| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Akram, Usman, 1984-
(author)
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Closing nutrient cycles
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Adequate and balanced crop nutrition – with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) – is vital for sustainable crop production. Inadequate and imbalanced crop nutrition contributes to the crop yield gaps – a difference in actual and potential crop yield. Yield gap is one of the many causes of insufficient food production, thus aggravating hunger and malnourishment across the globe. On the other hand, an oversupply of nutrients is highly unsustainable, in terms of both resource conservation and global environmental health. A decreasing excreta recycling in crop production is one of the many reasons for nutrient imbalances in agriculture. Previous studies show that increasing agricultural specialization leads to spatial separation of crop and animal production. Increasing distance between excreta production and crop needs is one of the leading factors that cause reduced excreta recycling. Studies focusing on excreta recycling show that a substantial barrier to a more efficient excreta nutrient reuse is the expensive transportation of bulky volumes of excreta over long distances. In order to overcome that barrier, more detailed spatial estimates of distances between excreta production and crop nutrient needs, and the associated costs for complete excreta transport in an entire country are needed. Hence, the overall aim of this thesis was to quantify the amount of nutrients in the excreta resources compared to the crop nutrient needs at multiple scales (global, national, subnational, and local), and to analyze the need for excreta transports, total distances and costs, to meet the crop nutrient needs in a country.On the global scale, annual (2000-2016) excreta supply (livestock and human) could provide at least 48% of N, 57% of P, and 81% of K crop needs. Although excreta supply was not enough to cover the annual crop nutrient needs at the global scale, at least 29 countries for N, 41 for P, and 71 for K had an excreta nutrient surplus. When including the annual use of synthetic fertilizers, at least 42 additional countries had a N surplus, with the equivalent figures for P being 17 countries, whereas 8 additional countries attained a K surplus. At the same time, when accounting for the use of synthetic fertilizers, each year, at least 57 countries had an N deficit, 70 a P deficit, and 51 countries a K deficit, in total equivalent to 14% of global N and 16% of each P and K crop needs. The total surplus in other countries during the period was always higher than the deficit in the countries with net nutrient deficits, except for P for some years. Unfortunately, both the deficits of the deficit countries and surpluses of the surplus countries were increasing substantially during the 17 years. Such global divergence in nutrient deficits and surpluses have clear implications for global food security and environmental health.A district-scale investigation of Pakistan showed that the country had a national deficit of 0.62 million tons of P and 0.59 million tons of K, but an oversupply of N. The spatial separation was not significant at this resolution; only 6% of the excreta N supply needed to be transported between districts. Recycling all excreta, within and between districts, could cut the use of synthetic N to 43% of its current use and eliminate the need for synthetic K, but there would be an additional need of 0.28 million tons of synthetic P to meet the crop nutrient needs in the entire country. The need for synthetic fertilizers to supplement the recycled excreta nutrients would cost USD 2.77 billion. However, it might not be prohibitively expensive to correct for P deficiencies because of the savings on the costs of synthetic N, and K. Excreta recycling could promote balanced crop nutrition at the national scale in Pakistan, which in turn could eliminate the nutrient-related crop yield gaps in the country.The municipal-scale investigation using Swedish data showed that the country had a national oversupply of 110,000 tons of N, 6,000 tons of P, and 76,000 tons of K. Excreta could provide up to 75% of N and 81% of P, and more than 100% of the K crop needs in the country. The spatial separation was pronounced at the municipal scale in the country. Just 40% of the municipalities produced over 50% of the excreta N and P. Nutrient balance calculations showed that excreta recycling within municipalities could provide 63% of the P crop needs. Another 18% of the P crop needs must be transported from surplus municipalities to deficit municipalities. Nationally, an optimized reallocation of surplus excreta P towards the P deficit municipalities would cost USD 192 million for a total of 24,079 km truck transports. The cost was 3.7 times more than the total NPK fertilizer value transported, and that met the crop nutrient needs. It was concluded that Sweden could potentially reduce its dependence on synthetic fertilizers, but to cover the costs of an improved excreta reuse would require valuing the additional benefits of recycling.An investigation was also done to understand the effect of the input data resolution on the results (transport needs and distances) from a model to optimize excreta redistribution. The results showed that the need for excreta transports, distances, and spatial patterns of the excreta transports changed. Increasing resolution of the spatial data, from political boundaries in Sweden and Pakistan to 0.083 decimal grids (approximately 10 km by 10 km at the equator), showed that transport needs for excreta-N increased by 12% in Pakistan, and the transport needs for excreta-P increased by 14% in Sweden. The effect of the increased resolution on transport analysis showed inconsistency in terms of the excreta total nutrient transportation distance; the average distance decreased by 67% (to 44 km) in Pakistan but increased by 1 km in Sweden. A further increase in the data resolution to 5 km by 5 km grids for Sweden showed that the average transportation distance decreased by 9 km. In both countries, increasing input data resolution resulted in a more favorable cost to fertilizer value ratios. In Pakistan, the cost of transport was only 13% of the NPK fertilizer value transported at a higher resolution. In Sweden, the costs decreased from 3.7 (at the political resolution) to slightly higher than three times of the fertilizer value transported in excreta at the higher data resolution.This Ph.D. thesis shows that we could potentially reduce the total use of synthetic fertilizers in the world and still reduce the yield gaps if we can create a more efficient recycling of nutrients both within and between countries, and a more demand adapted use of synthetic fertilizers.
