This document summarizes a presentation given at the Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop in Belfast on June 21, 2017. The presentation discusses phosphorus stewardship in Ireland and the EU, including challenges around finite phosphorus resources, its role in food security and critical industries, and its role as a water pollutant. It provides data on phosphorus flows within the EU, including imports/exports, losses, and use efficiencies across different sectors. It also compares phosphorus use between Ireland/UK and the overall EU. The presentation promotes the transition to more sustainable phosphorus use through reducing losses and improving recycling, and highlights the role of nutrient platforms like the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform in enabling collaboration and innovation toward

1. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Phosphorus stewardship in Ireland within an EU
perspective: challenges and opportunities
Kimo van Dijk, researcher European Sustainable Phosphorous Platform
info@phosphorusplatform.eu
www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts

2. Nutrient cycling in the biosphere
Biosphere 2 project

3. Geological versus anthropogenic cycles
RESOURCE
RESERVES
SINKS
Society
Crops
Animals
Industry & retail
Consumers
Non-
food
LossesInputs
[90% fertilizer,
and other
mineral P use]
Geological cycle
Direct
IMPACTS
Anthropogenic cycle

4. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
The big picture of phosphors - P
• Non-replaceable building block of life on earth
• Finite resource essential for global food security
• Major component of a Nutrient Circular Economy
• Critical Raw Material in leading edge industries
• Pollutant causing water quality failure

5. Nutrient challenges in Europe

6. Phosphorus use in the EU-27
Detergent,
wood, paper
& fibres
Crops, fish,
food products &
mineral additives
Animal feed,
mineral additives
& live animals
Mineral fertiliser,
seeds & pesticides
Solid & liquid
organic waste
Organic waste
Wood, paper &
fibres
Slaughter
residues, solid &
liquid waste
Crops &
food products
Manure losses
Live animals
Leaching & runoff
Seeding materials
Input
2392
Output
1468
Flows & stocks in Gg = Mkg = kton P per year
Van Dijk et al. (2016)

7. EU-27 import, export and losses per sector
Van Dijk et al. (2016)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Gross import Gross export Net trade Losses Accumulation
Phosphorusquantity[Gg
P/year]
Absolute quantity
[Gg P/year]
Relative fraction of total
system import, export &
losses [%]
Primary P import
Import Export Losses Import Export Losses Gg P/year % of
total
system
primary
import
% of
total
sector
import
CP 1399 4 84 58 1 7 1391 78 99
AP 440 21 62 18 9 5 250 14 57
FP 338 216 339 14 86 28 27 2 8
NF 215 11 77 9 4 6 110 6 51
HC - - 655 - - 54 - - -
Total 2392 251 1217 100 100 100 1777 100

8. EU-27 P use efficiency per sector
Van Dijk KC, Lesschen JP, Oenema O. Phosphorus flows and
balances of the European Union Member States. Sci Total Environ
2016. DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.048
CP AP FP NF HC
PUE-1 Output flows minus losses 70 97 80 76 21
PUE-2 Upward output flows plus
export
70 24 52 76 -
𝑃𝑈𝐸𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
∗ 100

9. Per ha phosphorus use EU-27 vs Ireland
Van Dijk KC, Lesschen JP, Oenema O.
Phosphorus flows and balances of the European Union Member States
Sci Total Environ 2016.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.048
Flows & stocks in:
kg P / hectare agricultural land /year

10. Per ha phosphorus use Ireland vs UK
Van Dijk KC, Lesschen JP, Oenema O.
Phosphorus flows and balances of the European Union Member States
Sci Total Environ 2016.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.048
Flows & stocks in:
kg P / hectare agricultural land /year

11. Per ha phosphorus use Ireland vs UK
Van Dijk KC, Lesschen JP, Oenema O.
Phosphorus flows and balances of the European Union Member States
Sci Total Environ 2016.
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.048
Flows & stocks in:
kg P / capita /year

12. Nutrient hotspots in Europe
Annual regional agricultural P
balances [kg P/ha] for EU-15
Source: Grizzetti
& Aloe, 2007

13. Agricultural P balances per country for
2005 & period 1905-2005
Van Dijk et al. (submitted)Van Dijk et al. (2016)
128 Mtons P accumulated
in agricultural soils between 1905 -2005

14. Animal feed P origin in EU-27
Source: Miterra-Europe model, CAPRI &
FAOSTAT data 2003-2005

15. 0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
DomesticfoodPsupply[kg/ca/year]
Animal
Plant
Domestic food P supply & intake in EU-27
Domestic food P supply
necessary to fullfill human
dietary P intake requirements at
consumption level
Van Dijk et al. (submitted)
Minimum P intake requirement
Mean EU P intake
Maximum P intake level

