Fertilizers Europe – Fertilizer Forecast, 2023-33

Fertilizers Europe has published a report on agricultural land use in the European Union. The report states that 38 million hectares of farmland are not being fertilized, with 30.2 million hectares being unfertilized grassland and 7.8 million hectares being idle or set-aside land. Among the fertilized area, arable crops make up 57%, with cereals accounting for 33%, oilseeds 8%, and fodder crops 8%. Permanent crops cover 7% of the area, while grassland makes up 33%. The distribution of unfertilized land is fairly even across EU countries, but there are significant differences in the fertilized crop areas between Western Europe (EU-14) and Central and Eastern Europe (EU-13). In Western Europe, 46% of the agricultural area is occupied by arable crops, 9% by permanent crops, and 19% by fertilized grassland. In contrast, agricultural production in Central and Eastern Europe is mainly focused on arable crops, which make up 70% of the agricultural area, with permanent crops and fertilized grassland accounting for only 2% and 7%, respectively. The report also highlights the nutrient consumption patterns in the grain sector, with wheat being the largest contributor at 26%. Fodder crops and grassland account for 19% of nutrient consumption. The report predicts a decrease in farmland area for food crops by 2033, but this will be offset by an increase in crop yield of 4.2%. The oilseed rape area is expected to increase by 8.2%, while the sugar beet area will see a modest increase of 0.5%. Other crops, including grain maize, are projected to experience growth in yield.