As the cost of growing food in Europe remains painfully high, the European Commission has come forward with a relief plan. A €540 million support package aims to ease the burden of soaring fertiliser prices, support struggling farmers and help prevent further strain on the food supply chain.
The Commission wants to mobilise €540 million in emergency support for farmers, warning that higher input costs could affect harvests, farm incomes and Europe’s food security. With national top-ups, the total support could reach €1.5 billion.
The package, presented on Friday, is part of the EU’s Fertiliser Action Plan. It comes after months of geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions pushed fertiliser prices higher across Europe. For farmers, the risk is immediate. If fertilisers become too expensive, some may use less. That could mean lower yields, weaker crop quality and further pressure on food supply.
Member states could triple EU support
The Commission says the money is intended to help farmers buy fertilisers for their next crops. Earlier this week, it proposed adding €300 million from the EU’s 2026 budget to the agricultural reserve, on top of remaining funds already available.
Member states would be allowed to add national financing of up to 200 per cent. If fully used, that would bring the total financial relief to a potential €1.5 billion.
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The agricultural reserve proposal will be submitted to member states for a vote in the Committee on the Common Organisation of the Markets. If approved, final adoption is expected by the end of July 2026.
Faster cash through CAP
The Commission is also proposing targeted changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to give governments more flexibility. The measures include a new liquidity scheme under rural development funding, the possibility to pay direct payments earlier, and more room for member states to adjust their direct payment budgets for 2027.
The liquidity scheme could be co financed up to 65 per cent through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Unused funds that risk being lost could also be redirected. To reduce delays and paperwork, support could be paid as a fixed amount per hectare and implemented through national CAP Strategic Plans.
Member states could also provide higher advance payments before 16 October, giving farmers earlier access to cash at a time of rising input costs.
Fertilisers become a food security issue
Fertilisers are essential for agricultural production and represent a significant share of farmers’ costs.
The Commission’s concern is that expensive fertilisers could push farmers to cut use, affecting both the quantity and quality of crops. That would hit farmers first, but the effects could spread to food supply and, eventually, prices for consumers.
The proposal therefore links short term financial relief with a broader food security argument. Brussels says the measures are designed to strengthen EU food security, strategic autonomy and competitiveness.
Reducing dependence on imports
The emergency support is only one part of the Fertiliser Action Plan, presented on 19 May 2026. The wider plan aims to reduce farmers’ exposure to future shocks by reinforcing domestic fertiliser production, improving supply resilience and reducing Europe’s dependence on imports.
It also seeks to speed up the shift towards bio-based, low-carbon and circular fertilisers. The immediate test, however, is whether member states and EU lawmakers can approve the short term support fast enough to help farmers before the next crop cycle.
The Commission’s proposed CAP amendments will now go to the European Parliament and the Council for approval.
