In response to the sharp rise in fertiliser prices, the European Union announced today, following the presentation of its Fertiliser Action Plan, the mobilisation and increase of the agricultural crisis reserve from €200 million to a total of €500 million. Member States will also have the possibility to complement this amount with additional national support of up to 200% of the allocation received. 

This announcement represents an initial positive step by the European Commission in the face of a crisis that may prove to be prolonged. In this regard, it is important to acknowledge the strong engagement of Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen on this issue, as well as his willingness, together with the College of Commissioners, to respond rapidly to the unfolding crisis. The Commission has listened to the strong mobilisation of Copa-Cogeca and its members, which helped bring this issue to the top of the political agenda. 

However, this announcement deserves to be analysed and placed into perspective. In fact, the amount announced by the Commission, when spread across the millions of European farmers affected, will fall far short of compensating for the additional costs generated by soaring fertiliser prices in the short and medium term. Moreover, the introduction of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on fertilisers – the costs of which are borne exclusively by farmers – is estimated by Copa-Cogeca to be €820 million in 2026 alone. This levy will remain and increase even after the crisis in the Straight of Hormuz. Yet the Commission has chosen not to suspend this mechanism, despite the fact that doing so could provide direct and immediate relief to European farmers.  

These €500 million will be channelled through the agricultural crisis reserve. It is important to recall that this reserve as a CAP tool is not a dedicated fertiliser support fund. Rather, it is designed to address the wide range of crises that may affect agricultural production at national or regional level. Yet several Member States are already seeking support to respond to other emergency situations affecting specific sectors and productions. 

The possibility for Member States to complement this support at national level should also be viewed with caution. At this stage, there is no guarantee that all governments will have the fiscal room or the political willingness to mobilise additional resources, particularly at a time when public finances are under pressure across much of the European Union. 

One thing is certain: swift decisions are now needed, not only in terms of financial support, but also regarding regulatory barriers. Copa and Cogeca call for immediate derogation to the nitrate directive threshold for manure and digestate and greater market transparency.  

While the 2026 campaign is still ongoing, we must already turn our attention to securing supplies for 2027. Demand for fertilisers is expected to increase again in preparation for the next cropping season. Feedback from our members across Europe is already painting a worrying picture. Farmers are increasingly considering changes to crop rotations, reductions in fertiliser use and, in some cases, decisions to leave land uncultivated. These choices will inevitably impact agricultural production and, ultimately, Europe’s food security, and at the very least will contribute to food price inflation for consumers.