Production and supply of domestic and sustainable fertilizers for food security in uncertain times

Climate change, the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine have raised awareness and public debate on the vulnerability of food production. Agricultural input commodities are purchased on a global market and just-in-time. All mineral fertilizers used in Swedish agriculture are imported. A reduction in these imports, even for a single growing season, would lead to large production losses.

The aim of the project is to develop knowledge that can facilitate a transition to domestic production of fertilizers in Sweden, primarily in time of crisis but also to illustrate possibilities for long-term resilience and sustainability in food production.

The project will investigate the fertilizer demand to meet the production of a “crisis diet” and what possibilities exist for shifting to domestic fertilizer production.

This includes identification of possible value chains for nutrient recovery from other sectors, and industries that can upgrade recycled raw material into useful fertilizer products.

The project also evaluates the environmental sustainability of the proposed solutions.The project has a strong research group with competence from agriculture, nutrient recovery and civil defence and engages key actors in a reference group.

The results will form an excellent basis for future research on the development of a resilient and circular food system and can form an important part in the design of a future national plant nutrient strategy and civil defence.