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| 3. |
- Brownlie, Will J., et al.
(author)
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Opportunities to recycle phosphorus-rich organic materials
- 2022. - 1
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In: Our Phosphorus Future. - Edinburgh : UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. ; , s. 219-270
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Recycling phosphorus-rich organic wastes and manures is critical for phosphorus sustainability and a transition to a more circular economy for phosphorus. Beyond agronomic benefits, the win-wins are numerous, with benefits to society, environment, economy, and business growth. However, to significantly increase phosphorus recycling, education, awareness-raising, investment in technology and infrastructure, and policy support are urgently needed.
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| 4. |
- Davy, Jonathan, et al.
(author)
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Designing a greywater treatment system in a highly adaptive urban environment: an ergonomics and human factors observational analysis
- 2023
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In: Urban Water Journal. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1573-062X .- 1744-9006. ; 20:5, s. 624-637
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Unplanned, high-density settlements in low-middle income countries often lack functional wastewater management systems. Nature-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands, are an option for the treatment of greywater, provided they are used by and useful to the community. We explored the effectiveness of iterative design for two pilot constructed wetlands in an informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using ergonomics and human factors (E/HF) design approaches, this study evaluated the usability and postural risks associated with interactions with the constructed wetlands to motivate (and evaluate) design changes to increase use and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal pain. An elevated work area reduced musculoskeletal risks and a larger work area allowed more users at one time. The raised work areas provided other benefits such as stormwater and sewerage protection. The value of E/HF as part of a broader transdisciplinary team was demonstrated by embedding the design in the activities of the community.
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| 5. |
- Feiz, Roozbeh, 1975-, et al.
(author)
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Key factors for site-selection of biogas plants in Sweden
- 2022
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 354
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biogas production through anaerobic digestion is an integral part of the transition toward a biobased and circular economy and its expansion is foreseen in many parts of the world as well as in Europe. In Sweden, a governmental inquiry suggested biogas production to be increased from about 2 TWh today to 7 TWh by 2030. This rapid expansion would require installation of several new biogas plants across the country. However, the location of biogas plants can greatly affect its business performance and there are several geographic and socio-political factors that would limit the choice of location. Through dialogue with existing biogas producing companies and a few other related actors, we identified 12 factors that are commonly considered in the site-selection of biogas plants in Sweden or are considered to be important in the years to come. These factors are grouped into those related to supply and demand (feedstock supply, biogas demand, digestate demand, and carbon dioxide demand), infrastructure and synergies (available infrastructure, adjacent existing industries), land-use and zoning (nearby housing, zoning, and historic preservation sites), and socio-political context (political strategies and goals, organizational capability, and local social acceptance). We discuss how these factors can be used under rapidly transforming conditions in Sweden through different site-selection logics and highlight the importance of spatially explicit analysis for individual or coordinated decision making in future. Our method of enquiry and analysis, and to a certain degree the factors, can be also relevant for other countries, particularly in Europe. This study paves the way for more in-depth investigation of the question of site-selection of biogas plants in Sweden; both in the direction of detailed analysis at the local level, or screening analysis on the regional or national level for improved coordinated actions.
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| 6. |
- Forber, K. J., et al.
