Nutri-2-Cycle project
During the next four years (01.10.2018. - 01.10.2022.), 19 organizations from 12 EU countries will work together to provide an essential contribution to the circular economy by closing nutrient loops in the framework of the Nutri2Cycle project. Tackling the existing nutrient flow gaps in Europe will help decrease GHG emissions, reduce soil degradation and improve EU independence for energy and nutrients. The kick-off meeting took place at Ghent University, the institution coordinating this initiative. The project has been allocated a total amount of 7,048,003.75 euros under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Commission.
Nutri2Cycle will provide important developments for the sustainable and efficient management of our natural resources. European agriculture is still characterized by a high overall contribution to GHG emissions and inefficient recovery of carbon and re-use of major plant nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). The Nutri2Cycle project will assess the current Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Carbon (C) flows looking into existing management techniques in different farms across Europe and analyzing their related environmental problems. The recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus in farms can be significantly improved by creating better synergies between animal breeding and crop production. These improvements will facilitate the return of carbon to the soil and reduce GHG emissions, which could be combined with the production of energy for self-consumption on-farm.
The Nutri2Cycle project will target the whole value chain from farmers to end-users. The results obtained in the targeted farms will be spread at regional, national and European level throughout a comprehensive network of regional operational groups, National Task Forces and European stakeholders. The research performed during the first stage of the project will be used as a starting point to redesign, test and implement more mature and sustainable farm business models for nutrient recovery and recycling. In the final stage, the Nutri2Cycle consortium will assess how the products obtained through the identified business models can aim for labeling and reach end-users.
In addition to the input for the agro-business sector, Nutri2Cycle will also align itself with relevant EU environmental policy positions to provide scientific support on effective regulatory frameworks to reduce emissions and increase the self-reliance of Europe for food, energy, and nutrients in the next century.
The project brings together leading experts in the field of nutrient cycling actively involved in previous national and European projects, as well as in the EIP-Focus Group on Nutrient Recycling coordinated by the European Commission. The project consortium is composed of 19 partners from 12 EU countries, including research institutes and universities, farmer groups, agro-business experts and EU NGO's promoting a circular economy.
IPS Konzalting participates in an international consortium aimed at transferring knowledge and experience to stakeholders in Croatia.
The IPS will be responsible for communication and dissemination of project results to end-users in Croatia, as well as in neighboring countries.
