Project Summary
The ReNu2Farm project is designed to increase the recycling rates for the plant nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the primary food production chain in Northwest Europe (NWE). Up to now, farmers have essentially been using mineral fertilisers, for which the EU is heavily dependent on imports. Moreover, the production of mineral fertiliser requires large amounts of energy. Paradoxically, however, there are several regions with a nutrient surplus in NWE. There are also technologies for recovering those nutrients, but until now they have remained little-used by farmers.
The project strives for an exchange of nutrients between the following countries: IE-UK, DE-NL and BE-FR. In each of these areas there are regions with nutrient shortages and surpluses. Nutrient-surplus regions in NWE include the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), Bretagne (France) and Ireland. The regions that have great potential to replace mineral fertilisers, due to their high use thereof, are located in Northern France, Wallonia (Belgium), the East of England and Ireland.
First of all, the researchers are investigating the precise current situation on nutrients and technologies in the field of nutrient recovery in NWE. They will then deploy these technologies in practice, for both the production and upcycling of products from recycled nutrients. The largest waste streams for producing these products are sewage sludge, food wastes and manure.
The scientists are considering possible market barriers. They will then adapt the products so that they more closely match the needs of users.
On the basis of desk studies and info sessions with farmers comes an assessment of the regional demand for nutrients and performances of the products. In order to determine the potential for replacement by recycled nutrients, the researchers are collecting information on current fertiliser use and the types of agriculture and crop rotations for each region. From the perspective of the legislation it is also important to know the impacts of the products on the soil and the environment.
Where there are markets for recycled nutrients, what their pricing looks like and what the attitude of farmers and the policy is with respect to them are still open questions right now. The researchers are assessing the economic market value of the products on the basis of production costs and interest amongst the stakeholders. They are identifying legal pressure points regarding conditions and requirements on fertilisation management and transport.
The collected knowledge and techniques are being fed back to the stakeholders via articles, workshops and demonstrations. This will help overcome the knowledge gap amongst farmers. By spreading information and success stories, but also by further expanding to other sectors and regions, farmers will become better able to apply larger amounts of recycled nutrients over the long term.
The long-term goal is for farmers in the involved regions to replace 2% (-108,000 tonnes N, -8,000 tonnes P, -120,000 tonnes K) of the artificial fertiliser with recycled nutrients within five years, and 6% (-324,000 tonnes N, -24,000 tonnes P, -360,000 tonnes K) after ten years.
Video
View the benefits of our hightech field trial fertilizing machine for complex fertilization trials
ReNu2Farm invests in a hightech field trial fertilizing machine for complex fertilization trialsProject Partners
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University of Limerick
1 Plassey Park Road
Limerick
V94T9PX
Ireland -
Munster Technological University
1 Rossa Avenue
1
Cork
Ireland -
ARVALIS Institut du végétal
3 rue Joseph et Marie HACKIN
Paris
75116
France -
Soil Concept S.A.
1 Fridhaff
DIEKIRCH
9202
Luxembourg -
Outotec GmbH & Co. KG
21 Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse
Oberursel
61440
Germany -
Nutriënten Management Instituut BV
7c Nieuwe Kanaal
Wageningen
6709 PA
Netherlands -
Universiteit Gent
653 Campus Coupure, B6, Coupure Links
Gent
9000
Belgium -
Inagro
87 Ieperseweg
Rumbeke
8800
Belgium -
Institute of Technology Carlow
1 Kilkenny Road
Co Carlow
R93 V960
Ireland -
IZES gGmbH
17 Altenkesseler Str. , Building A1
Saarbruecken
6615
Germany
Lead partner
Organisation | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
IZES gGmbH |
17 Altenkesseler Str. , Building A1 Saarbruecken 6615 Germany |
wern@izes.de | www.izes.de |
Name | Contact Name | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
University of Limerick | Achim Schmalenberger | achim.schmalenberger@ul.ie | Ireland |
Munster Technological University | Niamh Power | niamh.power@mtu.ie | Ireland |
ARVALIS Institut du végétal | Hélène Lagrange | H.LAGRANGE@arvalis.fr | France |
Soil Concept S.A. | Marc Demoulling | mdem@soil-concept.lu | Luxembourg |
Outotec GmbH & Co. KG | Tanja Schaaf | tanja.schaaf@outotec.com | Germany |
Nutriënten Management Instituut BV | Romke Postma | romke.postma@nmi-agro.nl | Netherlands |
Universiteit Gent | Ivona Sigurnjak | ivona.sigurnjak@ugent.be | Belgium |
Inagro | Inès Verleden | ines.verleden@inagro.be | Belgium |
Institute of Technology Carlow | Thomaé Kakouli-Duarte | Thomae.Kakouli@itcarlow.ie | Ireland |