Finnish forests are typically nourished with fertilisers containing energy-intensive nitrogen and phosphorous mined in Morocco. Researchers have now developed an ecological alternative with ingredients sourced from a waste processing plant. It is good for forests and the environment – but legislation has to be changed first.
Researchers develop the perfect recycled fertilizer for forests - saves 88% of energy normally used but still not legal
Finnish forests are typically nourished with fertilisers containing energy-intensive nitrogen and phosphorous mined in Morocco. Researchers have now developed an ecological alternative with ingredients sourced from a waste processing plant. It is good for forests and the environment – but legislation has to change first.
Spurring the growth rate of forests is sensible not only from an economic perspective, but also environmentally. Over its lifecycle, a fertilised forest will bind up to 10,000 tonnes more carbon dioxide per hectare than an unfertilised forest. This amount equals the annual carbon footprint of the average Finn.
The artificial fertilisers applied in Finnish forests are, however, problematic: they are made with phosphorus, the majority of which is mined in Morocco, and fertiliser nitrogen that is very energy-intensive to manufacture.
An ecologically superior and – what’s best – domestic fertiliser alternative could be developed from existing nutrient flows, i.e. sourced from industrial and household wastes.
Click to Putretti's story from the link below!
Read more news
We need growth – but what exactly are we growing?
Governments demand it, companies promise it, and universities are expected to deliver it. Growth is widely seen as the answer to debt, competitiveness, and the future of the welfare state itself. But what do we actually mean by growth – and what kind of growth are we aiming for?
From quantum labs to startups: Aalto Inventors turns researchers into founders
The Aalto Inventors programme cultivates thought leaders of tomorrow’s disruptive industries.
How to search for a material that does not yet exist? Researchers are looking for a room-temperature superconductor
The SuperC consortium aims to develop a room-temperature superconductor, a discovery which would deliver enormous energy savings. What’s it like to try to create a material that doesn’t exist?