Periodic Reporting for period 1 - P2GreeN (Closing the gap between fork and farm for circular nutrient flows)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-12-01 do 2024-05-31
P2GreeNs goal is to foster a paradigm shift from a linearly organized resource and nutrient system to a circular material flow system thereby reconnecting nutrients flows between urban wastewater infrastructure with the rural agri-food production.
P2GreeN aims to:
(1) provide multi-sectoral governance solutions that halt and eliminate Nitrogen (N) & Phosphorus (P) pollution for fresh and maritime waters, soils and air from N and P losses and emissions by connecting existing blue urban with green rural infrastructure to convert linear urban wastewater streams in circular bio-based systems for agricultural production in rural areas;
(2) close nutrient cycles of N & P flows to foster the transition towards a circular and clean economy (green transition) as well as supporting sustainable food systems from farm to fork offering viable alternatives to reduce the current usage of mineral fertilizers by replacing them with innovative bio-based fertilizers from urban human waste streams (urban wastewater, urine and faeces);
(3) enable policy makers to replicate P2GreeNs sustainable regional circular economy models in all regional settings across Europe.
P2GreeN achieves these goals by:
(1) establishing, demonstrating and validating three different circular N & P nutrient flow systems in three pilot regions in Sweden, Germany and Spain, which are all located at the interface of rural/coastal and urban areas and use urban human waste streams to convert them into valuable bio-based fertiliser for food production in agriculture;
(2) developing blueprints on how to scale up these innovative circular N & P nutrient flow systems for already defined follower regions in France, Italy Greece and Hungary and how these could be utilized across other EU regions as well;
(3) Creating new circular business models that will ensure the long-term economic viability of these newly established value chains in the pilot regions;
(4) Producing different sets of policy recommendations for regional and national public authorities and for the EU Commission defining required changes to establish a uniform legislative framework that support innovative circular bioeconomy products and innovative small businesses developing these products.
P2GreeN aims to:
(1) provide multi-sectoral governance solutions that halt and eliminate Nitrogen (N) & Phosphorus (P) pollution for fresh and maritime waters, soils and air from N and P losses and emissions by connecting existing blue urban with green rural infrastructure to convert linear urban wastewater streams in circular bio-based systems for agricultural production in rural areas;
(2) close nutrient cycles of N & P flows to foster the transition towards a circular and clean economy (green transition) as well as supporting sustainable food systems from farm to fork offering viable alternatives to reduce the current usage of mineral fertilizers by replacing them with innovative bio-based fertilizers from urban human waste streams (urban wastewater, urine and faeces);
(3) enable policy makers to replicate P2GreeNs sustainable regional circular economy models in all regional settings across Europe.
P2GreeN achieves these goals by:
(1) establishing, demonstrating and validating three different circular N & P nutrient flow systems in three pilot regions in Sweden, Germany and Spain, which are all located at the interface of rural/coastal and urban areas and use urban human waste streams to convert them into valuable bio-based fertiliser for food production in agriculture;
(2) developing blueprints on how to scale up these innovative circular N & P nutrient flow systems for already defined follower regions in France, Italy Greece and Hungary and how these could be utilized across other EU regions as well;
(3) Creating new circular business models that will ensure the long-term economic viability of these newly established value chains in the pilot regions;
(4) Producing different sets of policy recommendations for regional and national public authorities and for the EU Commission defining required changes to establish a uniform legislative framework that support innovative circular bioeconomy products and innovative small businesses developing these products.
During the first 18 months of the project implementation P2GreeN :
• Fully implemented and demonstrated the circular nutrient capture of N & P, and reuse at rural/coastal and urban/industrial interfaces in 2 pilot regions (Sweden and Spain).
• Developed a standardized data collection template applicable to all pilot regions allowing for coherent data collection and analysis across the different geographical conditions in the field trials thus enabling the pilot regions to show and provide evidence that the implemented circular nutrient capture and reuse technologies halt and prevent N&P pollution.
• Implemented three different technological solutions in the pilot regions that convert human waste streams into safe bio-based fertiliser, validation via agricultural production of rye, barley, mango and avocados thus demonstrating balanced N/P flows.
• Developed a tool for scoring the sustainability effects allowing for a holistic blueprint development that can demonstrate the viability of the circular value chain in the pilot regions.
• Created first draft business models for three different value chains contributing to the replicability in the follower regions and beyond.