(author)
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Plant-based diets add to the wastewater phosphorus burden
- 2020
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In: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-9326. ; 15:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Global food production and current reliance on meat-based diets requires a large share of natural resource use and causes widespread environmental pollution including phosphorus (P). Transitions to less animal-intensive diets address a suite of sustainability goals, but their impact on societys wastewater P burden is unclear. Using the UK as our example, we explored historical diet changes between 1942 and 2016, and how shifting towards plant-based diets might impact the P burden entering wastewater treatment works (WWTW), and subsequent effluent P discharge to receiving water bodies. Average daily per capita P intake declined from its peak in 1963 (1599 mg P pp(-1)d(-1)) to 1354 mg P pp(-1)d(-1)in 2016. Since 1942, the contribution of processed foods to total P consumption has increased from 21% to 52% in 2016, but consumption of total animal products has not changed significantly. Scenario analysis indicated that if individuals adopted a vegan diet or a low-meat (EAT- Lancet) diet by 2050, the P burden entering WWTW increased by 17% and 35%, respectively relative to baseline conditions in 2050. A much lower P burden increase (6%) was obtained with a flexitarian diet. An increasing burden of P to WWTW threatens greater non-compliance with regulatory targets for P discharge to water, but also presents an opportunity to the wastewater industry to recycle P in the food chain, and reduce reliance on finite phosphate rock resources. Sustainable diets that reduce food system P demand pre-consumption could also provide a source of renewable fertilizers through enhanced P recovery post-consumption and should be further explored.
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| 7. |
- Harder, Robin, et al.
(author)
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Egestabase – An online evidence platform to discover and explore options to recover plant nutrients from human excreta and domestic wastewater for reuse in agriculture
- 2024
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Restoring nutrient circularity across scales is important for ecosystem integrity as well as nutrient and food security. As such, research and development of technologies to recover plant nutrients from various organic residues has intensified. Yet, this emerging field is diverse and difficult to navigate, especially for newcomers. As an increasing number of actors search for circular solutions to nutrient management, there is a need to simplify access to the latest knowledge. Since the majority of nutrients entering urban areas end up in human excreta, we have chosen to focus on human excreta and domestic wastewater. Through systematic mapping with stakeholder engagement, we compiled and consolidated available evidence from research and practice. In this paper, we present ‘Egestabase’ – a carefully curated open-access online evidence platform that presents this evidence base in a systematic and accessible manner. We hope that this online evidence platform helps a variety of actors to navigate evidence on circular nutrient solutions for human excreta and domestic wastewater with ease and keep track of new findings.
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| 8. |
- Kingsley, Jonathan, et al.
(author)
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Pandemic gardening: A narrative review, vignettes and implications for future research
- 2023
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In: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. - : ELSEVIER GMBH. - 1618-8667 .- 1610-8167. ; 87
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a significant amount of evidence highlighting the health, wellbeing and social benefits of gardening during previous periods of crises. These benefits were also evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents a narrative review exploring gardening during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the different forms of gardening that took place during this crisis and key elements of this activity. Research about gardening during the pandemic focused on food (in)security and disrupted food systems, the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening, and the social dimensions of gardening. We offer three vignettes of our own research to highlight key insights from local, national and international perspectives of gardening during the pandemic. The papers conclusion outlines how researchers, policy makers and public health practitioners can harness what has been learned from gardening during the pandemic to ensure these benefits are more widely available and do not exacerbate already entrenched health inequalities in society.
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| 9. |
- Larsson, Madeleine, 1984-, et al.
(author)
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Towards a more circular biobased economy and nutrient use on Gotland : finding suitable locations for biogas plants
- 2023
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this study we have investigated the role of biogas solutions to support increased resource efficiency on the island Gotland, including recovery and redistribution of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) within the agricultural sector. First, we analyzed the potential for expanding energy and nutrient recovery from organic residues using biogas solutions. Our findings suggest that the biogas production could expand to 165 GWh, from the current 36 GWh (2020), with manure accounting for a potential 110 GWh biogas annually if all were digested. Comparing the nutrients contained in organic feedstock with the crop nutrient demand on Gotland showed that for N the demand is 2.4 times higher than the supply. In contrast, the calculations showed a 137 tonnes P surplus, with distinct excess areas in the center and southern part of the island.We then compared scenarios with different numbers (3 - 15) of biogas plants with respect to efficient nutrient redistribution and transport costs. Spatial constraints for new plants, e.g. need for roads with a certain capacity and permit issues, were accounted for by adding local information to a national data set. We identified 104 potential locations (1 km$^2$ grid cells) and used an optimization model to identify the most suitable locations for minimized transport costs. Optimal (meeting the crop demand with no excess) redistribution of all nutrients contained in the feedstock, as raw digestate from biogas plants, would result in an export of 127 tonnes of P from the island. The model results indicated that if all potential feedstock would be digested in three additional biogas plants and nutrients redistributed for optimal reuse, the total transport cost would be 2.6 million SEK annually, excluding the costs for nutrient export from the island (3.7 million SEK). If instead 10 or 15 smaller plants would be built, the transport cost would drop to 1.8 million SEK, with the same amount of P being exported. Comparing the scenarios with different number of biogas plants (3 - 15), showed that some locations are more suitable than others in terms of distance to feedstock andto fields with fertilizer demands. Finally, a preliminary analysis of the amount of crop residues indicated that this type of feedstock could add a substantial amount of biogas production, but more extensive analyses are needed to assess the feasibility to realize part of that potential.
