Towards peat-free potting soil and substrate

Added on 22 December 2022

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Towards peat-free potting soil and substrate

The use of peat in potting soil and substrate is under pressure. Fourteen organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Action Group TurfVrij and the Association of Potting Soil and Substrate Manufacturers of the Netherlands (VPN), recently agreed on how the peat content will be gradually reduced in the coming years. These agreements are laid down in the Environmental Impact of Potting Soil and Substrates Covenant. The Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research was closely involved in the realization of this covenant, including by providing data.

Last year, Minister Schouten of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) responded to a motion to limit the peat content in potting soil and substrate. As a result, LNV, TurfVrij and VPN started talking to each other. The first consultations took place at WUR in Wageningen, which also facilitated the meetings and provided important data. The conversations were open, intensive and enjoyable. The consultation partners recognized the importance of good agreements. After a number of consultations, a professional mediator (former Member of Parliament Arne Weverling) was involved and end users and other interested parties were involved.