Green light from Brussels for Renure: 'Major breakthrough'

EU member states approved the use of Renure, a processed animal manure that can serve as a fertilizer substitute, this morning. This makes final approval almost certain. The European Parliament and the EU member states still have several months to object, but this is not expected. Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma calls it a breakthrough for the sector. 

Renure can help reduce the manure surplus in the Netherlands. By processing manure into Renure, a larger portion can be used on domestic land, likely lowering disposal costs. At the same time, its use reduces dependence on imported fertilizers, a large portion of which still comes from Russia.

Renure production requires expensive, energy-intensive installations, limiting its use in the short term. Brussels also imposes conditions on production to prevent livestock population expansion, among other things.

Important milestone
Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma calls the Renure breakthrough a significant milestone. She says this gives farmers more freedom to use their own fertilizers and reduces their dependence on imported artificial fertilizers. The BBB calls it a significant achievement for the sector and urges swift implementation in the Netherlands.

LTO Nederland calls the vote an important step towards circular agriculture and also urges its swift and workable implementation in Dutch legislation, so that livestock farmers can benefit from it as soon as possible. Agractie also calls it good news, but warns that it is expensive and does not offer a structural solution to current manure legislation. Agractie believes that "the use of unprocessed, organic manure is best for soil and crops" and advocates for better legislation that better aligns practice and policy.

The Netherlands Centre for Manure Valuation (NCM) also responded positively. The organization sees Renure as an important tool for relieving pressure on the manure market since the derogation was abolished. According to NCM, the approval offers farmers more flexibility to close their mineral cycle. 

Formal decision-making in the European Parliament and the European Council will take place sometime in the coming months.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.