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| 10. |
- Lundin, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Recirkulering av näringsämnen mellan stad och land - vad vill gödselanvändaren ha?
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Recirkulering av näringsämnen från avloppsströmmar tillbaka till odlingsbar mark kräver en systemomställning både vad gäller marknad, infrastruktur, policys och regelverk. Olika aktörer inom värdekedjan, från kunder i matbutiken och lantbrukare, till avloppsreningsverk, teknikleverantörer och beslutsfattande myndigheter, behöver ha någorlunda gemensamma prioriteringar och det krävs konkreta åtgärder för att möjliggöra de omställningar som krävs.Den pågående globala omställningen mot ett mer cirkulärt och hållbart samhälle kommer också att kräva stora systemomställningar i avlopps- och sanitetsbranschen. Näringsämnen som återfinns i avloppsvattnet måste återvinnas för att minska utsläpp av övergödande ämnen till vattendrag och för att säkerställa tillgång till livsmedel med behov av näringsämnen för sin tillväxt.Trots att det är tydligt att en ökad recirkulering av näring från avloppsströmmar behövs, att regelverk väntas inom en snar framtid och att teknikutvecklingen går snabbt framåt så saknas hållbara strategier för ett genomförande. Detta gäller både i Sverige och i många andra länder. Den svenska näringsplattformen, genomförde under 2020, tillsammans med forskningsprojektet End-of-Wastewater, litteraturstudier, intervjuer och enkäter med sakägare samt en workshop med olika sakägare i frågan (40 deltagare) för att komma ett steg närmare prioriterade åtgärder mot en gemensam vision för Sverige år 2030.Det finns i Sverige idag ett glapp mellan aktörer som arbetar inom avlopp- och avfallsindustrin och aktörer som arbetar inom jordbruk, lantbruk och livsmedelsindustrin. Samtidigt finns en vilja att minska detta glapp. En anledning till viljan att minska detta glapp är att de aktörer som arbetar inom avloppsindustrin vill kunna producera gödselprodukter som motsvarar de behov som finns hos jordbrukarna. I Tabell 1 sammanfattas de främsta faktorer och egenskaper som anses viktiga för dessa produkter. Tabellen har tagits fram efter en litteraturöversikt och den har sedan använts som bas i en workshop, för prioritering av dessa faktorer och egenskaper mot varandra och för att specificera nödvändiga konkreta aktiviteter för att möjliggöra en marknad för återvunna näringsprodukter till år 2030.Produkternas säkerhet har högsta prioritet när de olika deltagande aktörsgruppernas svar på workshopen slås ihop. Deltagande lantbrukare som egen urvalsgrupp ansåg dock att ett känt näringsinnehåll (kväve, fosfor, kalium) i produkten har högsta prioritet och rankade produktsäkerhet på andra plats. Deltagarna bekräftade att alla listade faktorer och egenskaper i Tabell 1 är relevanta, vilket stödjer resultatet från litteraturstudien. Även om många svar från de olika deltagande aktörsgrupperna var samstämmiga krävs ytterligare underlag från främst aktörer inom jordbruk, lantbruk och livsmedelsindustrin, för att ytterligare bekräfta behovs- och kravbilden.Deltagarna specificerade också nödvändiga aktiviteter inom fyra fokusområden:Regelverk och policyForskning och framtagande av beslutsunderlagInfrastrukturella anpassningarKunskapsutbyte och samverkanÄven om specifika aktiviteter identifierades av deltagarna under workshopen, var det svårare att tillsätta vilken aktör som bör vara ansvarig för genomförande av respektive aktivitet. Tydliga delmål med tydlig ansvarsfördelning är viktigt för uppfyllelse av slutmålen. Några av dessa delmål var:Tydliga och stödjande regelverk på regional, nationell och europeisk nivå.Certifieringssystem för gödselprodukter innehållande återvunnen näring från avloppsströmmar.Kunskapsspridning kring risker och fördelar med återvunnen näring.Arbeta för ökad social acceptans och kunskap inom området hos livsmedelskonsumenterna, men specifikt även mot aktörer som arbetar inom beslutsfattande myndigheter, livsmedelsindustrin, infrastrukturella aktörer.
