SDG 14 strives to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources for the well-being of present and future generations. The goal includes targets to protect marine ecosystems, reduce pollution, end overfishing, support small-scale fishers, and enhance the resilience of coastal areas to climate change. This goal contributes to the health of marine life and the livelihoods of communities relying on marine resources.
Donau Soja Organisation
Donau Soja promotes the cultivation of legumes, which contributes to a diversification of the current crop rotation and has another great advantage: It reduces the need for mineral nitrogen fertilisers, a major land-based factor for pollution of water bodies. Nitrate is the most common chemical form of nitrogen fertilisers. Nitrate is also found commonly in water bodies and contributes there to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Soya beans, like other legumes, are capable of biological nitrogen fixation, thereby reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers and the risk of causing damage to aquatic environment in the year of cultivation and in the following year.
The Donau Soja Best Practice Manual recommends the use of inoculation and conducting fertilisation based on soil tests. A 2020 survey conducted by Donau Soja indicated that only about half of farmers in target countries regularly use inoculation. These results underline the relevance of emphasising inoculation in farmer trainings.
Donau Soja / Europe Soya Standard
The Donau Soja / Europe Soya Standard contributes to SDG 14 indirectly through the principles 4, 5 and 6.
Farmers are required to implement good agricultural practices to minimise diffuse and localised impacts on surface and ground water quality from chemical residues, fertilisers and erosion or other sources (see principle 4, 6).
The quality of water bodies on or close to the farm and farm land shall be protected by establishing riparian buffer strips along water courses. There shall be no application of pesticides within thirty meters (or more if required by national law) of any populated area or water body (see principle 5).
