The EU project “P2GreeN,” coordinated by agrathaer, was selected for the CORDIS Results Pack and is highlighted as a notable success story in the “Circular Solutions in Action” category and “Nutrient-rich fertilizers from organic waste and renewable biomass”. As part of these two articles, Dr. Stefan Karlowksy, co-coordinator at IGZ, and Isabell Szallies, a member of the agrathaer coordination team, were interviewed.
P2GreeN meets both the requirements for a circular solution and those for bio-based fertilizers.
As one of six selected EU projects in the field of circular solutions in cities and regions, the first article focuses on the cycles between urban and rural areas.
“In pilot regions in Germany, Spain, and Sweden, nutrient recovery systems (opens in a new window) have been introduced that are tailored to the respective local environmental pressures. On the Swedish island of Gotland, seasonal tourism places such a heavy burden on the wastewater systems that nitrogen and phosphorus are discharged into the Baltic Sea. These nutrients promote algal blooms and oxygen-depleted water, which harm marine ecosystems. By recovering nutrients before they even enter conventional wastewater systems, local authorities could reduce nutrient inputs.”
As one of 11 EU projects in the field of bio-based fertilizers, the second article demonstrates how urine and excrement are transformed—through modern processes—from a “waste product” into a safe, user-friendly product for food production. Life cycle assessments show that the climate impacts of producing and using these fertilizers are generally lower than those of conventional alternatives, although they vary significantly depending on carbon content.
What is P2GreeN?
P2GreeN is a four-year EU-funded innovation project (2022–2026) aimed at bridging the gap between consumers and producers by turning human waste into fertilizer for agriculture. This prevents phosphorus and nitrogen—two important plant nutrients—from leaching into water bodies and channels these vital nutrients into a circular economy. The project is testing four different technologies in three pilot regions, conducting field trials and acceptance studies, and developing circular business and value-creation models. In addition, the legal framework, governance, landscape planning aspects, and opportunities for replication are being examined. Several tools have also been developed to communicate the results to various target groups. Project website: www.p2green.eu
What is CORDIS?
CORDIS (Community Research and Development Information Service) is a research and development information service of the European Commission. It provides public access to information on European research and development (R&D) activities. Its services are aimed at researchers, innovators, and anyone interested in the subject.
The articles are available in six languages, including German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Polish:
Turning waste into sustainable fertilisers
From festivals to farms: European regions turn wastewater into agricultural resources
