A genuine approach to close nutrient loops

Nutri2Cycle will help closing nutrient loops with a genuine approach that will consist of:
Identifying the most efficient types of farm systems in Europe using a common methodology.
Defining indicators to monitor and demonstrate the environmental advantages of more efficient, closed nutrient loops in a comprehensive way.
Establishing innovative business cases at pilot scale (12-16 pilots) that will act as a light-house example for effective out-scaling.

Objectives

From farmers to end-users: targeting the whole value chain
Nutri2Cycle will interact with all actors influencing nutrient cycles to:
Create more efficient and sustainable farm business models for nutrient recovery and recycling.
Spread the results at regional, national and European level throughout a comprehensive network of regional operational groups, National Task Forces and European stakeholders.
Assess how the products obtained through the identified business models can aim for labelling and reach end-users.

Provide scientific support on effective regulatory frameworks to reduce emissions and increase self-reliance of Europe for food, energy and nutrients in the next century.

Focus

The research of Nutri2Cycle will focus on three pillars:

• Agro-processing

• Animal husbandry

• Plant processing

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 soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which could be combined with the production of energy for self-consumption on-farm.