Background The EU Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality across Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming practices. The directive forms an integral part of the Water Framework Directive and is one of the key instruments in the protection of waters against agricultural pressures. Pollution from nitrates is severe in Maltese groundwater bodies, with all the territories of the Maltese Islands being designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones using Nitrate Directive criteria. Compliance with the Nitrates Directive has proved demanding for various reasons in Malta. While the goals and guiding principles of the directive are clear and the associated Nitrates Action Plan has been adopted nationally, farmers in Malta report significant difficulties in handling its correct implementation. Awareness-raising initiatives should help to remedy this situation. Objectives The aim of the InfoNitrates project was to communicate to Malta’s farmers and livestock breeders their key obligations under the national Nitrates Action Plan (NAP) – including the potentially harmful health problems resulting from improper management of manure. An extensive information and communications campaign was planned by the beneficiary, the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change (MSDEC; formerly the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs), along with training sessions for the country’s 850-plus full-time farmers, and more than 1 700 part-time farmers and 900-plus livestock breeders. Results The InfoNitrates project improved the implementation of the national Nitrates Action Plan (NAP), by giving farmers and livestock breeders the necessary information and training to comply with it, and by establishing the Nitrates Action Unit, which has the task of designing and implementing the NAP in compliance with the EC Nitrates Directive. The project conducted extensive information and training campaigns, focusing on stakeholders’ obligations under the NAP and raising awareness about the harmful effects of nitrates in drinking water on health. Most farmers and livestock breeders in Malta were reached through training sessions at their farms or through 29 public meetings (e.g. at village events or wholesale markets) on the two islands of Malta. In particular, farmers were instructed on the use of a fertiliser plan produced by the project beneficiary, through one-to-one training activities on farms. This tool, based on the analysis of soil fertility in fields, gives fertilising instructions for that specific field for particular crops. The fertiliser plan reduced the Gross Nitrogen Balance on the farms where it was implemented; this enabled farmers to meet their obligations under the NAP and also to increase the efficiency of their fertilisation practices. By reducing the global Gross Nitrogen Balance levels on farms on a national scale, the project helped prevent degradation of water quality in groundwater aquifers, with health benefits for the Maltese population. Livestock breeders were made aware of their obligations relating to the proper storage and transport of manure, and learned how to find tailor-made technical solutions according to the number and type of livestock (dairy cows, cattle, sheep or goats). The project delivered, in total, training to 2 032 operators, around 73% of those available. In the case of livestock breeders, those not trained refused the project's intervention, for example, due to their involvement with similar activities run by the Directorate of Agriculture and the Veterinary Service of MSDEC. Information campaigns on stakeholder obligations under the Nitrates Directive, and awareness of the harmful effects on health of excessive application of nitrogen, were carried out with the support of farmers’ and breeders’ associations and local councils. A total of 910 farmers participated in village meetings and around 300 people visited the InfoNitrates stand during the two-day national fair at MCAST Agribusiness. Over 1 600 information brochures were produced with the help of local councils and 20 000 copies of a 20-minute audio-visual DVD were distributed, which contained key messages for farmers and livestock breeders about nitrate pollution and how to prevent it. Information was also available directly from the InfoNitrates office and a free-phone service established by the project. Staff trained within the project framework answered 622 calls to this line, mainly dealing with technical issues such as storage requirements for manure and fertiliser specified by the NAP. The project facilitated compliance with nitrate regulations. Its environmental benefits arise from the dissemination of information to the main rural stakeholders, but also by creating dialogues and providing feedback to the authorities regarding provisions that need to be addressed to ensure better compliance with thee Nitrates Directive. For example, a need for legal clarity on the abolishment of slurry as a fertilisation practice, requirements on record-keeping, the definition of solid waste, and exemptions for small hobby breeders (e.g. rabbits). The project also provided insights on the main factors for the monitoring of provisions relating to the Nitrates Directive. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).