• Conducted multiple workshops, focus groups, interviews with relevant stakeholders along the waste-water-food nexus across all pilot regions to identify key criteria as well as gaps for the establishment of successful governance frameworks.
• Identification of 119 funding options to support the scale up of P2GreeNs systems solutions.
• Delivered a scoping review that identifies and comprehends the broader legal and regulatory frameworks that govern from fork to farm and fork again.
• Carried out a market assessment on the three pilot regions identifying assets, and obstacles that could empower or restrict businesses from achieving success as well as enabling aspects that might create growth opportunities.
• Delivered a report that sums up the results about the benchmark of governance frameworks adopted in existing European projects related to circular N & P solutions, and a benchmark of a case study of decision-making on urine separation and collection in VILLE DE PARIS’ Saint-Vincent-de-Paul project.
• Developed a network hub that contains more than 450 key stakeholders across the EU.
• Carried out of focus groups in Greece, Italy and Hungary with key experts to assess the local potential of each P2GreeN technologies in each of these follower regions.
• Co-created and established P2GreeNs Innovation Platform containing an internal database accessible for all project partners and a public repository accessible for all P2GreeN stakeholders
• Fully implemented and demonstrated the circular nutrient capture of N & P, and reuse at rural/coastal and urban/industrial interfaces in 2 pilot regions (Sweden and Spain).
• Developed a standardized data collection template applicable to all pilot regions allowing for coherent data collection and analysis across the different geographical conditions in the field trials thus enabling the pilot regions to show and provide evidence that the implemented circular nutrient capture and reuse technologies halt and prevent N&P pollution.
• Implemented three different technological solutions in the pilot regions that convert human waste streams into safe bio-based fertiliser, validation via agricultural production of rye, barley, mango and avocados thus demonstrating balanced N/P flows.
• Developed a tool for scoring the sustainability effects allowing for a holistic blueprint development that can demonstrate the viability of the circular value chain in the pilot regions.
• Created first draft business models for three different value chains contributing to the replicability in the follower regions and beyond.
• Conducted multiple workshops, focus groups, interviews with relevant stakeholders along the waste-water-food nexus across all pilot regions to identify key criteria as well as gaps for the establishment of successful governance frameworks.
• Identification of 119 funding options to support the scale up of P2GreeNs systems solutions.
• Delivered a scoping review that identifies and comprehends the broader legal and regulatory frameworks that govern from fork to farm and fork again.
• Carried out a market assessment on the three pilot regions identifying assets, and obstacles that could empower or restrict businesses from achieving success as well as enabling aspects that might create growth opportunities.
• Delivered a report that sums up the results about the benchmark of governance frameworks adopted in existing European projects related to circular N & P solutions, and a benchmark of a case study of decision-making on urine separation and collection in VILLE DE PARIS’ Saint-Vincent-de-Paul project.
• Developed a network hub that contains more than 450 key stakeholders across the EU.
• Carried out of focus groups in Greece, Italy and Hungary with key experts to assess the local potential of each P2GreeN technologies in each of these follower regions.
• Co-created and established P2GreeNs Innovation Platform containing an internal database accessible for all project partners and a public repository accessible for all P2GreeN stakeholders
Results beyond the state of the art within the first 18 months are all related to the successful demonstration of the circular N & P flows from using urban human waste streams turning them into bio-based fertilisers through 4 innovative technological processes in the pilot regions and ultimately having proven that safe food can be produced by applying these fertilisers for agricultural production. It encompasses that circular economy value creation flows, and scientifically sound standardized monitoring methodologies have been developed which are crucial for the validation of the overall new circular systems approach.
In addition, the legal scoping review for the first time assessed all different applicable legislation identifying key gaps for the uptake of the 4 different technologies. One major outcome is the assessment that the regulatory framework across the EU member states is scattered hindering the uniform application of the developed technologies and the ultimate widespread use of P2Greens fertilisers. Here regulatory harmonization at EU level will be required for the further uptake and the realisation not only of the commercial success but also the capability of implementing circular N & P systems solutions at a wider level across the EU.
In addition, the legal scoping review for the first time assessed all different applicable legislation identifying key gaps for the uptake of the 4 different technologies. One major outcome is the assessment that the regulatory framework across the EU member states is scattered hindering the uniform application of the developed technologies and the ultimate widespread use of P2Greens fertilisers. Here regulatory harmonization at EU level will be required for the further uptake and the realisation not only of the commercial success but also the capability of implementing circular N & P systems solutions at a wider level across the EU.