Baltic Farmers Forum on Environment! Liisa Pietola/MTK NBC Presidium Hämeenlinna, 17 August 2017

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1 Baltic Farmers Forum on Environment Liisa Pietola/MTK NBC Presidium Hämeenlinna, 17 August 2017

2 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (1/8) BFFE Newsletters 3/2016: /2017: /2017 will bee published at the end of 2017 Distribution by mailing list: 424 names (79 new recipients), available also on web page Main topics: Circular bioeconomy, climate and water issues More articles from different countries are welcome

3 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (2/8) HELCOM meetings BFFE has observer status in HELCOM Gives opportunities to participate HODmeetings, workshops and other events Political seminar by HELCOM at the 7th Strategy Forum of the EUSBSR Status and trends of the Baltic Sea See B. Gustafsson s presentation at the end The important role of internal load was accepted Panel Outcome: BFFE representing the agricultural sector and two million farmers around the Baltic Sea emphasized that nutrients are precious and essential elements for producing food (biomass). The challenge is how to keep them in the soil so that the crops can use them, and not to lose them into the sea by excess water. Accordingly, the soil must be treated so that it resists erosion. Targeted agricultural practices, especially fertilizing practices by precision farming approach, i.e. plant nutrition after crop needs, are very important. Moreover, hazardous substances from sewage and micro plastics are not only harmful to the sea but also for soils and food production. Photo: MAF

4 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (3/8) HELCOM meetings HOD 51, Helsinki Statement to the initial suggestion on work plan for HELCOM AGRI group Also Copa-Cogeca sent its response No need for phosphorus sensitive areas or BAT (Best Available Technique) conclusions for the cattle farming BFFE: It is suggested to prepare HELCOM document providing guidance to develop BAT for cattle farming as it is now for the intensive rearing of poultry and pigs. We, as a representative of farmers in the Baltic Sea Region, are opposed to this proposal. Already now, there are a lot of mandatory measures for livestock production in EU. We are sure that environmental friendly cattle breeding is possible with current mandatory and voluntary measures, and new regulations are not needed. (see next slide) Photo: MAF

5 Photo: MAF

6 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (4/8) HELCOM meetings 38th Meeting of the Helsinki Commission, Helsinki SDG s: The HELCOM targets are well aligned with Sustainable Development Goals BFFE s statement To Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Baltic Sea Region in relation to eutrophication and climate change (see next slide) Outcome: The high level delegates took note of the constructive input provided by HELCOM Observers WWF, CCB, BFFE (document 2-4) and BSPC, including the need for better linkage between policy and implementation, the timely implementation of the exiting commitments, the importance of reducing land-based pollution in co-operation with agriculture sector and stronger river basin management co-operation. HOD 52, Brussels Outcome: The Meeting noted the position of BFFE which supported the initiative by Finland and Sweden to better recognize internal nutrient reserves and highlighted the need to take account all sources causing eutrophication. Photo: MAF

7 Photo: MAF

8 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (5/8) HELCOM meetings HELCOM Workshop on Nutrient Recycling in the Baltic Sea Countries, Berlin th meeting of AGRI group, Brussels In both events nutrient recycling was in focus, how the HELCOM can support the development 3 PSESSURE group events without participation 5th meeting of PRESSURE group, Warsaw th meeting of PRESSURE group St. Petersburg HELCOM Workshop on MAI-CART assessment methodologies, Stockholm Photo: MAF

9 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (6/8) Upcoming HELCOM meetings 7th meeting of PRESSURE group, Vilnius th meeting of AGRI group, Helsinki HOD 53, Helsinki extra online meetings and 13,16 or Ministerial meeting Brussels 6th meeting of AGRI group, Riga May 2018 Photo: MAF

10 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (7/8) BFFE secretariat meetings LRF invited environmental experts from Nordic farmers organizations to the meeting in Gothenburg Actual environmental issues in each country were discussed WFD will be reviewed in 2019 Especially better water quality target setting is needed Suggestion: BFFE and COPA could organize benchmarking event to find out if common targets can be found (Denmark prepares) LRF has organized 2 international WFD seminars where the implementation of WFD in different countries has been dealt with; new one might be organized at late autumn Photo: Kulmala

11 Activities after Sånga-Säby 2016 meeting (8/8) Coming BFFE secretariat meeting For HELCOM ministerial meeting ( ) BFFE needs to prepare position paper on 1. WFD revision and 2. First HELCOM report of State of the Baltic Sea stateofthebalticsea.helcom.fi/wp-content/ uploads/2017/07/helcom_state-of-the- Baltic-Sea_First-version-2017.pdf How climate change affect the challenges

12 Thank you Photo: Kulmala

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