A state programme aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of agriculture has failed to reduce runoffs of nutrients into the Baltic Sea. Runoff of phosphorous and nitrogen compounds in fertilisers used on Finnish farms that add to the growth of algae in the sea has actually increased during the period that the environmental subsidies have been in effect. Finland has paid about EUR 300 million a year in agricultural environment supports since 1995. Most of the money has gone into protecting water – especially the reduction of phosphorous and nitrogen that flow into the Baltic Sea. Read More
