Eutrophication impacts the ecological state and ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea. So far there has been a limited set of measures to reduce phosphorus load from agriculture, which maintains the poor state of the coastal waters. We aim to tackle this challenge by engaging authorities and farmers to apply gypsum amendment of agricultural fields.
Gypsum has the potential to remarkably cut phosphorus losses from agriculture and to help EU member states to fulfil their obligations towards the EU WFD and MSD, and HELCOM BSAP, and to clean up their coastal waters. However, gypsum amendment is poorly known and lacks local applications, forming a barrier in its large-scale use.
To facilitate uptake of the method, the project will, in close cooperation with the target groups, enhance interaction across the environmental and agricultural sectors, cocreate and adapt the method to the agricultural and environmental conditions in the partnering countries, and implement it in pilot activities.
Finally, the learnings will be elaborated into policy briefs, summary reports, and training materials, and shared with policymakers, authorities, farmers and providers of agricultural extension services to maximise their adaptation by the target groups. The project will deliver nationally adapted operating models for applying the gypsum method in the partnering countries also in the future. In addition, it will result in concrete reductions in phosphorus losses.
Applying gypsum in Finland © Photo: Henri Nikkonen