The ReLEAF project held its first Stakeholder Board workshop on 31 July 2025, officially launching its stakeholder co-creation activities. The session not only presented project results, but it also created a space for dialogue where members could reflect, raise questions, and help shape the direction of ReLEAF’s bio-based fertiliser (BBF) innovation process.
ReLEAF tackles key challenges in European agriculture, including dependence on imported mineral fertilisers, underuse of organic waste, and environmental damage from nutrient runoff. To address these issues, the project is developing BBFs from locally sourced biowaste streams such as sewage sludge, fish-processing residues, and food or agricultural waste. The aim is to design solutions that are both technically robust and socially anchored.
A key factor of this effort is the Stakeholder Board, which ensures ongoing dialogue with farmers, advisors, regulators, researchers, industry, and civil society. The Board plays a central role in co-design, validation, and strategic alignment.
The first workshop introduced early project results from Deliverable 1.1 on regulatory landscape and user insight, and Deliverable 5.1 on sustainability and safety framework. It also presented the Board’s objectives and collaborative structure, while gathering input on future engagement methods. The participatory format encouraged mutual learning, with participants invited to respond to preliminary findings and suggest ideas for collaboration.
The workshop confirmed the importance of aligning BBF innovation with regulatory frameworks, farmer practices, citizen engagement, and circular economy goals. Stakeholders validated the project’s initial assessments and expressed strong interest in continued cooperation, knowledge exchange, and synergies with related initiatives.
By fulfilling a key project milestone (M2), the first Stakeholder Board workshop demonstrated its potential to become a dynamic forum for advice, innovation, and collaboration in shaping sustainable fertiliser systems.
For more information about the Stakeholder Board and how to sign up, check the SB page here.