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Protecting global peatlands: phasing out the use of peat in growing media and as soil improver - Part II
Time:
Thursday, 26/Oct/2023:
10:30am - 12:00pm
Session Chair: Marjan Smeulders Second Session Chair: Philipp Gramlich
Location:GR 1.139
Session Conference Streams:
Inter- and Transdisciplinarity for Sustainability Transformations
Presentations
Protecting global peatlands: phasing out the use of peat in growing media and as soil improver.
Chair(s): Marjan Smeulders (Radboud University /Scientists4Future NL, Netherlands, The), Philipp Gramlich (Stichting Turfvrij)
Presenter(s): Christian Fritz (Radboud University), Philipp Gramlich (Stichting Turfvrij)
Peatlands are wetlands and are important global carbon sinks. They therefore play an important part in reduction of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Peatlands are threatened by drainage for agriculture and by peat extraction for use as fuel, but also for use as growing media and soil improver in horticulture: our vegetables are grown on fossil peat and our flowers are grown on peat-based substrates. When drained and extracted, peat is decomposed and adds to CO2 emissions.
In recent years, several European countries have passed legislation in order to reduce or phase out the use of peat in horticulture. In Switzerland, the use of peat in the private sector was reduced to <5% by 2020, and the professional sector will follow suit by 2030. In England, Ireland, Germany and Belgium, national reduction plans have been announced. In The Netherlands, a peat reduction plan was signed in November 2022, by the growing media industry and the NGO Stichting Turfvrij.
Producing non-fossil horticultural substrates on peatlands has become popular amongst farmers aiming for zero emission food production and soil management. Paludiculture is the use of wet and rewetted peatlands by growing and harvesting flood resistant crops and plants. Growing peat mosses, for example, combines sustainable biomass production, water storage and unique biodiversity. The mosses even consume methane from the soil and the atmosphere, thereby further improving the climate footprint of peatmoss paludiculture.
In this session, we will explore how science can aid the transition to peat free growing media. What knowledge is present already and what is missing for the industry to take the necessary steps? In addition, we aim to gather those involved with covenants / legislation within Europe, to share experiences and best practice.