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| 11. |
- Macura, Biljana, et al.
(author)
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Recovery of plant nutrients from human excreta and domestic wastewater for reuse in agriculture: a systematic map and evidence platform
- 2024
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In: Environmental Evidence. - : BMC. - 2047-2382. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundAchieving a more circular and efficient use of nutrients found in human excreta and domestic (municipal) wastewater is an integral part of mitigating aquatic nutrient pollution and nutrient insecurity. A synthesis of research trends readily available to various stakeholders is much needed. This systematic map collates and summarizes scientific research on technologies that facilitate the recovery and reuse of plant nutrients and organic matter found in human excreta and domestic wastewater. We present evidence in a way that can be navigated easily. We hope this work will help with the uptake and upscaling of new and innovative circular solutions for the recovery and reuse of nutrients.MethodsThe systematic map consists of an extension of two previous related syntheses. Searches were performed in Scopus and Web of Science in English. Records were screened on title and abstract, including consistency checking. Coding and meta-data extraction included bibliographic information, as well as recovery pathways. The evidence from the systematic map is embedded in an online evidence platform that, in an interactive manner, allows stakeholders to visualize and explore the systematic map findings, including knowledge gaps and clusters.ResultsThe evidence base includes a total of 10 950 articles describing 11 489 recovery pathways. Most of the evidence base is about recovery technologies (41.9%) and the reuse of recovered products in agriculture (53.4%). A small proportion of the evidence base focuses on the characteristics of recovered products (4.0%) and user acceptance and perceptions of nutrient recovery and reuse (0.7%).ConclusionsMost studies we mapped focused on nutrient recovery from 'conventional' systems, that is, from centralized sewer and wastewater treatment systems that produce biosolids and a treated effluent. While we also found substantial research on nutrient recovery from source-separated urine, and to some extent also on nutrient recovery from source-separated excreta (notably blackwater), the body of research on nutrient recovery from source-separated feces was relatively small. Another knowledge gap is the relative lack of research on the recovery of potassium. More research is also needed on user acceptance of different recovery technologies and recovered products.
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| 12. |
- Macura, Biljana, et al.
(author)
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Technologies for recovery and reuse of plant nutrients from human excreta and domestic wastewater : a protocol for a systematic map and living evidence platform
- 2021
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In: Environmental Evidence. - : BioMed Central Ltd. - 2047-2382. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Research and development on the recovery and reuse of nutrients found in human excreta and domestic wastewater has intensified over the past years, continuously producing new knowledge and technologies. However, research impact and knowledge transfer are limited. In particular, uptake and upscaling of new and innovative solutions in practice remain a key challenge. Achieving a more circular use of nutrients thus goes beyond technological innovation and will benefit from a synthesis of existing research being readily available to various stakeholders in the field. The aim of the systematic map and online evidence platform described in this protocol is threefold. First, to collate and summarise scientific research on technologies that facilitate the recovery and reuse of plant nutrients and organic matter found in human excreta and domestic and municipal wastewater. Second, to present this evidence in a way that can be easily navigated by stakeholders. Third, to report on new relevant research evidence to stakeholders as it becomes available. Methods: Firstly, we will produce a baseline systematic map, which will consist of an extension of two previous related syntheses. In a next stage, with help of machine learning and other automation technologies, the baseline systematic map will be transformed into ‘living mode’ that allows for a continually updated evidence platform. The baseline systematic map searches will be performed in 4 bibliographic sources and Google Scholar. All searches will be performed in English. Coding and meta-data extraction will include bibliographic information, locations as well as the recovery and reuse pathways. The living mode will mostly rely on automation technologies in EPPI-Reviewer and the Microsoft Academic database. The new records will be automatically identified and ranked in terms of eligibility. Records above a certain ‘cut-off’ threshold will be manually screened for eligibility. The threshold will be devised based on the empirically informed machine learning model. The evidence from the baseline systematic map and living mode will be embedded in an online evidence platform that in an interactive manner allows stakeholders to visualise and explore the systematic map findings, including knowledge gaps and clusters. © 2021, The Author(s).
