Environmental footprint initiative : agricultural working group milestone 2 : life cycle inventory : modelling of fertilisers

The Environmental Footprint (EF) methods recommended by the European Commission provide standardised metrics for assessing the environmental impacts of products and organisations within the EU. This report presents the findings from the Agricultural Working Group, Milestone 2, focusing on the LCI modelling of fertilisers. Recognising fertiliser emissions as key drivers of environmental impacts such as eutrophication, acidification, and climate change, the report advocates for im-proved modelling of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions in crop systems. It discusses the adoption of a tiered approach for emission modelling under the EF method, offering guidelines for Tier 1 and recommendations for Tier 2 methods that incorporate site-specific data. Additionally, it emphasises the allocation of organic fertilisers in sequential cropping systems, ensuring accurate lifecycle assessments. The policy relevance of this work is underscored by its potential to guide European policymakers towards more sustainable agricultural practices, thereby supporting the Environmental Footprint Initiative's mission to reduce environmental impacts in the agricultural sector.