16. Reuse of organic waste in EU-27
Based on Barth et al. 2008

17. Sludge destinations in EU-27 in 2010
Source: P-REX, FP7 project, www.p-rex.eu;
based on a EUREAU study on sewage sludge
handling & eurostat

18. Transition towards sustainable P use (5xR)
•remove non-essential P inputs (e.g. detergents)
•match P requirements more closely (precision
agriculture)
•utilise legacy P stores
Realign P inputs
•optimise input management
•minimise runoff and erosion
•strategic retention zones
Reduce P losses
to water
•avoid wastage
•improve utilization efficiency
•adopt integrated production systems
Recycle P
in bioresources
•recover P in societies' wastes
•produce fertilizer substitutes
Recover P in
wastes
•influence dietary choice
•define end-user P requirements
•re-connect crop and animal production systems
Redefine P in
the food chain
Withers, Van Dijk, et al. (2015): Stewardship to tackle global phosphorus inefficiency: the case of Europe

19. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
(ESPP)

20. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
A coalition for action
Established 2014
Not-for-profit association
98% funded by membership fees
33 paying members:
- 19 companies
- 8 countries, regions, platforms
- 6 R&D institutions
Budget 2016 = 128 000 €

21. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
A coalition for action
• Bring together industry, R&D, authorities, stakeholders
water & waste industries, mineral and organic fertilisers,
chemicals, P-recycling technology suppliers, national & regional
governments, knowledge institutes …
• Build awareness and share a vision
for sustainable phosphorus in Europe
• Dialogue & network expertise and experience
• Assess and propose policy
& regulatory developments
• Disseminate innovation,
business cases, value chains

22. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Functioning Nutrient Platforms
ESPP (European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform) 2014
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Netherlands Dutch Nutrient Platform 2010
www.nutrientplatform.org
Germany German Phosphorus Platform 2015
www.deutsche-phosphor-plattform.de
Baltic: ESPP works with existing Baltic Sea Action Group
www.bsag.fi
North America Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance (SPA) 2017
(launched as NAPPS in 2015) https://phosphorusalliance.org
Japan PCPR 2011 (Phosphorus Recycling Promotion Council)

23. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Functioning Nutrient networks
SERA17 – 1993 - North America network on P management in agriculture and losses to water
www.sera17.ext.vt.edu
COMIFER – 1980 - French national committee on rational fertilisation
www.comifer.asso.fr
GPRI / Global P Network 2008 http://globalpnetwork.net - network of researchers
Global Phosphorus Summits 2008 http://sustainablepsummit.net -
6th summit Brazil 2018
Global GPNM phosphorus Task Force 2015
(Global Partnership for Nutrient Management - UNEP-GPA)
www.unep.org/gpa/what-we-do/global-partnership-nutrient-management
-

24. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Nutrient Platform projects in Europe
• Flanders - established 2012 - membership free - Flanders
government funding only – issues with governance – disappeared 2015
• France – ESPP meeting 2014 – decided Platform not appropriate
- informal network – COMIFER workshop 2017 (150 present) –
preparation funded in EU InterReg project 2014-2015 but nothing done
• Czech Republic & Spain - proposed 2015 & 2016 but not taken forward
• Baltic – targeted operational group waste & water industries with State
EPAs – launch underway 2016/2017
• UK – 2014-2015 - three meetings (total 200 participants) and preparatory
work funded in EU InterReg project – end of funding -> not implemented
• Ireland & Switzerland – discussion launched 2017
Swiss Federal Ministry joins German Phosphorus Platform in 2017

25. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
ESPP communications tools
 available for national networks and Members
• Twitter @phosphorusfacts
• ESPP website www.phosphorusplatform.eu
- events, Members Pages, news, R&D projects and success stories
• SCOPE Newsletter
- science and innovation
• eNews
- monthly
- policy and practice
• 45 000 email listing

26. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Nutrient Platform objectives
 Shared by existing Platforms, with varying priorities
• Phosphorus sustainability vision & roadmap
• Networking: competence, innovation & experience
• Dialogue: industry – stakeholders – policy – R&D
• Collaborative projects, innovation & value chain
• Support member actions
• Address policies & tools
• Communicate solutions and innovation

27. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Lessons from existing and failed Platforms
• Objectives:
- declared objectives can be wide -> ‘nutrient management’
- but real emphasis must be targeted to member demand
• No single model:
- national challenges are different
- different scales: global, continent (ESPP), transnational (SPA = USA + Canada,
DPP = Germany + Austria + Switzerland), national (Japan, Netherlands)
• Need for clear definition of what platform will do
- what are benefits for members ?
- what is added value vs. existing structures and networks ?
- what actual actions ?

28. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Lessons from existing and failed Platforms
• Networking:
- difficult to maintain without resources (secretariat)
- meetings: must offer added value, many conferences exist
- communications: what will it add to existing ESPP tools?
• Funding – different models are possible
- mainly “volunteer” or “light” network (e.g. SERA17 … since 1993)
- project funding: start and stop (e.g. UK / Biorefine project)
- membership funded (e.g. ESPP since 2014, DPP, Netherlands NP since 2010)
- mainly government funding:
e.g. COMIFER France since 1980 , Flanders failed
 works if government strategic priority and if real industry/stakeholder involvement ?

29. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Questions before launching a new Platform
Is there a real need for a new Platform ?
- what is the added value at the national/regional level?
Is there a viable, long-term funding model ?
- who will pay? what are there needs and objectives?
- price must be proportional to benefits
Platform ? Or light network ?
Budget must include ESPP membership
- membership for a national Platform = 10 000 €/year
- flexibility possible for “light” national network

30. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Regulatory drivers – national
 2005: Denmark tax on P in livestock feed
 2013: Denmark Resource Strategy
80% recycling of sewage P
(in. biosolids to crops (objectives only)
 2013: Baltic HELCOM Ministerial Declaration
to “enhance” P recycling
 2015: Sweden 40% P and 10% N recycling
inc. biosolids to crops (objectives only)
 2015: Netherlands recovered P added to
fertiliser regulations inc. struvite
 2016: Switzerland decree P-recovery
from sewage (obligation - promulgated)
 2016: Germany decree P-recovery from sewage
(obligation wwtp > 50 kpe, notified to EU)
 2017: Austria plans for sewerage P-recycling

31. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
2016- 2017 EU Fertilisers Regulation
- Currently in Council - Parliament decision process
- Fertilisers (mineral & organic), soil amendments, etc
- EU criteria for composts, digestates,
food industry wastes and animal by-products
- Sewage biosolids excluded
- No provision for traceability
- STRUBIAS JRC expert group for
addition of: struvite, ashes, biochars
- Large discussions about contaminations (Cd)
and definition organic vs. mineral fertilisers
- Many issues remaining! see www.phosphorusplatform.eu/regulatory
http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/15949

32. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
EU Fertilisers Regulation revision
 A “CE” fertiliser can be sold anywhere in Europe … but
other products/materials can be used on fields
 if authorised as a “national” fertiliser
 under ‘Waste’ spreading authorisation
 A material which is recognised as a “CE” fertiliser …
 is granted ‘End-of-Waste’ status

33. 33European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Global nutrient recycling example
Dutch recovered struvite sailed back to south America to be used as fertiliser to grow cacao beans for chocolate factory in Amsterdam
(www.treshombresreep.nl)

34. 34European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Regional nutrient recycling example
Festival collected urine used for growing barley for the production of beer in Denmark (Pisner made by local brewery Norrebro
Bryghus, Copenhagen)

35. 35European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Success story:
Fertikal, Antwerp
• 180 000 t/y (wet weight) manure
processed to organic fertilisers:
• solid/liquid separation
dried, pelletised
• For agriculture, horticulture
• Distributed
to 25 countries worldwide
www.fertikal.be

36. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Success story:
SARIA UK – Kalfos
• P-fertiliser and soil conditioner
from combustion of animal by-products (MBM)
• Authorised for arable and grazing land
• 12 000 tonnes/year
www.kalfos.co.uk

37. 37European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Success story:
SNB – HVC Groep -
Ecophos
• Sewage sludge incineration ash
and low grade phosphate rock
• Production of DCP
(Di Calcium Phosphate)
for fertilisers or animal feed
• Varna Bulgaria: 8 000 t/y pilot
• Dunkerque France:
60 000 t/y ash = 4 000 t/y P
www.ecophos.com

38. 38European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Success story:
Thames Water – Ostara Pearl®
• Slough municipal wastewater treatment plant, UK
• 150 tonnes Crystal Green® fertiliser / year
• High quality slow release fertiliser
www.ostara.com
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/earthrise/2014/12/re
cycling-phosphorus-2014121693225616272.html

39. Ireland Phosphorus Sustainability Workshop, Belfast, 21nd June 2017
www.phosphorusplatform.eu
Thank you for your attention!
info@phosphorusplatform.eu
www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts