FER-PLAY, an EU project mapping and assessing circular fertilisers made from secondary raw materials and highlight their multiple benefits to foster their wide-scale production and application, held its final event in February in Brussles.
This event gathered key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the role of circular fertilisers in achieving sustainable agricultural practices. The two-day conference focused on policy recommendations, regulatory challenges, and market readiness to facilitate the adoption of bio-based fertilisers. It featured keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions to co-develop solutions for accelerating the market uptake of circular fertilisers. Participants included policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and farmers, all working towards a more circular and resilient agri-food system.
ReLEAF was represented by Lucian Miron, from partner EFFoST and Xialei You, from coordination partner LEITAT, at the event to contribute to discussions on shaping policy recommendations and challenges for bio-based fertilizers. The participation of ReLEAF in the “Designing Policy Recommendations” session allowed for meaningful exchanges on regulatory challenges and the steps needed to support the adoption of circular fertilizers. Our goal was to highlight key insights from the ReLEAF project, foster collaborations, and ensure that the policy framework is conducive to the market uptake of bio-based fertilizers.
Our participation in this event allowed for different outcomes and collaborations:
- Identifying regulatory barriers: During the roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Erik Meers (Ghent University), we examined the regulatory hurdles hindering the adoption of circular fertilisers. Discussions emphasized the need for clear, harmonized policies across EU member states to facilitate market access.
- Co-creation of policy recommendations: Together with policymakers and industry experts, ReLEAF contributed to developing policy recommendations to enhance the economic feasibility, safety, and traceability of bio-based fertilisers.
- Strategic networking and knowledge exchange: Engaging with stakeholders from various sectors provided valuable insights into the practical challenges and opportunities within the circular fertiliser landscape.
- Future collaboration: The event opened doors for potential collaborations with other EU-funded projects working on nutrient recycling and circular bioeconomy solutions.
ReLEAF remains committed to supporting the transition towards sustainable, circular fertiliser solutions. By actively participating in policy discussions, we contribute to shaping a more resilient and resource-efficient agricultural future.