The new Fertilising Product Regulation (FPR) increases the number of CE-marked alternative fertilising products on the EU’s market, including organic, organo-mineral and mineral bio-based fertilisers by reducing dependency on imported mineral fertilisers. However, the acceptance of these novel alternative fertilising products requires knowledge sharing among farmers and citizens about their fertilising efficiency and safety.

Farmer on a tractor with a sprayer makes fertiliser for young vegetables

NOVAFERT aims to orientate the production and the application of alternative fertilising products according to the best environmental performances, by establishing methodological guidelines for the assessment of alternative fertilising products’ production, storage, distribution and application.

A regional approach, covering 7 EU regions and different types of secondary raw materials, will also support the development of sustainable local value chains deploying alternative fertilising products. These strategies will be helpful to enhance the uptake of alternative fertilising products and contribute in the long term to recommending directional guidelines for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Furthermore, the use of alternative fertilising products should contribute to
improve the nutrient flows, especially from nutrient-rich side-streams, reducing the nutrient losses into the environment.

2. KEY ACTIVITIES

NOVAFERT aims to bring together the necessary information for efficient and safe utilizing of fertilising products to aid decision-making on valorisation employed in nutrient recovery, based on actual needs on the regional level and in the market across the EU.

This will be achieved by:

DEVELOPING AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE ATLAS MAPPING AND SELECTING OF THE MOST RELEVANT AND HIGH IMPACT ALTERNATIVE FERTILISING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS ACROSS EUROPE.

DEVELOPING METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FERTILISING PRODUCTS PRODUCTION, STORAGE AND APPLICATION.

SET UP 7 REGIONAL WORKING GROUPS IN THE PARTICIPANT EUROPEAN REGIONS TO LEAD THE TRANSITION TOWARDS THE BIOECONOMY.

DEVELOP A PORTFOLIO OF SUPPORT POLICIES AND 7 SPECIFIC ACTION PLANS FOR FAST UPTAKE OF ALTERNATIVE FERTILISING PRODUCTS IN EU REGIONS.

SHOWCASE 7-10 LIGHTHOUSE DEMOS FOR EXPLOITING ALTERNATIVE FERTILISING PRODUCTS THROUGH NOVEL, CIRCULAR AND GREEN BUSINESS MODELS.

DEVELOP AND DELIVER A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FAVORING THE INTERACTION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS AND CLUSTER WITH OTHER PROJECTS.

3. IMPACT

The new nutrient economy is an integral component of a low carbon emission, environment-friendly and circular economy, supporting the food and nutrition requirements of a rising global population and improving the income and livelihood of farmers worldwide.

Novafert’s goal is to develop specific action plans at local and regional scales to maintain nitrogen and phosphorus flows well within the EU safe ecological boundaries and raise awareness of environmental performances of alternative fertilisers.

As a consequence, NOVAFERT will contribute to provide progressive incentives for the adoption of better practices by farmers. As a consequence, farmer’s management of soil and nutrients could become regenerative, enhancing the quality of ecosystem functioning on land and in water, leading to reduced GHG emissions, clean and healthy air, water as well as an improved soil health.

Additionally, the identification of effective roadmaps will contribute to identify site-specific targets and policies stimulating collective actions by governments, businesses, farmers and other stakeholders towards sustainable, integrated, and tailored solutions to foster the update of alternative fertilising products.