This report offers the first EU-wide analysis of how different European countries regulate cadmium and other heavy metals in fertilizers to protect soil. It provides useful insights for researchers, farmers, environmental groups and industry leaders.
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While in 2022 the EU Fertilizing Products Regulation established important baseline standards, significant variations between national policies create uneven protection against soil degradation. Certain pioneering countries demonstrate that stricter cadmium limits are not only possible but beneficial for both farming productivity and public health. These case studies offer valuable lessons for shaping more ambitious approach to the soil contamination on the European scale.
By examining successful initiatives - from soil monitoring programs to incentives for low-contaminant fertilizers - we highlight practical solutions already underway in different national contexts. The findings make a compelling case for strengthened EU cooperation to scale these innovations, combining robust science with effective policy implementation.
Cadmium and other contaminants in fertilizers continue to accumulate in European soils, posing risks to soil health, food safety, and, ultimately, to human health. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration across sectors and communities. We invite NGOs, researchers, agricultural stakeholders and concerned citizens to use our report to support knowledge exchange across Europe, promoting best practices in soil sustainability. these findings as part of our shared mission: building an agricultural system that truly safeguards both the land that feeds us and the health of future generations.
We encourage all readers to explore these insights and join the growing movement for safer, more sustainable fertilization practices across Europe. The book is now available for download.
Together, we can turn these findings into meaningful progress for Europe's soils and food systems.
The full report is available for download here
For further information, please contact: gensec@saferphosphates.com
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