Brussels, 19 May 2026
Today, the European Commission adopted the Fertiliser Action Plan: an initiative to support farmers facing rising fertiliser costs and scarcity, reinforce domestic production and reduce Europe’s dependency on imports. The Plan will directly help to ensure food security and reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy, while pursuing high climate and environmental goals.
Recent supply disruptions and price volatility have put farmers across Europe under increasing pressure, exposing Europe’s vulnerability to external shocks in fertiliser supply. Building on the Fertilisers Communication adopted in 2022, today’s Fertiliser Action Plan combines immediate support measures aimed at supporting affordability and security of supply, with longer-term action to strengthen domestic fertiliser production, improve supply resilience and accelerate the transition to bio-based, low-carbon and circular fertilisers.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “With this Action Plan, we are investing in a stronger European fertiliser industry, supporting European farmers and accelerating innovation in sustainable, home-grown solutions. The ongoing fossil fuel crisis shows that climate leadership and economic resilience are interlinked. This is why Europe is building a future based on sustainability, affordability and industrial strength.”
Support farmers and improve their access to fertilisers
The Commission will deliver targeted exceptional support to the European farmers facing high fertiliser costs through existing instruments under the EU’s agricultural policy. The Commission will propose mobilising the EU budget to reinforce the agricultural reserve by a substantial amount. This financial package will be presented before the summer to provide immediate liquidity relief for farmers ahead of the next production cycle and will help sustain agricultural production.
As additional short-term relief, the Commission will present a targeted legislative package enabling Member States to make full use of the support available under their current Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans. This will include a new liquidity scheme to help with cash flow, greater flexibility for advanced payments, and stronger incentives for more efficient farming practices that reduce and optimise fertiliser use, shift to bio-based fertilisers and invest in farm resilience where needed.
Further actions to support farmers will focus on better nutrient management, support for the development and uptake of nutrient-efficient farming practices and a stronger emphasis on Farm Advisory Services within the CAP.
The Commission will also present measures to facilitate the use of digestates, with appropriate environmental safeguards. In addition, following the upcoming evaluation of the Nitrates Directive, the Commission will clarify certain implementation rules, to better align them with the reality of the calendar farming experienced on the ground.
Reinforce domestic production, promote the circular economy and decarbonisation
The Commission will take steps to support its domestic fertiliser industry, to prevent deindustrialisation, guarantee stable supplies, and reduce our dependency on imports. To boost circularity and cut emissions, the Commission will encourage use of European alternatives. This includes a wider use of organic, bio-based fertilisers and alternatives to traditional mineral products. Other pathways include algae biomass, other soil enhancers, microbial solutions, biostimulants, and recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from the sewage sludge.
In the context of the upcoming Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) review, and without prejudging it, we will examine options to ensure that any additional flexibility for fertiliser industry comes with the responsibility to decarbonise the production, with the responsibility to ensure increased production of bio-based and circular fertilisers, and to secure the availability and affordability of home-grown fertilizers in Europe. This will ensure the availability and affordability of fertilisers for the farmers, the uptake of European fertilizing products, and thus ultimately benefit homegrown industry.
The Commission will also consider how to provide the right incentives for carbon farming and carbon removals, by combining forces between private and public revenues (Member States, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), European Competitiveness Fund and ETS revenue).
At the same time, the Commission will cut unnecessary red tape and market barriers and propose new measures to grow demand for sustainable home-grown fertilisers. This will make the Single Market work better, including for mineral products.
To further streamline circular economy practices, the Commission will assess measures in the context of the evaluation of the Waste Framework Directive to simplify the management of animal and other by-products.“
The Commission will also ensure that the fertiliser sector does not lag behind other sectors in access to funding for green innovation and modernisation. Existing funds, notably cohesion funds, will be mobilised to support biogas and biomethane production and wastewater infrastructure investments which can scale up sludge valorisation and nutrient recovery.
