ECONUTRI

Innovative concepts and technologies for ECOlogically sustainable NUTRIent management in agriculture aiming to prevent, mitigate and eliminate pollution in soils, water and air

ECONUTRI (EU Horizon) is a consortium of scientific experts and researchers from different disciplines, private companies, farmers’ associations, and stakeholders. ECONUTRI is partnering with six Chinese Institutions, four from public research and two from industry, to complement activities and to strengthen the scientific collaboration between Europe and China.

More specifically, ECONUTRI will address water pollution caused by NO3 and P leaching and run-off from cultivated soils, manure/slurry and plant residues, as well as greenhouse gas (N2O, CO2, CH4) and NH3 emissions from cultivated soils, barns, and organic biomass during storage, composting, and land application.

ECONUTRI will optimise, validate, and demonstrate 24 innovative technologies that currently have a TRL of 4-6, and will increase their TRL to 7-8. These technologies are integrated parts of a holistic concept based on recycling of nutrients and organic material, novel machinery and fertilisers, novel decision support systems (DSS), and novel nutrient management plans incorporating nature-based solutions to reduce nutrient losses and to increase nutrient use efficiency.

The results include hyperspectral analysis algorithms, advanced online DSS platforms to develop smart nutrient management plans for organic and conventional crops, protocols for circular cropping systems in open field and greenhouses, advanced emission monitoring feedback systems, novel manure spreaders, variable rate technologies for precision fertilisation, smart fertilisers, and bio stimulants increasing N use efficiency.

ECONUTRI will establish eight demonstration sites and deploy a comprehensive range of dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities to maximise the impact of the expected results and technologies.

The project is coordinated by the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece (AUA), represented by Prof. Dimitrios Savvas. The consortium consists of 24 European partners and 6 partners from China.

Ibero Massa Florestal (IMF), as a local stakeholder, collaborates with UTAD (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro) to provide biochar as a sustainable tool to help agricultural systems in Portugal, particularly to reduce nutrient losses and increase nutrient use efficiency.

Funded by the European Union.