To improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea there is a need for reducing agricultural nutrient losses. All countries around the Baltic Sea, except Russia, have adopted basic standards for nutrient management; however, there are shortcomings in the national implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in most countries, particularly in relation to P application limitations, manure storage capacity and cover of manure storage facilities. Furthermore, a range of challenges are not yet addressed, including widespread use of ineffective technologies for manure spreading as well as the absence of standards for mineral fertilizer use, nutrient bookkeeping and the balancing of fertilizer use with crop needs.

Download the Policy Brief as a PDF file: Policy Brief

The results in the Policy Brief are based on: Promise and performance of agricultural nutrient management policy: Lessons from the Baltic Sea, Ambio