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Enhancing nutrient recycling from excreta to meet crop nutrient needs in Sweden - a spatial analysis
Usman Akram1, Nils-Hassan Quttineh2, Uno Wennergren3
1Theoretical Biology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden. usman.akram@liu.se.
Scientific Reports
|July 18, 2019
Summary
Recycling human excreta in Sweden could meet significant crop nutrient needs, but imbalances and high reallocation costs highlight challenges for sustainable agriculture. Further investment is needed to overcome these obstacles.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Sustainable Food Systems
Background:
- Agricultural specialization challenges nutrient balance between crop needs and local organic waste supply.
- Nutrient-rich organic waste recycling is crucial for sustainable food systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential of human excreta recycling for meeting crop nutrient needs in Sweden.
- To identify regional imbalances in nutrient supply and demand from excreta.
- To evaluate the economic feasibility of reallocating excreta nutrients.
Main Methods:
- Nutrient content analysis of human excreta.
- Comparison of excreta nutrient supply with crop nutrient demands across Swedish municipalities.
- Economic analysis of nutrient reallocation via transportation.
Main Results:
- Recycling all excreta could meet 75% of nitrogen and 81% of phosphorus needs, but exceed potassium needs by 51%.
- Municipal recycling meets 63% of phosphorus needs, yet significant regional imbalances exist.
- Reallocating surpluses nationally for phosphorus would cost $192 million, 3.7 times the transported fertilizer value.
Conclusions:
- Sweden can reduce synthetic fertilizer dependence via excreta recycling investments.
- Addressing regional nutrient imbalances and associated costs is essential for effective excreta recycling.
- Valuing additional recycling benefits beyond direct fertilizer replacement is likely necessary.
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