Nutrient recycling potential in the Baltic Sea Region

Abstract

This report contains information on the nutrient recycling potential in the Baltic Sea Region. The information was collected with two different methods: a Eurostat-based method for all countries and national data collection separately for each country. The recyclable biomasses considered were livestock manure, sewage sludge, municipal biowaste and different industrial side streams. The Eurostat-based data is uniform for all countries and gives indication of nutrient recycling potential in the Baltic Sea Region on NUTS2 level of spatial distribution. However, it fails to consider national differences in the nutrient contents of the recyclable biomasses and the NUTS2 level is too coarse to identify regions of nutrient surplus or deficit in many of the countries. National data collection can provide more detailed spatial resolution for at least some of the recyclable biomasses and offer nationally more accurate data on the nutrient contents. However, the data is scattered into various sources and includes gaps and uncertainties which should be improved by developing the national data collections. To monitor the nutrient recycling potential and the need for nutrients especially in agricultural production, the regions of surplus and deficit should be nationally estimated by comparing the amount of nutrients to be recycled and the fertilization need within each country and region. This report offers an example of such a calculation for Finland. Information on the nutrient recycling potential is a basis for planning, promoting and implementing nutrient recycling measures. Thus, it should be organized country-specifically by designating responsible organization(s), resourcing them sufficiently for a regular updating of the data, and including an analysis of the current status of the use of the recyclable biomasses. The monitored information highlights the progress of nutrient recycling and identifies development needs. Methodology for the monitoring process should still be developed further within the scientific community.