Renure can be used to replace part of the import of expensive Russian artificial fertilizer. With this approval, the door is opened to better utilize available nutrients from manure. Member States that want to apply Renure will have to adjust their own national regulations. This could still take several years, it is feared.
Initially, there were mainly environmental objections against allowing more natural fertilization in agriculture because it was feared to lead to more nitrate pollution. The new directive now stipulates that more fertilization must not lead to increased contamination of soil and groundwater.
First, there will be a formal objection period of three months in the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers; only then can the European Commission establish the final texts for revising the Nitrate Directive. Only after that can countries that wish to legally embed Renure in their own laws and regulations and make its use practically possible.
The approval by the Nitrate Committee is seen as a major breakthrough in agriculture. For agricultural businesses, Renure offers concrete prospects for more flexibility in fertilization within European frameworks. At the same time, the core of environmental policy remains intact: Renure partially replaces artificial fertilizer to use nitrogen more efficiently but is not a free pass to introduce more nitrogen into the environment. Protecting water quality remains paramount.
An important principle is that the use of more (treated) animal manure must not lead to a larger livestock population. This condition is intended to prevent that a more flexible use inadvertently triggers extra manure production. Supervision of this will primarily be the responsibility of the EU countries themselves when they shape Renure in their national rules.
From an economic perspective, Renure can reduce dependence on imported (Russian) artificial fertilizer. By utilizing nutrients from their own manure streams, there is less vulnerability to price and supply fluctuations on the world market. This fits into the broader ambition of strategic autonomy in the European agricultural chain. The effect is expected to be gradual: Renure will not replace everything, but can contribute noticeably.
For farmers, it practically means a new option within existing environmental frameworks. The technology behind Renure makes it possible to bring nutrients into a usable form. This allows treated manure to be applied more targetedly. The actual added value will depend on the precise national implementation, farm conditions, and availability of facilities and logistics.