ECONUT

During climate change, eutrophication and soil degradation conditions, the Baltic Sea region is facing the challenge of recovering and obtaining nutrients. The Baltic Sea coastal area is rich in biomass resources (algae, macrophytes, mussel shells, beach wrack), which can be used in agriculture for sustainable food production. One of the possibilities consistent with the circular economy is the use of marine biomass resources as both a fertilizer and a source of nutrients for further recovery. These solutions will prevent nutrients from dispersing into the environment and becoming pollutants. Nutrient-rich coastal biomass can be used to stabilize dune slopes as well as enhance their biodiversity.

The overall project objective is to design and develop the technology of the nutrients’ flow cycle following the circular economy and sustainable soil and water management principles for a regional bioeconomy. We will work on development of technologies of the nutrients’ flow’s circularity and sustainable usage of soil and water ecosystems as well as on creation of added-value products for agriculture and dune protection from wind erosions and storm floods. 

As a result, the project will have two developed technologies and three pilot cases . An evaluation of the impact of beach wreck removal from the coast and its application for soil fertility, slope stability and biodiversity to climate change will be done. At the project end, the project will focus on market analysis for pilot technologies and creation of business models of developed technologies and added-value products.

As stakeholders, the project expect to involve into the project South Baltic region farmers, agricultural specialists, local and regional authorities (municipalities), environmental protection agencies, public health care and food risk assessment institutions, entrepreneurs, scientists, NGO:s and the public.