Innovative Projects
One of our most innovative projects is our Nutrient Recycling project, which aims to re-use phosphate and potassium from Dutch city waste as fertilizer in Africa. The project is a joint effort of our research team in the Netherlands and our project teams in Ghana and Uganda. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, and runs from 2010 to 2012.
One project, double effect
African soils are generally low in available phosphate. In addition, the export of agricultural products leads to a net nutrient loss for the African continent as a whole. In contrast, the Netherlands suffers from a nutrient surplus, due to its intensive livestock industry and high city waste production. Eutrophication poses a great problem for Dutch water treatment companies.
Our Nutrient Recycling project aims to address both problems at one go. By recycling phosphate and potassium from Dutch city waste for use as fertilizer, we help to improve soil fertility in African countries such as Ghana and Uganda. At the same time, we contribute to reducing nutrient levels in Dutch city waste.
The research component of this innovative cradle-to-cradle project takes place at the Louis Bolk Institute in Driebergen, the Netherlands. Project implementation and advice activities are coordinated by the Agro Eco-Louis Bolk Institute in Ghana.
