Potentials for Organic Farming Enviromental friendly agriculture and Efficient Sustainable Small-Scale Wastewater Systems Maria Staniszewska and Gunnar Norén Coalition Clean Baltic, CCB

Distribution of the P load within Baltic Sea catchment area in 2000

Distribution of the N load within Baltic Sea catchment area in 2000

Yearly usage of nitrates in Poland

% of usage funds for RDP till May 2006 Number and name of schemes Amount of funds was given benefices Funds predicted to spend in years in € Amount of funds spent in €% of usage predicted funds 1Shift-back to the Ist pillar ,90% 2 Less favoured areas ,94% 3 Early retirement of farmers ,00% 4 Agri-environmental program ,08% 5 Forestation of farmland ,78% 6Meeting EU standards ,57% 7Setting up producers group ,08% 8Technical assistance ,71% 9Semi subsistence farming ,26% 1010 SAPARD projects ,78% Total ,17%

Conclusions How will farmers use the additional money?  More pesticides and fertilizers, replacement of labours; money disbursed with weak conditions More efficient equipment, better storage; effect of decoupled payments; effort to maintain advantage and shift directly to sustainable agriculture More efficient equipment, better storage; effect of decoupled payments; effort to maintain advantage and shift directly to sustainable agriculture

Potential impacts of accession Risks: Delocalization – more transport  Loss of biodiversity  Pollution and soil degradation  Rural decline  New factory farms

Potential impacts of accession Opportunities: Limit pollution through EU legislation Limit pollution through EU legislation Green rural revival through 2 nd pillar subsidies: boost organic farming, tourism, renewable, young farmers, maintain grasslands Green rural revival through 2 nd pillar subsidies: boost organic farming, tourism, renewable, young farmers, maintain grasslands Will it be sufficient to offset the risks? Depends on each country

Main directions in Rural Development Plan in Poland in Preliminary budget of RDP Direction1 – Economy – support competitiveness rural and forestry sector € Direction2 – Environmental – sustainable management at rural and forestry areas – € Direction3 – Social – economical diversification and rising (improvement) quality of life at rural areas – € Direction4 – LEADER initiative + Technical support – €

Main directions in Rural Development Plan in Preliminary budget of axis2 – environment Less favourite areas – € Natura 2000 and WFD – € Agri-environmental schemes – € Afforestation of farmland – € Instruments of protecting and preventing forest of the catastrophy – € Obligations from the period – €

Which agriculture practices will help to protect Baltic Sea? The following agriculture practices which may reduce nitrogen and phosphorus surplus should be promoted: organic farming implementation of the Code of Good Agriculture Practices in all catchments area use of modern tight manure handling system – agriculture infrastructure for manure storage conservation tillage techniques to reduce soil erosion

Which agriculture practices will help to protect Baltic Sea?  usage of winter crops – increase the time of green cover of the soil  increase of the usage of leguminous which will keep the nitrates in the soil  suitable amount of animals per ha for example cattle 1,5 of animal unit (HELCOM’S recommendation) or cattle 1,0 of animal unit ( IFOAM recommendation)  best nutrients composition (including micro elements) to increase nutrient uptake by plants, based on soil tests

Steps that must be taken to make the sustainable agriculture methods more popular The Nitrate Directive is one of the most important regulations in EU, which helps to protect Baltic Sea. Our duty as CCB members is to monitor its implementation. CAP has negative impact on Baltic Sea. From our point of view implementation of the agri- environmental schemes, Natura 2000 and WFD, afforestation of farmland is of the greatest importance.

The three elements that should be recommended by CCB to be implemented within the new CAP in order to save Baltic Sea  Rural Development Programs with the special emphasis on agri-environmental schemes limiting leaks of nitrates and phosphorus through their extensive practices  Continued promotion and development of organic agriculture  Regulations which limits direct payments only to those farmers who fulfill requirements of Code of Good Agricultural Practices especially in manure handling

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION =) HAVE A NICE DAY !!