… Pollutant emissions into surface waters River Source: KIT / IWG Surface water quality was considerably improved in recent decades in Germany. Nevertheless, … hazardous substances are still emitted into surface waters. Reducing emissions is mandatory. Where do the pollutants originate? Where are emission hotspots? Which … as an open source tool on behalf of UBA. It is methodically based on the model concept MONERIS (Modelling Nutrient Emissions in River Systems). The model includes …

… The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the EU’s farthest-reaching management and financing instrument for environmental protection in the agricultural sector. However, in order for the CAP to achieve success, biodiversity, climate and waterbody protection measures will need to be appropriately prioritized and … improvement of agricultural and forestry sector competitiveness; improving the quality of life in rural areas; providing financial support for crop …

… apple Source: Mikel Wohlschlegel / Fotolia Organic products are not only tasty and healthy, but their cultivation also helps the environment. Organic farming is particularly resource-efficient and based on the principle of sustainability. last update on 04.09.2025 … The Use of Natural Resources. Resources Report for Germany 2022 Promoting the high-quality recycling of plastics from demolition waste and enhancing the use of …

… Toward ecofriendly farming Hilly terrain with fields and forests Source: CC Vision Farming is key when it comes to conserving and protecting our natural resources. Ecofriendly farming helps to mitigate and … As a result, German food and animal feed farmers obtain high yields and good quality. While farming is ecologically harmful from a number of standpoints, it also …

… Tilling A tractor plowing up grassland Source: Otto Durst / Fotolia Tilling prepares fields for crop plant seeding, … the goal of creating optimal conditions for crop growth. But unfortunately, plows and the plowing process can have untoward effects such as soil erosion and … is such that further compaction could potentially result in irreversible soil-quality degradation. This conclusion was reached using a UBA study’s criteria for …

… to biodiversity Wildflowers Source: E. Schittenhelm/ Fotolia.com Agricultural landscapes are habitats for many wild animal and plant species. Fields, meadows, … indicators of the National Biodiversity Strategy, “Species Diversity and Landscape Quality” and “Endangered Species,” show only marginal changes. Associated content …

… Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. The use of mineral and organic nitrogen fertilizers to increase yields is therefore common practice in agriculture. Careful and needs-based application is crucial. Excess nitrogen can pollute water and land ecosystems and adversely affect the climate, air quality, and biodiversity. last update on 27.08.2025 Introduction Nitrogen (N) is …

… Antibiotics are used on a large scale in industrialised farming. Source: Gina Sanders / Fotolia.com Pharmaceuticals, which have become a lynchpin of our high standard of living, improve our quality of life and palliate and cure human and veterinary diseases. However, …

… Nitrous oxide and methane Cows standing on a green meadow Source: Mikhail Dudarev / Fotolia Tilling, nitrogen fertilizers and livestock farming are key sources of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, as the statistics clearly show: in 2016 59 per cent of …

… Ammonia, dust and odour emissions Pig farming - a source of ammonia emissions … sector in Germany, but one that unfortunately generates ammonia emissions, odours and dust that are hazardous to the environment and a nuisance to persons living in … and to minimize nitrogen surpluses (nitrogen input minus plant nitrogen uptake). … Ammonia, dust and odour emissions …

… Compost and sewage sludge Wheel loader being used to turn compost Source: Tim Hermann / UBA Compost and sewage sludge contain valuable nutrients and humus substances that farmers …

… Fertilizer With the manure go too many nutrients in the soil and charge such as groundwater. Source: Hans von der Beele / Thinkstock last update … to sufficient water, plants need nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphate, potassium) and trace elements (e.g., copper and zinc) to develop and grow. Only then can they achieve high yields of good quality. Plants absorb nutrients and trace elements from the soil through their root …