EKO: The near future must bring a turn towards greener agriculture

Yesterday, on April 27th, the Estonian Chamber of Environmental Associations (EKO) sent a set of proposals to the Minister of Rural Affairs for the next seven-year cycle of agricultural policy. EKO emphasizes that Estonian agricultural subsidies of the new funding period must focus more on organic farming, preserving landscape biodiversity, preventing of water pollution and conservation of soil's good health and restoration of carbon sequestration.

Edges of fields, which are rich in blooming plants, help to preserve the biodiversity of landscapes and the natural benefits that are important to farmers. Often, however, the field edges look the opposite as in this photo, made by Aveliina Helm (University of Tartu)

EKO's proposals for a new period in agriculture are based on expert knowledge and increasing volume scientific analyzes of the environmental impact of European and Estonian agriculture. EKO acknowledges that many of the activities and grants planned for the new period are relevant and effective, but highlights some important shortcomings.

The agri-environmental footprint of Estonia has rather increased in recent years and many important trends are negative. For example, nitrogen run-off from arable land to water bodies has grown, further deteriorating water bodies, incl the state of the Baltic Sea. In Estonia, approximately 60% of nitrogen reaching the sea comes from agriculture. "The state of the Baltic Sea cannot wait anymore. We need to implement more effective measures on agricultural land to reduce the amount of plant nutrients entering the sea. Every gram from the field to the sea is at the same time a gram of nitrogen unused in crop production,"says Aleksei Lotman, an agricultural expert at the Estonian Fund for Nature, adding that "improving nitrogen efficiency is beneficial for both inland and marine waters' condition as well as the farmers' wallet."

Member of the Association for the Protection of Heritage Communities and ecologist of Tartu University Tsipe Aavik points out that the future goals of Estonian agriculture, led by the Ministry of Rural Affairs for the next seven years must take very seriously the deepening biodiversity loss and the urgent need to limit agriculture's negative environmental impact. "The big problem is the continuing agricultural landscape simplification: loss or narrowing of field and ditch edges, continued removal of logs, meadow patches, old farms and field islands. Along with them, habitats for agricultural landscape species, including groups of species important to the producer - pollinators, enemies of pests - and soil biota ", says Aavik. He adds that so far the direct payments have not favored the biodiversity-friendly agriculture but rather those who manage the giant undifferentiated fields. "We need a policy that fairly supports those producers who make efforts to manage in a biodiversity-friendly way. It is high time to critically review whether the planned supporting system provides preservation and restoration of landscape diversity, good soil health and and the purity of surface water. "

Read the recommendations in English here.