These FER-PLAY guidelines provide targeted recommendations to support circular fertiliser producers in overcoming market, regulatory, and social barriers. The focus is set on fertilisers derived from bio-waste, sewage sludge, wastewater, and other organic by-products, aiming to strengthen circular fertiliser value chains and enhance resource efficiency within European agriculture.
The guidelines are structured around three main areas. First, they outline strategies to improve commercialisation and increase product market value. These include developing strong business models, positioning circular fertilisers competitively against mineral fertilisers, adopt voluntary Quality Assurance schemes and identifying niche markets such as organic farming or specialised crops.
Second, the document addresses trust-building measures toward end-users and society. Producers are encouraged to ensure transparency on product quality and safety, highlight environmental benefits such as nutrient recycling and reduced dependency on imported fertilisers, and collaborate with research institutions to validate performance claims.
Third, the guidelines examine how to overcome barriers related to the siting and operation of production facilities, including regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and managing local acceptance. Real-life case examples complement the recommendations, providing practical insights. Overall, the document serves as an operational guide to strengthen market uptake and scale up circular fertiliser solutions.
Publication year: 2024
Language: EN
Published by: FER-PLAY
Keywords: circular fertilisers, fertiliser producers, resource efficiency, circular fertilisers value chains, agriculture, life cycle assessment, LCA, sewage sludge, bio-waste, organic by-products, wastewater
