How European Farmers Overcome the Fertilizer Crisis
European farms face a supply shock after the war involving Iran disrupted maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked, halting about a third of global fertilizer trade. It also carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil exports.
Natural gas is essential for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production. Rising fuel prices compound the problem for many producers. Gabrielle Taus of Commonland warns that conventional agriculture remains highly exposed to such shocks.
Regenerative systems reduce dependence
Regenerative farms rebuild soil fertility using compost, animal manure, cover crops and rotational grazing. These practices lower reliance on imported synthetic fertilizer and cut chemical inputs. They also reduce pollution and support biodiversity and public health.
- Compost and vermicompost
- Cover crops and nitrogen‑fixing plants
- Rotational grazing and agroforestry
Farm case studies
In Greece, third‑generation farmer Sheila Darmos uses permaculture, agroforestry and syntropic methods. She leaves prunings to decompose and plants nitrogen‑fixing species to build fertility on site. Her system generates nitrogen without imported synthetic fertilizer.
At Curly Creek Ranch in Spain’s Basque Country, Meghan Sapp creates circular nutrient loops on her land. She makes compost from horse, goat and chicken bedding plus kitchen waste. Fava beans are grown and then decomposed to boost soil nitrogen.
La Junquera in Murcia switched from conventional to regenerative management under Yanniek Schoonhoven. The farm uses vermicomposting and foliar treatments to feed the soil. Biodiversity returned and pest pressure fell markedly.
Scale, economics and yields
Adoption of regenerative farming remains limited across Europe. About 2 percent of farms are fully regenerative, and five to ten percent are transitioning. Transition barriers include labour intensity, training needs and upfront investment.
A 2025 report by the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture found yields were only two percent lower. Regenerative systems used about 61 percent less synthetic nitrogen on average. Pesticide use fell by roughly 75 percent.
For many conventional arable farms, synthetic fertilizer can equal up to 12 percent of input costs. Those costs spike during global fuel shocks. Regenerative farms therefore gain greater protection from sudden price rises.
Policy support is uneven. The Common Agricultural Policy offers incentives but those schemes can be hard to access. A March 2025 WBCSD report said many programmes fail to cover required upfront investments.
The European Commission has proposed 20 to 30 percent cuts to CAP funding for 2028–2034. That proposal raises concerns about future support for transitions. Farmers and advocates say incentives must reward land stewardship.
Training, networks and resilience
The EU provides free courses and workshops through EIT Food to help farmers adapt. Commonland works with local communities in more than 50 countries. Gabrielle Taus and partners focus on rebuilding resilience from the ground up.
Yanniek co‑founded the Regeneration Academy to teach regenerative methods in southern Spain. Sheila co‑founded The Southern Lights and Regenerative Farming Greece to spread practical knowledge. These networks help bridge knowledge and training gaps.
Energy and market strategies
Some farms combine regenerative methods with on‑site energy systems to cut exposure. Meghan’s Basque farm runs on 97 percent solar electricity and charges a hybrid vehicle. Selling produce within a 50 kilometre radius reduces delivery costs and vulnerability.
Yanniek estimated diesel costs could rise by about €100,000 this year, without reducing her yields. Regenerative systems often lower dependence on costly external inputs. That creates social and economic resilience during crises.
Farmers cannot transition alone. Policy, investment and market changes are needed to scale adoption. European farmers can overcome the fertilizer crisis through coordinated support and wider knowledge sharing.
