Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FER-PLAY (Multi-assessment of alternative fertilisers for promoting local sustainable value chains and clean ecosystems)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-09-01 do 2024-02-29
Fertilisation is key in keeping agriculture production but is achieved through intensive use of conventional fertilisers, which are a source of environmental pollution and rely on finite imported resources and energy intensive processes. In this context, the use of circular fertilisers (CF) from the recycling of biowaste, byproducts and wastewater represents an attractive solution from the perspective of: costs, environmental impact of waste disposal, and the recirculation of materials that are scarce in the EU. However, the widespread uptake of CF is hindered by the 1) lack of awareness among end-users and producers about the positive effects; 2) negative concerns about the presence of toxic compounds and technical/economic feasibility of their production; 3) uncertainty generated by the regulatory framework.
FER-PLAY draws from the consortium’s diverse expertise to i) map and select the most promising CF value chains, ii) assess them through Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and iii) increase awareness of CF among various stakeholder groups. FER-PLAY will determine the strongest contenders along environmental, economic, social acceptance, regulatory, and technical grounds.
FER-PLAY intends to create favourable conditions for CF widespread uptake, contributing to boost the production and use of CF according with the best sustainability performance via compilation and harmonisation of the current scattered data, multi-assessment of impact, co-creation and disseminaton and development of exploitation strategies. The project will also assist local administrations and policy makers to feed policies to support sustainable local value chains.
In the long run, we intend to increase resilience and self-sufficiency, minimise pollution and enhance soil health. This being a way to support Europe in its transformation to a more circular and resilient economy while safeguarding ecosystem health.
FER-PLAY draws from the consortium’s diverse expertise to i) map and select the most promising CF value chains, ii) assess them through Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and iii) increase awareness of CF among various stakeholder groups. FER-PLAY will determine the strongest contenders along environmental, economic, social acceptance, regulatory, and technical grounds.
FER-PLAY intends to create favourable conditions for CF widespread uptake, contributing to boost the production and use of CF according with the best sustainability performance via compilation and harmonisation of the current scattered data, multi-assessment of impact, co-creation and disseminaton and development of exploitation strategies. The project will also assist local administrations and policy makers to feed policies to support sustainable local value chains.
In the long run, we intend to increase resilience and self-sufficiency, minimise pollution and enhance soil health. This being a way to support Europe in its transformation to a more circular and resilient economy while safeguarding ecosystem health.
-Value chain mapping with the 52 most relevant published in the FER-PLAY database, accessible on the project website.
-The 7 most relevant selected: struvite from urban and industrial wastewater, stabilised sludge, composted biowaste, feather meal, solid fraction of digestate and spent mushroom substrate. For the selection, an innovative two-step method was developed: 1) Funnelling process based on a GO/NO-GO selection which discarded 18 value chains; 2) Scoring method that led to the final selection.
-The goal, scope and system boundaries of the LCSA have been set and 21 life cycle inventories (LCIs), one per chains selected representing 3 EU regions, were created to later perform 21 environmental, 21 cost and 3 social LCA's.
-Preliminary work has started in relation to the 1) assessment of technical aspects and conditions for industrialisation, and 2) analysis of the regulatory framework.
-Strong network activity with (over 50) fellow EU projects, and our sister project NOVAFERT.
-On social acceptance, a total of 411 surveys from end-users, producers and public administration have been collected. Results are being processed and will be reported in RP2 and used for drafting guidelines and other C&D materials for the target groups.
-On co-creation, we are in the process of gathering information and feedback from key stakeholders to be used in the LCSA and for the preparation of guidelines and recommendations. This has been possible through the organisation of webinars, focus groups and seminars with our target audience. This activity has resulted in the creation of a strong consulting focus group of experts across different disciplines.
-The 7 most relevant selected: struvite from urban and industrial wastewater, stabilised sludge, composted biowaste, feather meal, solid fraction of digestate and spent mushroom substrate. For the selection, an innovative two-step method was developed: 1) Funnelling process based on a GO/NO-GO selection which discarded 18 value chains; 2) Scoring method that led to the final selection.
