Turning Waste into Opportunity: The Case for Circular Fertilizer in European Agriculture

Last week, the European Commission launched its Vision for Agriculture and Food. While some may – rightly or wrongly – criticize aspects of its environmental ambitions, one promising element stands out: a circular economy solution that benefits people, planet, and profit alike. 

The Fertilizer Paradox 

Agriculture in the European Union relies heavily on fertilizers. These can be divided into two categories: synthetic (chemically produced) fertilizers and organic fertilizers, such as manure. The EU produces vast amounts of manure, particularly in livestock-dense regions like Flanders. However, due to differences in nutrient absorption between manure and synthetic fertilizers, strict regulations limit how much manure can be applied to fields. Excess nutrients from fertilizers can leach into waterways, degrading water quality and harming biodiversity. 

This leads to a paradox: despite producing large quantities of manure, the EU still relies on synthetic fertilizers, which come with significant downsides. 

1. Environmental Impact – Producing nitrogen-based fertilizers is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Resource Scarcity – Phosphorus-based fertilizers depend on phosphate rock, which is limited, especially within Europe.
3. Geopolitical Dependency – The EU imports a significant share of its fertilizers from Russia. In 2024 alone, these imports amounted to nearly €2 billion, according to Eurostat. Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, reducing this dependency is a strategic priority for the European Commission. 

RENURE: A Circular Economy Opportunity 

To address these challenges, the new EU agricultural vision is expected to approve broader use of RENURE (Recovered Nitrogen from Manure). RENURE involves processing manure into a refined nitrogen source that behaves similarly to synthetic fertilizers but with fewer environmental drawbacks. Upcoming regulatory changes will likely increase the allowable application limits for RENURE, making it a more viable alternative. Importantly, existing technologies for its production are already cost-competitive with industrially manufactured fertilizers. 

The push for this breakthrough is primarily driven by geopolitical concerns, particularly reducing reliance on Russian fertilizer imports. However, its benefits extend far beyond security: 

• Climate Benefits – Using RENURE could reduce EU agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 6%, a notable figure considering that farming accounts for 10% of the EU’s total emissions (though a significant portion comes from livestock digestion, not just manure).
• Environmental Impact – RENURE helps close the nutrient cycle, reducing nitrogen runoff into waterways by 1.3% and limiting pollution.
• Economic Resilience – Farmers in livestock-heavy regions could see fertilizer costs drop by up to 5%, with Flanders specifically benefiting from a 2.6% cost reduction. 

In summary, RENURE represents an effective middle ground between synthetic fertilizers and raw manure. By utilizing the EU’s existing manure surplus, it reduces dependency on Russian imports while avoiding the environmental risks of untreated manure application. This is a prime example of how circular economy solutions can simultaneously drive economic, environmental, and geopolitical benefits – a win for agriculture, sustainability, and European resilience.

Sources:

[1] https://www.ft.com/content/691a94be-ab82-43e6-b14c-9e96913db8ec

[2] Vingerhoets, R., Spiller, M., Schoumans, O., Vlaeminck, S. E., Buysse, J., & Meers, E. (2025). Economic potential for nutrient recovery from manure in the European union. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 215, 108079.