Challenge

Flanders Environment Agency is currently using the NEMO tool to calculate how nitrogen and phosphorus enter watercourses in agricultural areas over land, through soil and through groundwater.

The Nutrient Emission Model is a mechanistic model that starts from fertilisation and cultivation on agricultural plots and takes into account various processes such as crop growth, mineralisation, erosion, etc.

The current concept for groundwater is simplified and can simulate trends at the regional (Flemish) level and for river basins.

The model is less suitable for making detailed statements on a local scale. However, this will be necessary in the future to evaluate area-specific policy measures.

Flanders Environment Agency now wants to have an updated NEMO groundwater module developed, which takes better account of local conditions and can better simulate local processes, thus supporting area-oriented fertiliser, agricultural and integrated water policies.