In Minikowo, Poland, a unique event recently brought together Dutch sellers and Polish agricultural representatives in an effort to market manure from Dutch livestock—a product surplus to the needs of farmers in the Netherlands. The gathering included product demonstrations, networking sessions, and sample giveaways, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by European agriculture amid environmental regulations and shifting global conditions.

The impetus for this unusual marketplace stems from stricter European Union rules that came into full effect this year to curb nitrogen runoff from manure, particularly in the Netherlands. Dutch farmers now produce more animal waste than they are allowed to apply to their fields, spurring efforts to find alternative outlets for the excess. Countries such as Germany, France, and Poland still have nitrogen allowances available and are seen as potential markets for Dutch manure exports.

The geopolitical landscape has contributed to the urgency of finding manure buyers. Following heightened tensions and military actions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran in early 2024, shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz have led to spikes in prices and shortages of artificial mineral fertilizers. This has prompted European farmers to seek domestically produced, natural fertilizer alternatives, despite the comparatively higher costs and logistical challenges associated with transporting manure.

At the Minikowo event, Tomasz Piechota, professor in the Department of Agronomy at the Poznan University of Life Sciences, acknowledged the odor issue associated with manure but emphasized its economic value. “My grandmother taught me, all the time, that it was the smell of money,” he remarked. Jouke Knol, a counselor at the Dutch Embassy in Warsaw and event organizer, noted the ongoing Middle East conflict has not hindered— and may even encourage—the market for manure as farmers look to diversify fertilizer inputs.

Dutch authorities have also pursued domestic strategies, including the recent approval of processed manure products like Renure, which offer lower environmental impact. The European Union is considering expanded use of digestates, semi-liquid manure byproducts, to relieve reliance on artificial fertilizers amid rising costs. Additionally, the Dutch government has engaged in buyouts of livestock farms in environmentally vulnerable areas to reduce manure production at the source.

While exports to neighboring Belgium and Germany have increased, profit margins remain slim, and transportation costs are high due to manure’s bulk and weight. Some Polish buyers expressed skepticism about the viability of large-scale imports, citing logistical and economic obstacles. Nevertheless, companies such as Valka continue to supply smaller quantities to Poland while maintaining exports to other European nations.

Organizers remain cautiously optimistic that geopolitical uncertainties and the broader transition toward sustainable farming practices will enhance demand for processed manure products from the Netherlands. As global fertilizer markets fluctuate, manure is emerging as a natural—but complex—component of Europe’s evolving agricultural landscape.