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 trials

Project Partners

Lead partner

Organisation Address Email Website
IZES gGmbH 17 Altenkesseler Str. , Building A1
Saarbruecken
6615
Germany
wern@izes.de www.izes.de
Name Contact Name Email 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

News


ReNu2Farm invests in a hightech field trial fertilizing machine for complex fertilization trials

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In the search for a sustainable alternative for mineral fertilizers, researchers of ReNu2Farm are testing the functioning of several new recycling-derived fertilizers. A field trial fertilizing machine especially designed for this purpose allows to perform complex fertilization trials in Belgium. This high-tech machine combines multiple standard fertilization techniques in one device. Read More

ReNu2Farm in Ireland’s largest environmental conference, Environ 2019

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Environ is the largest environmental conference occurring annually in Ireland and is a collaboration between the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland and a third level education organisation that undertakes its hosting. This year’s Environ was hosted by a ReNu2Farm partner, the Institute of Technology Carlow, between 15th and 17th of April, to occur in tandem with the ReNu2Farm project partner and progress meeting. Read More

ReNu2Farm in France

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Under the approach of ReNu2Farm to increase the use of recycling-derived fertilisers, it is essential to gain a better understanding on how the products that are currently available on the market can be utilised, depending on the geographic location and climate. Read More

ReNu2Farm survey

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Are you a farmer, contract worker or farm advisor in Northwest Europe? Or do you know anyone of these target groups? If yes, you are invited to support us to take a step towards circular economy by participating in our survey or forwarding the invitation. We want to understand the attitude of the farming sector towards recycling derived fertilisers better. This will be a major step to target barriers for use of recycled nutrients which need to be abolished. Read More


26/09/2019 - Demand for recycled nutrients in every region: tailor made recycling-derived fertilisers have the highest impact

27/04/2021 - Recycling Derived Fertilisers: what are they?

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