In episode 2, Pär Larshans dives into how the largest recycling company in Sweden is innovating phosphate mining processes with nutrient recovery from waste water streams.
Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash
Phosphate: Securing a Sustainable Future in the bioCircular Economy
As we gear up for a projected global population of 10 billion by 2050, the challenge to increase food production output without driving environmental degradation is listed as a priority for nations worldwide. In the second episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ragn-Sells, dives into the critical role of phosphorus, the element on which agriculture value chains and therefore global food production depend on.
As you might have guessed, phosphorous is also a finite resource, which has been listed as a critical raw material by the EU due to high supply risks and no availability of viable substitutes. Additionally, phosphorus's overuse in agriculture leads to environmental pollution, causing eutrophication and biodiversity loss. This backdrop sets the stage for an urgent need to transition from a linear to a more circular resource use.
Ragn-Sells: Leading the Shift in Resource Management
The largest recycling company in Sweden, Ragn-Sells, is redefining its role in the resource management sector, transitioning from traditional recycling to becoming a leader in the future materials market. Ragn-Sells' strategic pivot reflects a broader recognition that in a truly circular economy, waste materials are valuable assets. This shift is crucial as it aligns with the global need to enhance food production sustainably, particularly through technologies that mitigate the environmental impact of essential farming inputs like phosphorus. This paradigm shift is driving Ragn-Sells to become a pioneer in nutrient recovery, particularly focusing on phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, essential for sustainable agriculture.
Ash2Phos: Revolutionizing Phosphorus Recovery
The technology Ash2Phos is at the forefront of this transformation. It converts ash from incinerated sewage sludge into high-quality phosphorus products, cleaner and less contaminated than traditional sources. This innovative process not only recycles but also detoxifies, providing a sustainable alternative to mining phosphorus from depleting natural reserves. This not only provides a sustainable alternative to phosphate mining but also has significant geostrategic implications for Europe. By localizing phosphorus production, Ash2Phos helps reduce Europe's dependency on volatile global raw material markets, enhancing its self-sufficiency and securing the agricultural sector against geopolitical disruptions. However, a major challenge in the go-to-market process presents itself in the form of European legislation, which currently restricts the use of recovered nutrients from waste water in feed applications. Ragn-Sells is currently exploring markets outside Europe, such as Canada, where the regulations today are more favorable.
The Havbruk Project: A Model for Sustainable Aquaculture
The aquaculture sector is under pressure to increase production output as part of the broader challenge of scaling global food production. The Havbruk project showcases the potential of circular approaches in aquaculture with Ragn-Sells applying its innovative solutions to Norwegian fish farms.
By collecting and processing fish sludge, the project has the potential to supply bio-energy to over 600,000 households and recover valuable nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which otherwise contribute to marine pollution.
"Today, we can recover more phosphorous from Norwegian fish farms than Sweden imports as a nation annually."
This initiative highlights the intersection of environmental sustainability and energy production, pointing towards a future where aquaculture supports both food security and clean energy. This is crucial in a world where increasing fish farm production is essential to meet future food demands.
The Future Impact of Circular Resource Management
The transition to technologies like Ash2Phos represents a significant shift in how we perceive and manage waste. By converting waste into valuable materials, Ragn-Sells is not only addressing environmental issues associated with phosphorous extraction and over-use, but is also setting the stage for new value chains that could redefine global resource management. This shift could significantly impact wastewater management, turning a problematic waste stream into a key resource for the agricultural and energy sectors. According to Larshans, if we would recover nutrients from agricultural waste water streams that are flowing in Europe today, we could recover 50% of our annual phosphate demand.
Ash2Phos at the Forefront of Sustainable Innovation
Ash2Phos is a great example of innovation in the bioCircular economy, highlighting Ragn-Sells' commitment to environmental stewardship and solving complex environmental challenges through resource recovery. This technology's potential to drastically reduce the need for mined phosphorus, decrease pollution, and foster independence from imported raw materials positions it as a pivotal solution for a sustainable future. By rethinking resource use and value, recovery and recycling of nutrients like phosphorous could significantly impact global food production, enabling growth without compromising the planet's health.
Takeaways
Phosphorus is a critical raw material that is essential for stable food production, but its reserves are depleting and overuse is causing environmental pollution.
Recovering phosphorus and other valuable materials from wastewater and waste sludge can address the problem of resource depletion and pollution.
Rag'n'Sells has developed the Ash2Phos technology, which extracts phosphorus and other materials from sewage sludge and waste streams.
Scaling up the technology requires regulatory changes, partnerships, and infrastructure development.
Listen to the full episode of the bioCircular Loop on your preferred music streaming platform.
Comments