Growing media are essential for reaching the EU Nature Restoration Targets! That was the outcome of a discussion last week in the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Franc Bogovič and organized by GME. The panel of high-level experts from the Commission and the industry pointed out several ways in which the growing media sector promotes the EU’s objectivesforrestoring peatlands as well as greening up urban areas! On 9 November 2022, GME organised an event in the European Parliament to highlight the growing media industry’s role in achieving the targets set in the EU Nature Restoration Law proposal. Not only is the growing media industry the champion of peatlands restoration, playing a crucial role in rewetting and restoring degraded peatlands, growing media are indispensable for achieving the urban greening targets.
High quality, fit-for-purpose growing media are essential for growing trees in cities, increasingtree canopy cover. Greener cities have improved air quality, help climate mitigation and boost mental health of citizens. Here are the key takeaways from the panel: Ms. Angelika Rubin, from the Commission´s DG Environment stated that “The proposed nature restoration law aims to contribute to achieving the EU’s climate mitigation objectives: the restoration of drained peatlands plays a particularly important role in this.” Mr. Jesse Schevel, Glastuinbouw Nederland echoed these statements saying “The Nature Restoration Law must strike a balance between the role of peatlands as carbon sinks while recognising the contribution of sustainably extracted peat to the European Green Deal.
Horticulture is the only sector that contributes to restoring previously damaged peatlands while using peat as growing media to produce healthy food and greening our societies.” Quality growing media are a key enabler of healthy food production, as Mr. Marco Zevenhoven from RHP, the European knowledge Centre for growing media, stated: “Sustainable growing media are intrinsically linked to quality and safety. These two aspects are essential for food production.” Mr. Jarno van Veelen, Tree Technician and urban Landscaping advisor at Kekkilä-BVB, pointed out that “The Nature restoration law significantly increases our chance of greener and healthier cities. The success and results are highly dependent ontop quality substrates”
NOTES TO EDITORS: Growing Media Europe AISBL is an international non-profit organisation representing the producers of growing media and soil improvers at European level. For more information, please contact Geoffrey Bennett, Public Affairs Officer – Geoffrey.bennett@growing-media.eu.