-The goal, scope and system boundaries of the LCSA have been set and 21 life cycle inventories (LCIs), one per chains selected representing 3 EU regions, were created to later perform 21 environmental, 21 cost and 3 social LCA's.
-Preliminary work has started in relation to the 1) assessment of technical aspects and conditions for industrialisation, and 2) analysis of the regulatory framework.
-Strong network activity with (over 50) fellow EU projects, and our sister project NOVAFERT.
-On social acceptance, a total of 411 surveys from end-users, producers and public administration have been collected. Results are being processed and will be reported in RP2 and used for drafting guidelines and other C&D materials for the target groups.
-On co-creation, we are in the process of gathering information and feedback from key stakeholders to be used in the LCSA and for the preparation of guidelines and recommendations. This has been possible through the organisation of webinars, focus groups and seminars with our target audience. This activity has resulted in the creation of a strong consulting focus group of experts across different disciplines.
-FER-PLAY represents a step forward in the state-of-the-art. Some features making FER-PLAY different, which can be seen as our added value, are:
-KNOWLEDGE: through the mapping of innovative value chains
-Development of METHODOLOGIES for the selection of CF value chains and sustainability assessment.
-Extensive social, environmental, and economic, regulatory and market ASSESSMENT for the selected value chains.
-Provision of key INSIGHTS from our regulatory analysis.
-UNDERSTANDING of the key challenges and drivers through the co-creation activities and surveys.
-INTERACTION with and between key stakeholders which are part of our consortium.
-Availability of C&D MATERIALS in the form of guidelines, publications, recommendations…
We expect all this to be translated into concrete impact:
-Establishing a baseline and improving the existing scientific data on impacts and trade-offs for the 7 value chains.
- Helping to consolidate and/or opening new circular fertilisers business lines, by raising awareness among end-users and producers on the benefits of the 7 selected value chains.
-Articulation of favourable regulatory conditions using evidences provided by the project.
In terms of wider impact and implications, the project intends to leave a valuable legacy in the form of know-how, methodologies and knowledge contributing to change the mindset of end-users, producers and public administration towards the uptake of CF. Such legacy, shared with target stakeholders and fellow projects, will trigger a reduction in the use of conventional fertilisers and related contamination, contributing to EU self-sufficiency.
Most of this high potential impact is still to come once results from LCSA become available, communication materials are shaped with information gathered from co-creation processes, and survey results get processed. Key needs to ensure further uptake are related to: boosting the participation of key target groups, adapting the project messages to current needs and our alignment with regulation progress.
-KNOWLEDGE: through the mapping of innovative value chains
-Development of METHODOLOGIES for the selection of CF value chains and sustainability assessment.
-Extensive social, environmental, and economic, regulatory and market ASSESSMENT for the selected value chains.
-Provision of key INSIGHTS from our regulatory analysis.
-UNDERSTANDING of the key challenges and drivers through the co-creation activities and surveys.
-INTERACTION with and between key stakeholders which are part of our consortium.
-Availability of C&D MATERIALS in the form of guidelines, publications, recommendations…
We expect all this to be translated into concrete impact:
-Establishing a baseline and improving the existing scientific data on impacts and trade-offs for the 7 value chains.
- Helping to consolidate and/or opening new circular fertilisers business lines, by raising awareness among end-users and producers on the benefits of the 7 selected value chains.
-Articulation of favourable regulatory conditions using evidences provided by the project.
In terms of wider impact and implications, the project intends to leave a valuable legacy in the form of know-how, methodologies and knowledge contributing to change the mindset of end-users, producers and public administration towards the uptake of CF. Such legacy, shared with target stakeholders and fellow projects, will trigger a reduction in the use of conventional fertilisers and related contamination, contributing to EU self-sufficiency.
Most of this high potential impact is still to come once results from LCSA become available, communication materials are shaped with information gathered from co-creation processes, and survey results get processed. Key needs to ensure further uptake are related to: boosting the participation of key target groups, adapting the project messages to current needs and our alignment with regulation progress.