Production and use of animal fertiliser

This indicator shows the ratio between livestock manure production and the use of animal fertiliser in Flanders.

137% (N) - 147% (P)

In 2019, the ratio between production and use was 137% for nitrogen-based fertiliser and 147% for phosphorus-based fertiliser.

What do we see?

In the graph below we see that more manure is produced than what is used in the agricultural sector in Flanders. This is partly due to a lack of demand but also because the use of fertiliser is regulated. 

Between 2011 and 2019, we see that this overproduction continued to rise slightly, peaking in 2017.



What’s the aim?

In a circular economy, the use of animal fertiliser is preferred because this is locally available as a waste product, as opposed to synthetic fertiliser. 

However, having to deal with an overproduction of this animal fertiliser in Flanders today is a problem because it puts pressure on the environment. To tackle this, we need to carry out more research into the food chain and the quality of the available fertilisers. 

What does this indicator measure?

This indicator shows the ratio between the amount of manure produced by livestock and the amount of animal fertiliser used in Flanders. The data comes from the annual fertiliser report produced by the Flemish Land Agency (VLM). 

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