NITRATE-FREE CLEAN WATER: KEY OUTCOMES OF THE EU_NITRA_UKR INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE 

On 9 June 2026, the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP) hosted an international roundtable on the topic: “Analysis of the EU Nitrates Directive implementation (1991-2026): achievements, shortcomings and challenges for Ukraine”.

The event was implemented within the framework of the EU Erasmus+ project “Preventing nitrate pollution for environmental health: European experience in implementing the Nitrates Directive for the Ukrainian circular economy” (EU_NITRA_UKR, No. 101238988).

Relevance: why the nitrate problem requires immediate attention

Nitrate contamination of groundwater and surface water is one of the most pressing environmental challenges in modern Europe. The EU Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), adopted back in 1991, was the first comprehensive legislative act aimed at controlling the agricultural impact on water resources. The EU has thirty-five years of experience in its implementation, while Ukraine is currently at an early stage of harmonising its national legislation with these European standards.

The issue is particularly acute due to the need to protect public health, especially in rural communities where groundwater remains the primary source of drinking water. Exceeding permissible nitrate concentrations in well water poses a direct threat to children and pregnant women, and also undermines food security through the accumulation of nitrates in agricultural produce. This is precisely why the roundtable, organised by NUBiP, brought together a wide range of experts to seek joint solutions to this problem on the basis of European cooperation.

Broad representation: institutional interest and support

The event brought together 70 participants, of whom 5 represented foreign research and civil society institutions, and 65 represented Ukrainian institutions of various profiles. In total, the roundtable featured representatives from more than 25 institutions, which testifies to the high level of cross-sectoral engagement and public demand for addressing nitrate pollution.

The participants included:

               State authorities: the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the Lviv Regional State Administration, and the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine.

               Non-governmental organisations: the Centre for Environmental Initiatives "Ecoaction".

               Higher education and research institutions: NUBiP of Ukraine, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies, the Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (NAAS), the Institute of Animal Science of NAAS, the National Scientific Centre “O.N. Sokolovsky Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry”, the National Nature Park “Pivnichne Podillia”, and others.

               International partners: the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), the University at Buffalo (USA), Dicle University (Turkey), the French company APRONA, the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (Germany).

Such a composition demonstrates that water quality issues are recognised as a priority at all levels - from local communities to international expert circles — and that cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in this area is becoming systemic.

Speakers: interdisciplinarity and expertise

The roundtable programme was structured around five key thematic blocks, reflecting the multidimensional nature of the problem: legal, monitoring, agronomic, socio-educational, and economic. The speakers included leading academics, practitioners, and government representatives:

  Opening address - Oleksandr Labenko, Vice-Rector for Academic and International Affairs at NUBiP of Ukraine, who emphasised the strategic importance of the project for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine on the principles of sustainable development.

  Legal perspective - Yuliia Miroshnychenko (Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights) addressed parliamentary oversight of the right to safe drinking water.

  International monitoring experience - Dr Sindre Langaas (NIVA, Norway) presented advances in water resources monitoring, while Baptiste Rey (APRONA, France) shared experience from the tripartite monitoring of the Upper Rhine aquifer.

  Agronomic practices - Nadia Bordiuzha and Olena Litvinova (NUBiP of Ukraine) outlined modern approaches to fertiliser use and organic waste management in line with the Nitrates Directive requirements.

  Global context - Prof. Johannes Nitsche (USA) and Prof. Öner Çetin (Turkey) shared their countries’ experiences in tackling nitrate pollution.

  Social and educational dimensions - Oleksandr Soshenskyi (Head of the International Projects Office at NUBiP) and Larysa Voitenko (Project Coordinator) emphasised the importance of preparing “agents of change” among students and school youth to foster environmental culture in communities.

This multifaceted approach ensured comprehensive coverage of the topic, bringing together theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and legal expertise.

The roundtable was not merely a formal event but an important milestone in the project's implementation, with lasting positive implications for achieving its objectives as defined in the grant agreement.

1. Strengthening international partnerships

The participation of representatives from NIVA, APRONA, and American and Turkish universities created conditions for deepening scientific and technical cooperation. Ukrainian experts gained access to up‑to‑date monitoring methodologies, modelling of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), and best agricultural practices, which will directly contribute to adapting European experience to Ukrainian realities - precisely one of the project’s key tasks.

2. Enhancing the educational component

The presentation materials and discussion outcomes will serve as a basis for updating the content of educational courses planned within the project (the seminar “Implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive in the Ukrainian circular economy”, the intensive course for students, and the webinar for schoolchildren). Involving international experts as speakers raises the quality of learning materials and motivates students to actively engage in research activities.

3. Expanding communication outreach

The participation of civil society organisations and local authorities confirms that the project extends beyond the academic environment, reaching the ultimate beneficiaries - residents of rural communities. This aligns with the dissemination strategy, which includes open meetings, social media posts, and media engagement. Coverage of the event on the project website and in the media will help shape a positive image of the Nitrates Directive as a health protection tool rather than a bureaucratic restriction.

4. Stimulating research activity

The roundtable served as a platform for discussing future scientific publications and participation in relevant conferences (ECLAS 2025, ICELS, Aqua Ukraine, Water Forum, etc.), as foreseen in the project work plan. Joint research with international partners will raise the scientific level of publications and their visibility in global databases.

5. Preparing for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and European integration

The roundtable discussions demonstrated that integrating the Nitrates Directive into the post-war recovery planning system is not merely a technical‑legal but, above all, a humanitarian task. Ensuring access to clean water, preserving soil fertility, and implementing circular models of agricultural production are the foundation for the country's sustainable development in the future.

CONCLUSION

The international roundtable organised by NUBiP within the EU_NITRA_UKR project was a vivid example of effective consolidation of efforts by state institutions, civil society, educators, and international partners around a critically important issue - protecting water resources from nitrate pollution.

The participants not only discussed the challenges related to implementing the Nitrates Directive but also outlined specific steps to overcome them. Strengthening international cooperation, updating educational programmes, intensifying communication with communities, and stimulating research - all of this brings Ukraine closer to European environmental standards and builds a foundation for a healthy and safe future. A key emphasis was placed on students becoming a driving force for European integration in agricultural production and its greening.

In addition to positive developments, the participants raised a number of difficult aspects in the implementation process, from legal framework specifics to the organisation and financing of environmental monitoring and control networks.

The EU_NITRA_UKR project, launched with the support of the European Union, continues to play a key role in shaping an environmentally conscious generation of Ukrainians capable of implementing the principles of the circular economy even under the most challenging conditions of post-war recovery.

The roundtable found its extension in the search for joint solutions with the developers of the NVZ determination methodology and the legal aspects of implementation, taking into account Poland’s negative experience.

Key figures:

·                 70 participants (5 international, 65 Ukrainian)

·                 more than 25 institutions

·                 5 participating countries (Ukraine, Norway, France, USA, Turkey)

·                 5 thematic blocks (legal, monitoring, agronomic, socio-educational, economic)

·                 more than 20 speakers