Modern agriculture depends on synthetic Nitrogen- and Phosphorus-based fertilisers to achieve high yields and meet global food demand. Beyond the farm, these elements are essential for producing chemicals, animal feed, and biofuels. Without them, both agriculture and industry would face significant limitations in feeding and powering a growing world.
Excessive or poorly managed fertiliser use can lead to nutrient run-off into water bodies, causing eutrophication, a process that triggers algal blooms, depletes oxygen levels, and harms aquatic life and ecosystems.
A well-known example is the Mar Menor, a Mediterranean coastal lagoon in the Region of Murcia (Spain), which has suffered severe environmental degradation and biodiversity loss due to nutrient overload.
By fostering the circular economy of nutrients through