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| 13. |
- Mcconville, Jennifer, et al.
(author)
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Acceptance of human excreta derived fertilizers in Swedish grocery stores
- 2023
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In: CITY AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS. - : Elsevier. - 2590-2520. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Safe recycling of nutrients found in human excreta back to agriculture is an important component of a circular economy that can protect waterways and stabilize food prices. Although many technological advances for the recovery of these nutrients exist, large-scale implementation is lacking. A commonly cited barrier is a lack of acceptance of fertilizers from human excreta and for food products grown with such fertilizers. The food retail sector, as an intermediary between producers and consumers, is an important actor with power to influence opinions and purchasing practices. In this study, we surveyed 127 food retailers (stores) and reviewed publicly available retailer sustainability policies to assess acceptance of the use of recycled fertilizers. We gauged acceptance of three products relevant for the Swedish market - struvite, phosphorus from ash, and dehydrated urine. Most respondents felt that all three recovery techniques were unlikely to be harmful either to themselves or to the environment. It was more acceptable to use products further away from human consumption. In general, struvite and phosphorus from ash were perceived more positively. Acceptance of wastewater-derived fertilizers was largely dependent on perceived risks, especially the fate of pharmaceutical residues. While re-tailers in Sweden are not negative to reuse, they seem unlikely to provide strong support for nutrient recircu-lation from human excreta unless it becomes a greater concern for the public.
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| 14. |
- Metson, Genevieve, 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Consumption - the missing link towards phosphorus sustainability
- 2022
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In: Our Phosphorus Future. - Edinburgh : UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. ; , s. 309-337
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Supporting low levels of animal product (meat, dairy, and eggs) consumption and food waste can significantly reduce the impacts of unsustainable phosphorus use. In addition, consuming products grown with good on-farm nutrient management practices, including phosphorus recycling can further reduce impacts. These changes can contribute to achieving multiple United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to improving human and environmental health.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Metson, Genevieve, et al.
(author)
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Nitrogen and the food system
- 2021
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In: One Earth. - : ELSEVIER. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 4:1, s. 3-7
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- To stave off world hunger, humanity manipulated and unbalanced the nitrogen cycle. Todays excess fixed nitrogen is a global pollutant, of which our food system is a primary driver. Yet, food insecurity remains a global concern. In this Voices, food-system experts offer insights into the challenge of the sustainable management of nitrogen.
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| 18. |
- Metson, Genevieve, et al.
(author)
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Not all sites are created equal - Exploring the impact of constraints to suitable biogas plant locations in Sweden
- 2022
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier Science Ltd. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 349
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biogas production from manure is attractive to support plans towards a circular economy as it allows for renewable energy production and nutrient recycling in agriculture. Finding optimal locations for biogas plants, which minimize transport distances to and from farms, while accounting for multiple feasibility constraints, remains a challenge. We developed 1 km2 spatially-explicit datasets for known feasibility constraints such as distance to housing, compatible land-use zoning, and the presence of roads with sufficient weight bearing capacity. These datasets were used to improve the realism of an optimization model designed to minimize transportation costs in Sweden. At a national level, the presence of durable enough roads most limited the number of suitable locations for a plant. We further focused our analysis on a case study region where a company wanted to invest in a new manure-based biogas plant. In contrast to the national level, the constraint for remaining at least 500 m from housing/buildings had the greatest limiting impact, excluding 71% of grids in the Sjo center dot bo or Tomelilla municipalities of Southern Sweden. Still, we identified 105 suitable locations for a new biogas plant. The most suitable location, accounting for feasibility and minimized transportation costs, changed when simultaneously accounting for another proposed plant in a neighboring municipality. Our results indicate that utilizing both local and national datasets can help narrow down potential biogas development sites and that long-term planning is necessary for actors with ambitions to build several plants to minimize costs and maximize energy and nutrient recycling benefits.
