Baltic Environmental Agricultural Run-Off Programe (BEAROP)

The project focuses on monitoring, demonstration, education and information activities. These activities include working out and transfer of good agriculture practice, knowledge and technology, improvement of legislation and regulation to reduce pollution associated with nutrient run-off and ammonia emission from agriculture in Baltic States.

Nitrogen's role as one of the most important elements in aquatic ecosystems is undisputed. It occurs in several forms, and participates in a large number of processes, primarily biological, including the exchange of gas with the atmosphere. The annual loading of nitrogen on the Sound, the Belt Sea, the Kategat and Skagerrak from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Germany is currently about 260,000 tons. Approximately 50% of this nitrogen derives from agriculture and 30% from the atmosphere. The loading on the Baltic Proper is even higher -1,350,000 tons per year The contribution from agricultural activities to this amount is estimated at between 40 and 50%. One of the most harmful effects of human activities on surface waters is eutrophication resulting from excess nitrogen inputs into these systems. Agriculture comprises the largest proportion of non-point source nitrogen and phosphorus losses.