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Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
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Assessing agro-food system circularity using nutrient flows and budgets.

Anastasia Papangelou1, Erik Mathijs1

  • 1KU Leuven, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Bio-economics, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.

Journal of Environmental Management
|March 29, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nutrient recycling in Belgian agriculture varies by system type, with livestock areas accumulating nutrients and arable areas showing deficits. Regional differences highlight the impact of production systems on circularity.

Keywords:
AgricultureCircular economyNutrient cyclingNutrient reuse

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Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Circular Economy

Background:

  • Nutrient reuse and recycling are crucial for sustainable food systems.
  • Circularity assessment depends on specific geographical and agricultural contexts.
  • Agro-food systems face challenges in nutrient management and resource efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze nutrient flows and assess the circularity of Belgium's agro-food system.
  • To quantify nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) flows and soil balances at multiple spatial scales.
  • To evaluate P-based circularity indicators within different agricultural production systems.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of N, P, and K flows and soil balances.
  • Assessment of five P-based circularity indicators (total inputs, use efficiency, reuse share, recycling rate, losses).
  • Analysis at sub-regional, regional, and national levels within the Belgian agro-food system.

Main Results:

  • Nutrient soil balances differ significantly based on agricultural system type; livestock areas show surpluses, while arable areas exhibit deficits.
  • Wallonia outperforms Flanders in all assessed circularity indicators due to lower livestock density and sewage sludge reuse.
  • The Belgian food system demonstrates a 34% phosphorus use efficiency and a 63% overall recycling rate, with 84% of agricultural inputs from secondary sources.

Conclusions:

  • Production system type is the primary driver of circularity in agro-food systems.
  • Analyzing circularity at various spatial scales is essential for a comprehensive understanding.
  • Implementing strategies for nutrient reuse and recycling can enhance the sustainability of food systems.