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| 19. |
- Metson, Genevieve S., 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Optimizing transport to maximize nutrient recycling and green energy recovery
- 2020
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In: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X. - : Elsevier. - 2590-289X. ; 9-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A circular biobased economy must be able to sustainably manage multiple resources simultaneously. Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) recycling and renewable energy production (biogas) can be compatible practices but require substantial transport of heavy organic waste. We combine a spatial optimization model and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to explore how Sweden could maximize its use of excreta resources. We use 10×10 km2 resolution data on the location of animal and human excreta and crop demand and model both optimal biogas plant locations and transport of nutrients to and from these plants. Each type of biogas plant (given 4 realistic mixes of excreta) is then evaluated for global warming potential, primary energy use and financial resource costs. Moving excreta through biogas plants, as opposed to simply reapplying on fields, to meet crop nutrient demands comes at a similar cost but the climate and primary energy savings are substantial. As much as 91% of phosphorus and 44% of nitrogen crop demand could be met via optimally transported excreta and the country would avoid about 1 450 kt of CO2-eq, save 3.6 TWh (13 000 tera-joules) of primary energy, and save 90 million euros per year. Substituting mineral fertilizers with recycled nutrients results in savings across all indicators, but the added energy and avoided greenhouse gas emissions associated with biogas production make a large difference in the attractiveness of nutrient recycling. Although the numeric values are theoretical, our results indicate that carefully coordinated and supported biogas production could help maximize multi-resource benefits.
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| 20. |
- Metson, Geneviève S., 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Towards net-zero phosphorus cities
- 2022
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In: npj Urban Sustainability. - : Springer Nature. - 2661-8001. ; 2:1
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cities are central to improving natural resource management globally. Instead of reinventing the wheel for each interlinked sustainability priority, we suggest synergising with, and learning from existing net-zero carbon initiatives to explicitly tackle another vital element: phosphorus. To achieve net-zero phosphorus actors must work together to (1) minimise loss flows out of the city, (2) maximise recycling flows from the city to agricultural lands, and (3) minimise the need for phosphorus in food production.
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| 21. |
- Metson, Genevieve, et al.
(author)
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Swedish food system transformations : Rethinking biogas transport logistics to adapt to localized agriculture
- 2022
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In: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - : Elsevier. - 2352-5509. ; 29, s. 370-386
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ensuring future food and energy security will require large changes in consumption and production pat-terns, including enhanced animal and human excreta recycling. Although these shifts are considered in many scenario studies, their implications on the logistical requirements for effective recycling are rarely analysed. Here we translated two existing stakeholder co-designed food system scenarios for Sweden to 5 x 5 km resolution maps of animals, crops, and humans. We used optimization modelling to identify biogas plant locations to minimize transport costs and maximize nutrient reuse. We then compared sce-narios, including full recycling under current landscape configuration, through Life Cycle Assessment. The reduction in meat consumption and imported food in both co-designed scenarios, by definition, led to less nutrients available in manure for recycling back on cropland, and less material available for diges-tion. Less excreta meant lower national benefits, for example 50% less greenhouse gas emissions savings in the most divergent scenario. However on a per transport basis the benefits of recycling were more important: recycling remained a net financial benefit even if transport costs were to increase. Although fewer biogas plant locations were necessary (184 and 228 for alternative futures, vs 236 under current conditions) to process human and animal excreta, the regional clustering of locations did not change substantially across scenarios. Regions such as Skane and Vastra Gotaland consistently required the most biogas plant locations across scenarios. Focusing early construction investments in these regions would be resilient to a large array of food system futures. Our spatially-explicit open access scenario maps can be used to explore logistics for such planning, and explore the impact of landscape configuration on other sustainability priority areas. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.
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| 22. |
- Metson, Genevieve, et al.
(author)
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The US consumer phosphorus footprint: where do nitrogen and phosphorus diverge?
- 2020
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In: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-9326. ; 15:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are essential nutrients for food production but their excess use in agriculture can have major social costs, particularly related to water quality degradation. Nutrient footprint approaches estimate N and P release to the environment through food production and waste management and enable linking these emissions to particular consumption patterns. Following an established method for quantifying a consumer-oriented N footprint for the United States (U.S.), we calculate an analogous P footprint and assess the N:P ratio across different stages of food production and consumption. Circa 2012, the average consumers P footprint was 4.4 kg P capita(-1) yr(-1) compared to 22.4 kg N capita(-1) yr(-1) for the food portion of the N footprint. Animal products have the largest contribution to both footprints, comprising >70% of the average per capita N and P footprints. The N:P ratio of environmental release based on virtual nutrient factors (kilograms N or P per kilogram of food consumed) varies considerably across food groups and stages. The overall N:P ratio of the footprints was lower (5.2 by mass) than for that of U.S. food consumption (8.6), reinforcing our finding that P is managed less efficiently than N in food production systems but more efficiently removed from wastewater. While strategies like reducing meat consumption will effectively reduce both N and P footprints by decreasing overall synthetic fertilizer nutrient demands, consideration of how food production and waste treatment differentially affect N and P releases to the environment can also inform eutrophication management.
