The regional conference "Closing the mineral cycles at farm level - Good practices to reduce nutrient loss in the Lombardy region" took place on 5 November 2014 at the "E.c.ho." Hotel, Milan (Italy). It aimed to present the results of the study "Resource efficiency in practice – Closing mineral cycles" commissioned by the DG Environment (European Commission). It focused on the good practices, which were identified as potential ways to reduce the nutrient loss at farm level and to close mineral cycles, based on the current state of nutrient saturation within the Lombardy region.

In addition to the solutions presented by the project representative, further measures were identified during the conference, including: rules and guidelines that are clear and applicable to the local situation; targeted and specific funding to make the adoption of good practices more effective; and dissemination and technical assistance being essential elements for the implementation of good practices. Around 60 participants took part in the discussions, representing regional farmers, farm advisers, farmers unions, researchers, students and civil servants from environmental protection agencies and different government levels.

The regional conference in Lombardy is one of four regional conferences held in the framework of the project to present and discuss the applicability of project findings with a broader group of regional stakeholders. The outcomes of the four regional conferences were also presented at the final policy conference, organised in Brussels, on 18 November 2014.