Implemented
The measure has promoted the utilisation and use of nutrients found in manure and wastewater sludge and increased awareness of the concept of nutrient neutrality through the Ranku project, for example. Implemented investments include Biolan Oy’s production plant for peat-free substrates in Eura, Neve Oy’s PAKU thermal treatment plant enabling the recycling of wastewater sludge nutrients in Rovaniemi and the recovery of nitrogen from the reject water of Gasum Oy’s biogas plant as ammonia water in Turku. The measure has been completed, but in the future nutrient recycling will be promoted through such initiatives as the Ministry of the Environment’s programme for nutrient recycling and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s experimentation project on nutrient recycling. In addition, the recycling of nutrients found in manure will be enhanced through the measure “Promoting the recycling of nutrients found in manure as part of biogas production (TPO2022-REHEV3)”.
Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential nutrients to the food production. Phosphorus is an unrenewable resource, the exploitable share of which is constantly decreasing. The production of nitrogen fertilizers is a very energy intensive process. Part of the recyclable nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen in manure, are recovered and reused, but a considerable share is still leached into the waters (phosphorus and nitrogen) and air (nitrogen). Due to human activities, a lot of organic substances such as livestock manure, sludge from the wastewater treatment plants, various biomasses and food waste e.g. from households are generated.
A remarkable share of the nutrients in these substances remain unexploited or are ineffectively used. Nutrients should be recovered, exploited, and recycled optimally, thereby decreasing the use of unrenewable natural resources (phosphorus), saving energy needed in production of artificial fertilizers (nitrogen) and increasing nutritional self-sufficiency.
Improving the effectiveness of nutrient usage and recycling are essential above all for water protection, as this decreases the nutrient loading in water bodies as well as eutrophication. Improving the effectiveness of nutrient usage and recycling requires participation and commitment from all actors, companies, communities, and private citizens.
The aim of the project is to:
2016-2021
Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