Strengthening market transparency, preparedness, and enhancing dialogue between stakeholders
A well-functioning fertiliser market requires greater transparency and structured dialogue between policymakers and actors across the value chain. The Commission will therefore launch an EU fertilisers value chain Partnership, bringing together fertiliser producers, farmers and Member States to determine a shared pathway to overcome these challenges and safeguard continuous food security at affordable prices across the EU. Under this Partnership, a first policy dialogue will be organised in the coming months with all actors in the chain to develop solutions for challenges in the supply, production, marketing and use of fertilisers. The outcomes would serve as a basis to work towards viable solutions for both farmers and the industry.
Moreover, the Commission will strengthen market monitoring, early-warning capabilities and propose a proportionate framework to ensure the availability of regular up-to-date data on fertilisers in the EU. In that context, the Commission will work on a report assessing how costs related to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Emission Trading System (ETS) are passed on to fertiliser prices paid by farmers and ultimately to food prices. The Fertilisers Market Observatory will continue to serve as the central platform for market intelligence. It will be also strengthened by improving the collection of data on market functioning, prices and stocks.
To strengthen preparedness, the Commission will assess stockpiling and other options for securing key fertilisers and inputs. This could include seasonal or minimum stocks and, where appropriate, joint procurement or other instruments to increase resilience to external shocks and mitigate price volatility.
The EU will continue to engage in international cooperation frameworks and with candidate, neighbouring and partner countries globally to ensure transparency, promote the diversification of the supply of fertilisers and inputs, and explore investment options in such countries through mutually beneficial partnerships.
Background
Fertilisers are essential for agricultural productivity, farm viability and food security, and they represent a significant share of production costs for farmers. Geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions have driven fertiliser prices sharply higher, placing increasing pressure on farmers across Europe.
Rising fertiliser costs risk forcing farmers to reduce application rates or scale back cultivated areas, threatening crop yields, food production and the resilience of the EU agri-food sector.
With the next sowing season approaching, farmers need reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable fertilisers. At the same time, Europe must strengthen a more resilient, competitive and circular domestic fertiliser industry to reduce strategic dependencies and better withstand future shocks.
As part of its ongoing response to the situation, the Commission has already taken several steps. An exception to the standard calculation rules was introduced, to reduce the impact of the CBAM on fertilisers, making them the only commodity to benefit from such an exception (use of a 1% markup instead of 10 % with a progressive increase to 30 % for all other sectors).
In February 2026, the Commission also proposed temporary duty-free tariff rate quotas for several key nitrogen fertilisers and inputs for their production (ammonia, urea). In April 2026, the Commission adopted a temporary State aid framework to support sectors affected by the Middle East crisis, including agriculture. In April, the Commission also convened a High-level Dialogue with stakeholders to help shape the Fertiliser Action Plan and identify measures to strengthen the sustainability, competitiveness and resilience of the EU fertiliser system.
For more information
Quote(s)
With this Action Plan, we are investing in a stronger European fertiliser industry, supporting European farmers and accelerating innovation in sustainable, home-grown solutions. The ongoing fossil fuel crisis shows that climate leadership and economic resilience are interlinked. This is why Europe is building a future based on sustainability, affordability and industrial strength.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
The European Commission recognises the difficulties the agricultural sector is facing as a result of rising costs and volatility in international markets. With this Action Plan, we are putting forward immediate measures to support farmers, including through the mobilisation of available cohesion policy resources, while also setting out medium- and long-term actions to strengthen the sector’s resilience, reduce external dependencies, and make European agriculture more robust and competitive.
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
Food security starts with fertiliser security. Europe must produce more and depend less on others for the nutrients that sustain our agriculture. The Action Plan we present today is about securing Europe’s food production, competitiveness and strategic autonomy. On the short-term, we will support European farmers so they can buy the fertilisers they need for the next harvesting season. On the long term, we will strengthen our domestic production and unlock the potential for the development of bio-based fertilisers. This Action Plan will deliver a European partnership on fertilisers with investments and actions at all levels: European, national and private.
Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food
Source – EU Commission
EU Commission: Questions and answers on the Fertiliser Action Plan
Brussels, 19 May 2026
Why does the EU need a new Fertiliser Action Plan?
Fertilisers are essential for agricultural production and food security. However, the EU remains heavily dependent on imports for a significant share of mineral fertilisers and the raw materials used to produce them, further burdened by high energy costs. Recent geopolitical events and supply disruptions have, in addition, driven energy and fertiliser prices sharply higher, which increased pressure on farmers across Europe.
High prices are increasingly affecting farmers’ planting decisions ahead of the 2027 season. Fertiliser needs for the current harvest year appear to be covered. However, many farmers have delayed purchase of fertilisers for the next sowing season due to high prices. This is raising concerns over potential logistical bottlenecks and changes in crop choices for 2027. This could lead to farmers reducing fertiliser use or scale back cultivated areas, with risks for crop yields, food production and the resilience of the EU agri-food sector.
To tackle these issues, the EU needs to support its domestic fertiliser industry, to prevent deindustrialisation, guarantee stable supplies, and reduce our dependency on imports. This will also be done by accelerating the transition to bio-based, low-carbon and circular fertilisers.
Since the 2022 Communication on fertilisers, the context has evolved, and availability and affordability of fertilisers must now be seen in a different light. This is caused by many factors. For instance, the crisis in the Middle East is increasing global prices. Farmers are also facing more moderate agricultural commodity prices. In addition, reacting to Russia’s illegal invasion to Ukraine, the EU imposed higher tariffs or complete import restrictions on fertiliser imports from Russia and Belarus. These were amongst our main suppliers of nitrogen fertilisers. These developments have exposed persistent vulnerabilities in the EU fertiliser value chain and further limited farmers’ ability to absorb high input costs.
How import dependent is the EU in fertiliser supply?
Approximately 30% of the EU’s nitrogen fertiliser demand is imported, with some products more than others. The first step in producing inorganic nitrogen fertilisers involves fixing atmospheric nitrogen in ammonia. This process is energy-intensive and relies largely on imported natural gas both as feedstock and energy source. At the same time, EU’s ammonia production capacity has decreased in recent years by nearly 10%.
Furthermore, 70% of EU phosphatic fertiliser needs are met by imports of phosphate rock. Most phosphate rock reserves in the world are concentrated in a few countries outside of the EU. In particular, in Morocco. This makes the EU highly dependent on imports.
The EU is less dependent on imports for potash, with around 40% of the needs covered by imports. There is significant domestic mining activity of potash, in particular in Germany and Spain.
Availability is not currently at stake. The EU fertiliser market remains supplied. However, affordability remains a key concern. Nitrogen fertiliser prices are strongly influenced by international market conditions and, in particular, by gas prices. They are a major driver of production costs. Therefore, to protect European farmers from global price volatility when physical supply is available, the Commission is taking action with this Plan.
How does the 2026 Fertiliser Action Plan build on the measures introduced in 2022?
In 2022, when gas and fertilisers’ prices peaked, the Commission presented a Communication on ensuring the availability and affordability of fertilisers, which identified key challenges and set out immediate measures to protect supply and keep prices down. The market had stabilised in 2023 and 2024. However, pressure on prices for farmers resumed in 2025.
The Commission announced a new Fertiliser Action Plan in its ResourceEU Action Plan, to ensure the availability and affordability of domestic fertilisers and to propose actions that support the shift to recycled nutrients and other alternatives. The new Action Plan takes a fresh look at the challenges identified in 2022 and at new or evolving issues and proposes the necessary next steps to tackle them in a partnership approach.
What immediate support will the plan provide to farmers?
