently. Adapting these tools or developing new ones for the Baltic Sea Region should be a major focus to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and regulatory compliance. Such tools can facilitate the digitalization of nutrient management, improving efficiency and compliance with environmental standards.
Farm-gate nutrient balancing is a tool that allows farmers to monitor nutrient flows, optimize inputs, enhance farm profitability, and provide insight into potential environmental risks. Annual nutrient balance calculations should assess the difference between nutrient inputs—such as feed, fertilizers, and biological fixation—and nutrient outputs, including harvested crops and manure exports. Establishing national reference values for different farm types can support accurate assessments, and integrating nutrient balance tools within FaST can provide farmers with user-friendly solutions.
By integrating fertilization planning, manure utilization, and farm-gate nutrient balancing, the Baltic Sea region can significantly reduce nutrient runoff, enhance soil fertility, and promote the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. Strengthening record-keeping systems and leveraging digital tools will further enable farmers to make data-driven decisions that optimize nutrient use while mitigating environmental risks.
Stricter minimum standards for handling and spreading manure
Clear national regulations are crucial for improving manure management and sustainability. Establishing national standards for manure quantity and nutrient content across all livestock types will ensure reliable data for effective planning. These standards should be regularly updated to reflect advances in livestock production, feeding practices, and manure processing technologies. Incorporating reference values into fertilization planning will improve accuracy in nutrient application.
Effective manure use within fertilization planning requires that applications be based on the actual N and P contents in manure, as determined by national standards. Furthermore, nutrient losses due to spreading techniques and timing must be accounted for, incentivizing the adoption of improved manure management practices. Only after optimizing manure applications should additional synthetic fertilizers be considered to meet crop nutrient demands.
A key challenge in the Baltic Sea Region is the overapplication of phosphorus (P) due to manure being spread based on nitrogen content rather than crop-specific P needs. This leads to soil P accumulation and increased runoff risks. To address this, crop-based phosphorus guidelines must be adopted, with national fertilization limits set to prevent excessive buildup. A minimum threshold of 25 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for manure-derived P, as recommended by HELCOM, should be enforced to ensure sustainable application.
To further reduce nutrient losses, manure spreading should be limited to spring and summer when crops can absorb nutrients, with autumn spreading restricted to winter crop establishment. Winter spreading on frozen or saturated soils should be prohibited, supported by investments in manure storage infrastructure to allow for better application timing.
Additionally, acceptable manure handling and spreading technologies must be defined, while outdated methods are phased out. Broadcast spreading without incorporation should be replaced with precision techniques such as trailing hoses, injection methods, and acidification, which reduce ammonia emissions and improve nutrient retention. National policies should provide financial incentives for adopting best available technologies (BAT) to make improved practices both accessible and economically viable. By enforcing stricter manure management standards, the Baltic Sea region can significantly reduce nutrient losses, enhance soil and water quality, and optimize manure as a fertilizer resource. Aligning these measures with national regulations and financial support will further drive the transition toward sustainable manure management.
Enhancing nutrient reallocation
Even with improved nutrient management, nutrient surpluses in livestock-dense areas will persist, particularly for P. Instead of redistributing livestock operations, excess nutrients should be processed into concentrated, transportable fertilizers for redistribution to nutrient-deficient regions. This approach reduces reliance on mineral fertilizers and minimizes environmental impacts of surplus nutrients.
Business models and incentives must support manure-based fertilizer production to facilitate large-scale nutrient reallocation across the Baltic Sea Region. Large-scale manure processing plants can efficiently refine manure into nutrient-dense fertilizers, but smaller-scale solutions—such as mechanical slurry separation and on-farm processing—can also help manage nutrient surpluses locally. Technologies that separate nitrogen and phosphorus into distinct products improve precision application and transport feasibility.
Assessing regional nutrient availability and crop demands is essential for effective reallocation. Data on manure and recyclable biomasses, soil nutrient levels, and crop nutrient needs should inform national and regional strategies. Investment incentives for manure processing and regional redistribution, financial support for transportation logistics, and policy mechanisms encouraging recycled fertilizer adoption will be key to success.
Manure-based fertilizers must be economically competitive with mineral fertilizers. Supporting technology development, demonstration projects, and market creation for processed manure fertilizers is crucial. Coupling nutrient recycling with renewable energy production, such as biogas generation, can further enhance economic feasibility by providing energy, improving nutrient concentration, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
By developing regional nutrient reallocation strategies and advancing manure processing technologies, the Baltic Sea Region can reduce nutrient losses, improve soil fertility, and promote circular nutrient use. Implementing supportive policies, investment frameworks, and technical innovations will be key to enabling this transition.
Conclusions
Achieving sustainable nutrient use in the Baltic Sea Region requires a comprehensive approach integrating mandatory fertilization planning, stricter manure management standards, and effective regional nutrient reallocation. Aligning manure application with crop needs, enforcing phosphorus limits, and adopting better technologies will minimize nutrient losses while maximizing its value as a fertilizer. Yet, surpluses in livestock-dense areas require manure processing and redistribution to balance nutrient use. Investing in manure-based fertilizers and supporting transport to crop-deficient regions will improve efficiency and reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers. A coordinated effort among policymakers, farmers, and industry is essential to achieving environmental protection, agricultural productivity, and long-term sustainability.