FERTIMANURE carried out several complementary activities, demonstrating that nutrients recovered from animal manure can be competitive in the EU fertilizers market, partially replacing synthetic fertilizers:
1. On-farm biorefineries: FERTIMANURE demonstrated the performance of five technological schemes for valorizing animal manure, recovering 18 different BBFs. A Decision Support System (DSS) was developed to assist farmers in selecting the best manure treatment scheme. One-pagers, available for both farmers and researchers, were created to present key information about the 18 BBFs in a clear and concise format.
2. Tailor-Made Fertilizers (TMFs): To properly work on the formulation of TMFs, FERTIMANURE has developed the TMF Nutrition Tool, a practical and versatile tool to optimize the combination of BBFs and mineral fertilizers, considering soil fertility, crop requirements, and regulatory constraints.
3. Agronomic performance: A total of 28 field trials and 21 pot trials were conducted in different regions across Europe with varying soil and climate conditions. Results showed that BBFs can produce crop yields similar to synthetic fertilizers, with no significant difference in environmental impacts, including nitrate residue, ammonia emissions, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
4. Safety and regulations: BBF safety parameters were evaluated in accordance with the European Fertilizing Product Regulation. A specific tool (FPR Tool) was developed to verify product compliance with regulatory requirements. A position paper was prepared to promote bio-based fertilizers in organic farming, and specific dossiers were created for products identified as having potential for this sector.
5. Sustainability: The Environmental Life Cycle Assessment identified electricity and chemical supply chains as major environmental hotspots, highlighting areas for optimization. The Life Cycle Costing analysis emphasized the importance of optimizing yields and pricing BBFs competitively for economic viability. Social Life Cycle Assessment showed that N-rich BBFs positively impact health and water scarcity, while P-rich BBFs help reduce reliance on imports from countries with inequality and labor issues.
6. Path to market: Eight business plans were developed for three types of BBF products: (i) mineral-based fertilizers, (ii) organic amendments, and (iii) bio-stimulants. Business model canvases were also created to map out the value chain. A Business Tool was developed to provide insights into BBF production and economic calculations.
7. End-user acceptance: Surveys conducted in nine languages, with 612 responses from eight countries, provided valuable insights into end-user preferences and willingness to purchase BBFs and TMFs. Additional stakeholder mapping, SWOT analysis, and meetings with key partners offered further insights.
8. Knowledge transfer and dissemination: The project engaged over 3,000 stakeholders through various activities. FERTIMANURE created a Ferti-Manure management package that includes 5 tools. The project also produced 18 one-pagers about BBFs, 15 Practice Abstracts, 16 scientific papers, 3 Position Papers, 6 videos, and more.
9. Clustering projects: FERTIMANURE played a key role in promoting the ESNI Community, a joint effort with the Biorefine Cluster Europe aimed at fostering nutrient recycling projects.