To secure farmers’ access to fertilisers, the Commission is putting forward the following short-term measures:
- Commitment to providing a significant financial support package for the most-affected farmers before summer;
- Propose a targeted legislative package enabling Member States to make maximum use of support available under the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic plans. This package includes the creation of a new liquidity scheme to provide cashflow to farmers, more flexible advance payments, a new or adjusted eco-scheme or agri-environment-climate measure to increase fertilisation efficiency, and investment measures to support efficient fertiliser use;
- Launch an EU fertilisers value chain Partnership between fertiliser producers, farmers and the Member States to provide predictability, stability and facilitate cooperation across the value chain;
- Explore short term measures to facilitate the use of digestates within the scope of the Nitrates directive;
- Increase market transparency by creating a framework to ensure the availability of up-to-date data.
- Support biogas and biomethane projects and address funding, scale-up, permitting and transport bottlenecks, in line with the AccelerateEU communication;
- Consider proposing the activation of the internal market vigilance or emergency mode in accordance with the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act if necessary;
- Consolidate and disseminate an information package for Member States on the CAP tools available to farmers to improve nutrient management, as well as on research and innovation results related to bio-based fertilisers and support advisory network on optimal fertiliser use;
- Use the temporary state aid framework for primary agricultural producers affected by the Middle East crisis, complementing existing state aid tools;
How will the plan strengthen Europe’s fertiliser resilience and reduce dependency on imports?
The Fertiliser Action Plan combines immediate support for farmers with longer-term measures to strengthen Europe’s domestic fertiliser production and reduce dependency on imported inputs.
The Plan will, in particular, support the transition to more sustainable and circular fertiliser production where import dependency is less acute. This includes bio-based fertilisers produced from the biomass generated in the EU and low-carbon inorganic fertilisers based on energy sources available in the EU. It aims to improve supply resilience, strengthen cooperation across the fertiliser value chain and increase market transparency, helping Europe better withstand future supply shocks and price volatility.
Will the plan affect fertiliser prices in the short term?
The actions outlined in the Plan aim at alleviating the pressure on costs of fertilisers for farmers, both in the short and long term. Thanks to financial support delivered before summer, European farmers will be able to secure their supply of fertilisers.
In the medium to long-term, the actions laid out in the Plan will contribute to boosting domestic production and keeping the fertiliser industry actively producing in the EU, by diversifying supply through production of alternative fertilisers, bio-based, organic and mineral, inorganic, by diversifying imports and by increasing fertilising efficiency through better nutrient management.
Finally, a well-functioning value chain with sound competition in the Single Market, higher transparency and policy dialogues will ensure all partners in the chain optimise their contribution to food security and affordability.
Could the plan lead to higher food prices for consumers?
The Fertiliser Action Plan is to help avoid higher food prices. Fertilisers are an important part of farmers’ costs. They represent more than 7% of input costs for the EU farming sector in general, rising to 16% for arable crop farmers .
Rising energy prices and global tensions are already pushing up fertiliser costs, which can then increase the cost of producing food. The Action Plan includes measures to help farmers cope with these higher costs and to keep fertiliser prices more stable and predictable. By reducing pressure on farmers’ production costs, the plan should help limit the impact on food prices for consumers.
By boosting domestic production, diversifying supply chains, and promoting sustainable alternatives, we will reduce volatility in input prices. Over time, this will ease cost pressures on farmers, helping to stabilise and ultimately lower food prices for consumers.
Some farmers argue that CBAM/ETS is increasing fertiliser costs. How does the Commission respond to that?
Emission Trading System (ETS) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are at the heart of the EU’s climate framework to support the decarbonisation of our economy, and are also essential tools to support the competitiveness of our domestic industry.
The aim of the CBAM is to ensure that those exporting into the EU meet the same standards we apply to ourselves via the ETS.
For more information
Fertilisers – Agriculture and rural development (Fertilisers Market Observatory)
Ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers
Commission adopts RESourceEU to secure raw materials, reduce dependencies and boost competitiveness
Commission proposes actions to protect Europeans from the fossil energy crisis
Source – EU Commission