The purpose of the acquisition is a research and development project aimed at promoting gypsum treatment of fields in the Baltic Sea countries in order to reduce nutrient leaching in agriculture and improve water quality in the Baltic Sea. The project will provide information on the potential of gypsum as an agricultural water protection tool in the Baltic Sea countries, thus creating the conditions for the inclusion of gypsum in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (HELCOM), the Baltic Sea Nutrition Recycling Strategy and The project is implemented by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the framework of the Baltic Sea, Barents and Arctic cooperation and is funded by the above mentioned appropriation.

The purpose of the R&D project is to:

- To reduce agricultural phosphorus load in the Baltic Sea catchment area

- Provides information on the readiness of farmers in different countries to use gypsum on their fields, potential application areas, policies and logistics for large-scale field use of gypsum

- Design a gypsum pilot for one (1) Baltic Sea coastal state and identify an appropriate EU financial instrument

- Prepare for wider use of gypsum and its inclusion in national agricultural support programs in the Baltic Sea coastal states

- Increase cooperation between agri-environment actors in the Baltic Sea States

- Disseminate information on the effects of gypsum and the protection of the Baltic Sea.

The project will result in:

- Establishment of a cooperation network with water protection actors in the Baltic Sea

- Action plan and financing plan for the implementation of a gypsum pilot in one (1) Baltic Sea coastal state, for example as a project for EU rural development funding

- Shared information on plaster as an agricultural water protection tool for agricultural and environmental authorities, research institutes, advisors and farmers in the target countries.