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| 23. |
- Metson, Genevieve, et al.
(author)
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Where Have All the Nutrients Gone? Long-Term Decoupling of Inputs and Outputs in the Willamette River Watershed, Oregon, United States
- 2020
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-8953 .- 2169-8961. ; 125:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Better documentation and understanding of long-term temporal dynamics of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in watersheds is necessary to support effective water quality management, in part because studies have identified time lags between terrestrial nutrient balances and water quality. We present annual time series data from 1969 to 2012 for terrestrial N and P sources and monthly data from 1972 to 2013 for river N and P for the Willamette River Basin, Oregon, United States. Inputs to the watershed increased by factors of 3 for N and 1.2 for P. Synthetic fertilizer inputs increased in total and relative importance over time, while sewage inputs decreased. For N, increased fertilizer application was not matched by a proportionate increase in crop harvest; N use efficiency decreased from 69% to 38%. P use efficiency increased from 52% to 67%. As nutrient inputs to terrestrial systems increased, river concentrations and loads of total N, total P, and dissolved inorganic P decreased, and annual nutrient loads were strongly related to discharge. The N:P ratio of both sewage and fertilizer doubled over time but there was no similar trend in riverine export; river N:P concentrations declined dramatically during storms. River nutrient export over time was related to hydrology and waste discharge, with relatively little influence of watershed balances, suggesting that accumulation within soils or groundwater over time is mediating watershed export. Simply managing yearly nutrient balances is unlikely to improve water quality; rather, many factors must be considered, including soil and groundwater storage capacity, and gaseous loss pathways.
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| 24. |
- Oberg, Gunilla, et al.
(author)
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Conventional Sewer Systems Are Too Time-Consuming, Costly and Inflexible to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century
- 2020
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In: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 12:16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is an urgent need for innovation in the sanitation sector because the conventional model (toilet-to-sewer-to-treatment) is too time-consuming and costly, and alternatives are lacking. We estimate the challenge ahead by developing scenarios for 60 of the fastest-growing urban conglomerates in the World. We find that the majority would need to build out their sewer systems at a rate that is ten to 50 times higher than the highest rate for any project in the World Banks database, which is unrealistic. We also carry out a case study of Lagos, Nigeria, which suggests that, in any given year, 14-37% of Lagos States budget would need to be invested to provide sanitation to the presently underserviced population while keeping up with population growth, which also is unrealistic. Our study provides clear evidence that the conventional model for sanitation is unworkable for rapidly growing urban areas. We conclude there is an urgent need to encourage and fund projects that promote innovations that can tackle the three core challenges: can be built sufficiently quickly, are flexible, and affordable. This is not likely to happen unless the future generation is systematically trained and educated to creatively support innovation in sustainable sanitation.
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| 25. |
- Ran, Ylva, et al.
(author)
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Environmental assessment of diets: overview and guidance on indicator choice
- 2024
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In: The Lancet Planetary Health. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 2542-5196. ; 8:3, s. e172-e187
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Comprehensive but interpretable assessment of the environmental performance of diets involves choosing a set of appropriate indicators. Current knowledge and data gaps on the origin of dietary foodstuffs restrict use of indicators relying on site-specific information. This Personal View summarises commonly used indicators for assessing the environmental performance of diets, briefly outlines their benefits and drawbacks, and provides recommendations on indicator choices for actors across multiple fields involved in activities that include the environmental assessment of diets. We then provide recommendations on indicator choices for actors across multiple fields involved in activities that use environmental assessments, such as health and nutrition experts, policy makers, decision makers, and private-sector and public-sector sustainability officers. We recommend that environmental assessment of diets should include indicators for at least the five following areas: climate change, biosphere integrity, blue water consumption, novel entities, and impacts on natural resources (especially wild fish stocks), to capture important environmental trade-offs. If more indicators can be handled in the assessment, indicators to capture impacts related to land use quantity and quality and green water consumption should be used. For ambitious assessments, indicators related to biogeochemical flows, stratospheric ozone depletion, and energy use can be added.
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